'Error -2147467259: failed to create SQL database' in WiX

Question

I want to create a database in the installation process using WiX 3.6. I followed many tutorials, but I think there is something I am doing wrong.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi"
     xmlns:util="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/UtilExtension"
     xmlns:sql="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/SqlExtension">

    <Product Id="{A704CA9E-2833-4276-A8A8-148F1047332F}" Name="DbInstallerTest" Language="1033" Version="1.0.0.0" Manufacturer="Microsoft" UpgradeCode="2de42bd8-acc2-48bf-b3c6-09745d3a2ea4">
        <Package InstallerVersion="200" Compressed="yes" InstallScope="perMachine" />

        <MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version of [ProductName] is already installed." />
        <MediaTemplate />

        <Feature Id="ProductFeature" Title="DbInstallerTest" Level="1">
            <ComponentGroupRef Id="ProductComponents" />
        </Feature>
    </Product>

    <Fragment>
        <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
            <Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder">
                <Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="DbInstallerTest" />
            </Directory>
        </Directory>
    </Fragment>

    <Fragment>
        <ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">

            <Component Id="CMPDbInsatller"
                       Guid="{1749E57D-9CE4-42F8-924C-2A2E368B51E4}">
                <CreateFolder Directory="INSTALLFOLDER"/>
                <util:User Id="SqlUser"
                           Name="sa"
                           Password="Abc123@"/>
            </Component>
            <Component Id="cmp2"
                       Guid="{C3596364-61A0-4628-9153-1BA11DB4B778}">
                <CreateFolder Directory="INSTALLFOLDER"/>
                <sql:SqlDatabase Id="Id_db"
                                 Database="TestDatabase1"
                                 Server="(local)\SQLExpress"
                                 CreateOnInstall="yes"
                                 User="SqlUser"
                                 DropOnUninstall="yes">
                </sql:SqlDatabase>
            </Component>
        </ComponentGroup>
    </Fragment>
</Wix>

The above code gives the following error.

Error -2147467259: failed to create SQL database: TestDatabase1. error detail: Unknown error.

