Trouble Uninstalling Named Instance

  • I have SQL Server 2008 R3 SP3 and while trying to uninstall a named instance I do not have the option to select the Database Engine Services as one of the features to uninstall. It is not even listed.

    The only things listed are two shared features SQL Client Connectivity and MS Sync Framework

    I have logged in as a local user on the box that is part of the Administrators group

    Any ideas would be appreciated.

    Thanks

    Jeff

  • Dear Jeff,

    Are you able to see the named instance under you SQL server configuration manager?

    From what you are describing it seems that the instance is either not available on the server or it is already uninstalled.

    Hope it helps..!!

    Regards

    Shafat Husain

    Regards,
    Shafat Husain
    πŸ™‚
    And Your Lord Never Forgets...!! (64:19 -- Quran)

  • Thank you for replying

    Yes I can see the instance in configuration manager, I can also start the service and I can see the instance during the uninstall process.

    Kind of weird you know.

    Please let me know what you think

    Jeff

  • Dear Jeff,

    Could you please share the screen shot of configuration manager and uninstall screen where you are facing the actual issue.

    Regards

    Shafat Husain

    Regards,
    Shafat Husain
    πŸ™‚
    And Your Lord Never Forgets...!! (64:19 -- Quran)

  • I found that the computer may have trouble accessing AD and this may be causing the issue and I do not know why. Hear is what i did.

    I installed a test instance on another server to test the manual uninstall of SQL. I tried to uninstall SQL and had the same problem while logged in as my domain admin account. I then logged in using the AD service account used to run the SQL Service and I had all installed services available to select and uninstall. This server has no problems accessing AD.

    The original has a problem with accessing AD. I find when trying to modify users, for example adding a domain user to the local administrators group, the "Entire Directory" is not available. I spoke to the Sys Admin and he wants to disjoin and join the server back to the domain to get things right.

    Attached is a doc with the screen shots of the uninstall. The instance I want to uninstall is ProjectServer, but only shared features are available to uninstall

    Jeff

  • Dear Jeff,

    Looks like you have found the problem, But how are you planing to remove the server from domain and add it back.

    It would require downtime...!!!

    Why not make a local system user with administrator privileges and uninstall the named instance using it. Later on you can add this activity to your list of planned activities.

    Regards

    Shafat Husain

    Regards,
    Shafat Husain
    πŸ™‚
    And Your Lord Never Forgets...!! (64:19 -- Quran)

  • Thank you very much for the reply

    I have tried using a local administrator account and receive the same results. Kind of weird

    Let me know what you think

    Jeff

  • Dear Jeff,

    Apologies, I am out of ideas right now. Maybe some of the senior members should dive in.

    Regards

    Shafat Husain

    Regards,
    Shafat Husain
    πŸ™‚
    And Your Lord Never Forgets...!! (64:19 -- Quran)

  • Dear Jeff,

    I would like to take one more shot on this one.

    1. Open User Account Control Settings by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type uac, and then click Change User Account Control settings.

    2. Do one of the following: To turn off UAC, move the slider to the Never notify position, and then click OK.

    once you are through that check again.

    Regards

    Shafat Husain

    Regards,
    Shafat Husain
    πŸ™‚
    And Your Lord Never Forgets...!! (64:19 -- Quran)

  • I unchecked UAC and still cannot uninstall the instance.

    During the uninstall I get to the page "Select Features" and I only see the shared features listed. I am able to select the instance to remove features from and can see the SQLEngine, AS as installed features, but when i click next I only see the shared features.

    It is as if SQL does not see these features during the "Select Features" part of the uninstall.

    What’s funny is that the server is not in AD correctly or disabled in AD because it is not seeing the "Entire Directory" whenever i try to perform account modifications.

    Could it be that SQL server instance will not uninstall because another application is installed that uses it. For example the server has SQL Compact Edition installed

    Could it be a policy of some type that is causing this.

    I tried running the installation disk and when i select Add Features to an existing instance, all the features are available to be installed except for the two that i see when trying to uninstall.

    I used the discover features tool in the set up application and the report shows all the features installed.

    Very weird.

    Any help is appreciated.

    Jeff

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