Failed to Install SQL Server

INTRODUCTION:
Installing SOLIDWORKS Electrical on Windows 11 can result in a “Failed to install SQL Server” error due to a known compatibility issue. This blog outlines the root cause and provides effective solutions to complete the installation successfully.

ROOT CAUSE:

This problem is caused by a storage driver behaviour in Windows 11 (specifically related to stornvme, the standard NVMe driver). It causes SQL Server installation to fail or behave unpredictably due to sector size misconfiguration.

SOLUTION 1:

1. REGISTRY EDITOR METHOD

• Open Registry Editor as an administrator. (Press Win + R, type regedit, hit Enter)
• Navigate to the following path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device
• Right-click in the right pane and choose: New > Multi-String Value
• Name the new value: ForcedPhysicalSectorSizeInBytes
• Right-click it, select Modify, and enter the following in the Value data field: * 4095
• Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

SOLUTION 2:

1. COMMAND PROMPT METHOD
Alternatively, you can make the same change using Command Prompt:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Copy and paste the following command:
  “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device” /v “ForcedPhysicalSectorSizeInBytes” /t REG_MULTI_SZ /d “* 4095” /f
• You should see the message:
  “The operation completed successfully.”

PROCEEDING WITH INSTALLATION

After applying the workaround above:

• Reattempt the installation of SOLIDWORKS Electrical.
• If the SQL Server still fails to install via the standard installer, you can perform a manual installation of SQL Server using the installation media provided with SOLIDWORKS.

Note: If you’re unfamiliar with the manual SQL Server installation process, our support team is available to guide you step-by-step.

CONCLUSION:
While Windows 11 introduces modern enhancements, it has also surfaced compatibility challenges for legacy services such as SQL Server. The registry-based workaround detailed above has proven effective in addressing the installation issue during SOLIDWORKS Electrical deployment.

We recommend that all users encountering this issue apply the above changes before initiating installation.

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