Installing SQL Server can sometimes be a challenging task, especially when encountering errors during the process. In this blog post, we will discuss one common error message that you may come across during SQL Server installation and how to resolve it.

One of the most frustrating errors that can occur during SQL Server installation is the “Could not find the Database Engine startup handle” error. This error typically indicates a failure in the SQL service startup process. When faced with this error, it is important to investigate the setup logs to identify the root cause.

One way to access the setup logs is by examining the Summary.txt file, which is usually located in the installation directory. This file provides valuable information about the installation process and any errors encountered. In our case, the Summary.txt file revealed the following details:

Feature: Database Engine Services
Status: Failed: see logs for details
Reason for failure: An error occurred during the setup process of the feature.
Next Step: Use the following information to resolve the error, uninstall this feature, and then run the setup process again.
Component name: SQL Server Database Engine Services Instance Features
Component error code: 0x851A0019
Error description: Could not find the Database Engine startup handle.

Upon further investigation, we discovered that the setup logs folder contained a file named “SQLServer_ERRORLOG_<DATETIME>”. This file is a copy of the ERRORLOG generated when SQL Server was unable to start. Examining this file provided us with additional insights into the issue:

Cannot use file 'M:\MSSQL11.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\master.mdf' because it was originally formatted with sector size 4096 and is now on a volume with sector size 2097152. Move the file to a volume with a sector size that is the same as or smaller than the original sector size.
Cannot use file 'L:\MSSQL11.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\mastlog.ldf' because it was originally formatted with sector size 4096 and is now on a volume with sector size 2097152. Move the file to a volume with a sector size that is the same as or smaller than the original sector size.

The error message indicates that the sector size of the volume where the SQL Server data files are located is incompatible with the original sector size of the files. To resolve this issue, we referred to the Microsoft Knowledge Base article on hard disk drive sector-size support boundaries in SQL Server (KB926930).

However, we noticed that the specific sector size mentioned in the error message (2097152) was not listed in the KB article. Since this issue was related to hardware, we advised our client to contact their vendor for assistance. Fortunately, the vendor was able to provide a fix for the problem.

It is important to note that this error is just one of the many possible reasons for SQL Server installation failures. Troubleshooting installation errors requires a systematic approach and a good understanding of the SQL Server environment. By carefully examining the setup logs and seeking assistance from the appropriate resources, such as vendors or Microsoft support, you can overcome these challenges and successfully install SQL Server.

Remember, every error encountered during the installation process is an opportunity to learn and expand your knowledge. As a SQL Server consultant, I find great satisfaction in continuously learning and finding solutions to new challenges.

Thank you for reading this blog post. I hope it has provided you with valuable insights into troubleshooting SQL Server installation errors. If you have any questions or would like to share your own experiences, please leave a comment below.