During a new install, SQL Server Express installation presents the error: ‘Database server has no response.

Issue:

During a new PME 8.2 installation, selecting Install SQL Server Express on this computer can fail with the error:
“Database server has no response”.

Product Line:

PME 8.2

Environment:

PME 8.2 new installation
SQL Server Express installation from PME installer
Target server already has SQL Server Express 2016 installed

Cause:

PME 8.2 bundles and attempts to install SQL Server Express 2014. If the target machine already has SQL Server Express 2016, the PME installer may still attempt to install the older SQL Express version, and the SQL setup can fail (surfacing in PME as “Database server has no response”).

While Microsoft supports installing multiple SQL Server versions/instances on the same machine, some SQL components are shared and are upgraded to the latest version present; this can lead to installation conflicts depending on the instance/features being installed and what shared components already exist.

Resolution:

1. If SQL Server Express 2016 is already installed, use the existing instance for PME instead of selecting the PME option to install SQL Server Express.
2. If a dedicated instance is required, manually install a new ION SQL Server Express instance that matches your environment (for this scenario, SQL Server Express 2016) and then proceed with PME installation pointing to that instance.
3. Re-run the PME installer and complete the installation using the selected/installed SQL instance.