Hi,
We are designing a commercial application, which uses SQL Server 2008 R2 Express as backend. Here is how we install it:
- We have a msi installer using Visual Studio installer, which packages the SQL Server Express setup file "SQLEXPRWT_x86_EN.exe" inside.
- We wrote a small program using C# called "Database Installer", which uses System.Diagnostics.Process to extract SQLEXPRWT_x86_EN.exe (by passing "/x" as command-line parameter), then launch the setup.exe passing all the parameters such as "/QS" etc. to do a silent install.
- We used a manifest file in the Database Installer to declare that it needs admin right.
- We then launch this small program from within the msi installer as a "custom action".
Problem:
When the SQL Express goes to the "Setup Support Files" page, and when the progress bar go to 60%, and showing "ExecuteStandardTimingsWorkflow" stage, it got stuck there - it repeatedly pop up the "Please wait while SQL Server 2008 R2 Setup processes the current operation" window - again and again, infinitely.
What I already know:
- It is not the Database Installer - for if I launch it separately it installs the database and sets up everything beautifully;
- It is not how I added the custom action to the install project, for I did it in other projects and it works fine.
It must be the msi not calling the database installer correctly. Can someone shed some light please?