Thursday, January 25, 2007

SQL Server 2005 and Office Web Componenets 11 (OWC11)

Recently I tried to install MS SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition (well, the same problem came with Standard Edition, too) and I got strange problem. At some point the install wizard came up with an error “Could not install OWC11” (OWC11 - Office Web Components 11). After that another error came – “Could not install Database services”, and at the end I had only Client components installed, not even the management studio.
I began to wander what the problem might be. I tried several different ways and options in the install wizard, but the same problem was appearing again and again. Then I put a fresh copy of Windows XP SP2 on a MS Virtual PC and run the SQL Server installation there – everything was fine, as expected. So I came back to the host and looked over the installed software I had. It appeared that I already have had the Microsoft Office Web Components installed, which surprised me even more – why the SQL Server does not check for it before trying to install it. What I did is remove the OWC from Add/Remove Programs and run the SQL Server setup once more. Guess what – success! Wired …

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

thanks! this nailed it for me

Anonymous said...

... great advice - you saved me pulling my hair out for countless hours. Thanks Anton!

Anton Staykov said...

You are all welcome!
I'm glad that I can help.

Anonymous said...

After trying like 10 times I found your answer. thank you works great.

Ekrem Önsoy said...

I believe this could be causing because of version confliction of OWC or something like that.

You'll see that there is OWC11.MSI in the Setup folder of the second CD of SQL Server 2005. Which means, SQL Server 2005 needs these components somehow.

So, I believe removing OWC from Add\Remove programs let SQL Server 2005 to install it's own copy of OWC so the confliction problem has been solved that way.

This is a guess of mine and I believe it's somehow true. I hope I'll meet this error one day and I'll have a chance to verify it.

Unknown said...

thanks for the tip. if you're ever in new york i'll buy you a beer.

Danyelucas said...

Muchas gracias, voy a probarlo...