I ran into this error while deploying SQL Server 2005 Enterprise to a two-node Windows Server 2003 cluster. The SQL Server installation checked all the prereqs with no problems, and as soon as it was time to actually do the installation, it paused for about 5 minutes, with the message “SQL Server Setup is preparing to make the requested configuration changes…” After a few minutes with no activity, the installation fails with the following error message:
I checked the “Scheduled Tasks” list on the passive node, and found the following:
Starting the task manually, even while setup was still running on the active node, had no effect. Also, the following entry appeared in the Log (Advanced Menu -> View Log):
“SQL Server Remote Setup .job” (setup.exe) 5/1/2009 11:29:45 AM ** ERROR **
Unable to start task.
The specific error is:
0x80070005: Access is denied.
Try using the Task page Browse button to locate the application.
SOLUTION:
It turns out it’s not an “Access denied” message at all! This occurs when you’re logged in to the desktop of the passive node while you’re doing the SQL installation. I had a remote desktop session open to both nodes, which caused this problem. Simply logging out of the passive node, then attempting the installation again from the active node, will allow setup to complete successfully.
Please, Microsoft: Add a pre-check to the setup process, or at the very least, give me a real error!
This worked for me. Installing SQL 2005 on Windows Server 2003 Ent 64-bit.
Thanks!!