LocalDB will not install by itself unless installed as part of SQL Server Express
Question
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On a brand new (fresh) Windows 10 Pro 1909 system, I have run into problems installing the LocalDB component of SQL Server 2019 Express Edition.
I first acquired the MSI install file by running the GUI for the SQL Server 2019 Express Edition installer and selecting the "Download Media" option:
Then I chose the LocalDB option:
The above downloaded a 53 MB file: sqllocaldb.msi.
I ran the file from an elevated CMD window. The install failed with the error message: "Service 'SQL Server VSS Writer' (SQLWriter) failed to start. Verify that you have sufficient priviliges to start system services."
The indication about lack of privilige is misleading, as I used an admin account to do the install, as mentioned.
Per online suggestions, I also tried modifying the "Log On" tab for the service in question and set "Local System account -> Allow service to interact with the desktop" box, which did not help.
The only way I was able to proceed with the install was to use the Custom option in the GUI and check both Instance Features -> Database Engine Services and Shared Features -> LocalDB in the Feature Selection pane.
However, this results in the installation of two instances, as follows:
This kind of defeats my purpose: I want the compact LocalDB version only, not accompanied by the full Express edition.
In any case, I don't understand why, during the install, LocalDB shows a dependence on the VSS Writer service?
I would appreciate learning more about the whole thing. Maybe my understanding of LocalDB, that it's a simple, SQLite-like db, is incorrect.
Thanks.
Answers
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Hi A.M. Sabuncu,
Currently, you could try to uninstall the SQL Server express instance separately:
- Go to your Control Panel Add/Remove, or Programs/Uninstall a program.
- Right click 'Microsoft SQL Server', and select uninstall.
- In the next dialog next, you will see 'Add', 'Repair' and 'Remove'. You will choose 'Remove', and then 'OK'.
- The next dialog is 'Select Instance', you will select the instance you want to uninstall, and click 'Next'.
- The next dialog is 'Select Features', you could select features other than LocalDB, and then finish the uninstallation.
Hope this could help you.
Best Regards,
Amelia Gu
MSDN Community Support
Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if not. This can be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any compliments or complaints to MSDN Support, feel free to contact MSDNFSF@microsoft.com.- Marked as answer by A.M. Sabuncu Wednesday, November 27, 2019 11:09 AM
All replies
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Hi A.M. Sabuncu,
>>Service 'SQL Server VSS Writer' (SQLWriter) failed to start. Verify that you have sufficient priviliges to start system services.
You could try to start the SQL Server VSS Writer Service manually in Services by right-clicking the service and click start:
And then run the installer again.
For more details, please refer to this similar thread.
>>LocalDB shows a dependence on the VSS Writer service.
Please refer to SQL Writer Service.
In addition, you could uninstall SQL Server cleanly using the steps in this link.
Hope this could help you.
Best Regards,
Amelia Gu
MSDN Community Support
Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if not. This can be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any compliments or complaints to MSDN Support, feel free to contact MSDNFSF@microsoft.com. -
Hi A.M. Sabuncu,
Currently, you could try to uninstall the SQL Server express instance separately:
- Go to your Control Panel Add/Remove, or Programs/Uninstall a program.
- Right click 'Microsoft SQL Server', and select uninstall.
- In the next dialog next, you will see 'Add', 'Repair' and 'Remove'. You will choose 'Remove', and then 'OK'.
- The next dialog is 'Select Instance', you will select the instance you want to uninstall, and click 'Next'.
- The next dialog is 'Select Features', you could select features other than LocalDB, and then finish the uninstallation.
Hope this could help you.
Best Regards,
Amelia Gu
MSDN Community Support
Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if not. This can be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any compliments or complaints to MSDN Support, feel free to contact MSDNFSF@microsoft.com.- Marked as answer by A.M. Sabuncu Wednesday, November 27, 2019 11:09 AM
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Hi Amelia,
Thank you for your persistence and follow-up. I followed your directions, and it miraculously worked! Very pleased, thank you.
Here are some screenshots I kept:
Specifying instance to remove:
Specifying features to remove:
As a result, the following items were removed from the Add/Remove Programs registry:
Browser for SQL Server 2019
Microsoft SQL Server 2019 (64-bit)
Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Setup (English)
Microsoft VSS Writer for SQL Server 2019
The following items remain in the Add/Remove Programs registry:
Microsoft ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server
Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Native Client
Microsoft SQL Server 2019 T-SQL Language Service
Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable (x64) - 14.14.26429.4
Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable (x86) - 14.14.26429.4
However, although the VSS Writer package was removed, I still see the VSS Writer package running, even after a restart; following is the output of the services.msc command:
Thank you again.
- Edited by A.M. Sabuncu Wednesday, November 27, 2019 11:30 AM
