I have a brand new fresh out of the box Server that has Server 2012 installed and all the updates installed. I am trying to install SQL Server 2008 small business and it fails at installation rules right before ready to install. I have tried every workaround I can find posted anyplace including slipstreaming with SP4 and every compatibility mode back to win 98. can anyone help?

What's the failure message?

For "Operating System Supported for Edition" it comes up failed. The detailed view says "This SQL server Edition Is Not Supported on This Operating System". What confuses me the most is that the pre check it does at the very beginning says that the O.S. min. req. are met.

I dont think that you call install Small business SQL on standard windows until its joined to small business domain. See here for more information.

• Windows Small Business Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 Standard (must be configured in a 
  small business domain configuration).  To install this product on Windows Server 2008 Standard edition, the server must be joined to a Small Business Server 2008 domain or a domain that has Active Directory configured in the following way:

The New server is joined to our domain and the "master" server is running 2008 R2. After reading that article, I believe we meet the required environment.

Hello,

Please try to run SQL Server setup from the Command Prompt using the /SkipRules=EditionRequirementCheck switch like this:

Setup.exe /q  /SkipRules=EditionRequirementCheck /ACTION=Install /FEATURES=SQL  /INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER /SQLSVCACCOUNT="<DomainName\UserName>" /SQLSVCPASSWORD="<StrongPassword>" /SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS="<DomainName\UserName>" /AGTSVCACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\Network Service" /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Alberto Morillo
SQLCoffee.com

• Edited by Alberto MorilloMVP, Moderator Friday, March 20, 2015 6:11 PM

Hello,

Please try to run SQL Server setup from the Command Prompt using the /SkipRules=EditionRequirementCheck switch like this:

Setup.exe /q  /SkipRules=EditionRequirementCheck /ACTION=Install /FEATURES=SQL  /INSTANCENAME=MSSQLSERVER /SQLSVCACCOUNT="<DomainName\UserName>" /SQLSVCPASSWORD="<StrongPassword>" /SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS="<DomainName\UserName>" /AGTSVCACCOUNT="NT AUTHORITY\Network Service" /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Alberto Morillo

I will try this right now. Also, I have just figured out by trial and error that it only fails when I use our license key. If I tell it to run as a enterprise trial it will install just fine. It def. has something to do with it being the standard small business edition.

Hello,

Thats correct this is happening due to the SQL Standard Edition for SBS, it wont happen with other editions.

Please try the workaround and lets see.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Alberto Morillo
SQLCoffee.com

It look like a nice workaround, and If I was in your situation I might even uses it. But I highly recommend to be careful, make a backup before any step, and check and re-check everything after the installation since the SBS have much other application that might be affected by this in indirect way. remember that you are probably not going to install only the SQL Server Engine, but other components as well. If you can get the new version then do it.