Here is the log content,

=== Logging started: 2/18/2013  11:00:59 ===
Action 11:00:59: INSTALL.
Action start 11:00:59: INSTALL.
Action 11:00:59: FindRelatedProducts. Searching for related applications
Action start 11:00:59: FindRelatedProducts.
Action ended 11:00:59: FindRelatedProducts. Return value 1.
Action 11:00:59: LaunchConditions. Evaluating launch conditions
Action start 11:00:59: LaunchConditions.
Action ended 11:00:59: LaunchConditions. Return value 1.
Action 11:00:59: ValidateProductID.
Action start 11:00:59: ValidateProductID.
Action ended 11:00:59: ValidateProductID. Return value 1.
Action 11:00:59: CostInitialize. Computing space requirements
Action start 11:00:59: CostInitialize.
Action ended 11:00:59: CostInitialize. Return value 1.
Action 11:00:59: FileCost. Computing space requirements
Action start 11:00:59: FileCost.
Action ended 11:00:59: FileCost. Return value 1.
Action 11:00:59: CostFinalize. Computing space requirements
Action start 11:00:59: CostFinalize.
Action ended 11:00:59: CostFinalize. Return value 1.
Action 11:00:59: MigrateFeatureStates. Migrating feature states from related applications
Action start 11:00:59: MigrateFeatureStates.
Action ended 11:00:59: MigrateFeatureStates. Return value 0.
Action 11:00:59: ExecuteAction.
Action start 11:00:59: ExecuteAction.
Action start 11:01:01: INSTALL.
Action start 11:01:01: FindRelatedProducts.
Action ended 11:01:01: FindRelatedProducts. Return value 0.
Action start 11:01:01: LaunchConditions.
Action ended 11:01:01: LaunchConditions. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: ValidateProductID.
Action ended 11:01:01: ValidateProductID. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: CostInitialize.
Action ended 11:01:01: CostInitialize. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: FileCost.
Action ended 11:01:01: FileCost. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: CostFinalize.
Action ended 11:01:01: CostFinalize. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: MigrateFeatureStates.
Action ended 11:01:01: MigrateFeatureStates. Return value 0.
Action start 11:01:01: InstallValidate.
Action ended 11:01:01: InstallValidate. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: RemoveExistingProducts.
Action ended 11:01:01: RemoveExistingProducts. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: InstallInitialize.
Action ended 11:01:01: InstallInitialize. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: ProcessComponents.
Action ended 11:01:01: ProcessComponents. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: UnpublishFeatures.
Action ended 11:01:01: UnpublishFeatures. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:01: UninstallSqlData.
Action ended 11:01:02: UninstallSqlData. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:02: RemoveFiles.
Action ended 11:01:02: RemoveFiles. Return value 0.
Action start 11:01:02: RemoveFolders.
Action ended 11:01:02: RemoveFolders. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:02: CreateFolders.
Action ended 11:01:02: CreateFolders. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:02: ConfigureUsers.
Action start 11:01:02: CreateUserRollback.
Action ended 11:01:02: CreateUserRollback. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:02: CreateUser.
Action ended 11:01:02: CreateUser. Return value 1.
Action ended 11:01:02: ConfigureUsers. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:02: InstallFiles.
Action ended 11:01:02: InstallFiles. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:02: InstallSqlData.
Action start 11:01:19: CreateDatabase.
Action ended 11:01:19: CreateDatabase. Return value 1.
Action ended 11:01:19: InstallSqlData. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:19: RegisterUser.
Action ended 11:01:19: RegisterUser. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:19: RegisterProduct.
Action ended 11:01:19: RegisterProduct. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:19: PublishFeatures.
Action ended 11:01:19: PublishFeatures. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:19: PublishProduct.
Action ended 11:01:19: PublishProduct. Return value 1.
Action start 11:01:19: InstallFinalize.
CreateDatabase:  Error 0x80004005: failed to create to database: 'TestDatabase1', error:

unknown error
Error 26201. Error -2147467259: failed to create SQL database: TestDatabase1, error detail:

unknown error.
MSI (s) (94!44) [11:01:47:973]: Product: DbInstallerTest -- Error 26201. Error -2147467259:

failed to create SQL database: TestDatabase1, error detail: unknown error.

CustomAction CreateDatabase returned actual error code 1603 (note this may not be 100%

accurate if translation happened inside sandbox)
Action ended 11:01:47: InstallFinalize. Return value 3.
Action ended 11:01:48: INSTALL. Return value 3.
Action ended 11:01:48: ExecuteAction. Return value 3.
Action ended 11:01:48: INSTALL. Return value 3.
=== Logging stopped: 2/18/2013  11:01:48 ===
MSI (c) (C0:94) [11:01:48:208]: Product: DbInstallerTest -- Installation failed.

MSI (c) (C0:94) [11:01:48:209]: Windows Installer installed the product. Product Name:

DbInstallerTest. Product Version: 1.0.0.0. Product Language: 1033. Manufacturer: Microsoft.

Installation success or error status: 1603.

What am I doing wrong here?

Answer 1

We chased this error around for a week before finally resolving it by going into the SQL Server Configuration Manager → SQL Server Network Configuration → Protocols for MSSQLSERVER (for us, the default instance) → Enabling Named Pipes and TCP/IP protocols.

Answer 2

I was also facing this exact issue, and I browsed a lot of forums to get that solved. This was the only thing which worked for me. On my computer, SQL Server Express Edition database creation failed with -2147467259: failed to create SQL database:

After days of hacking I finally found the solution! All you need to do is use .\sqlexpress instead of localhost\sqlexpress or 127.0.0.1\sqlexpress in your connection string. I think (and I might be terribly wrong here) when you use .\sqlexpress in connection string installer uses Shared Memory instead of Named Pipes or TCP/IP.

Source: Solution to -2147467259: failed to create SQL database