SQL Server Express 2012 Installation fails with Could not find the Database Engine startup handle in SQL Server Express 2012

sql-server-2012-express

I have recently done a fresh installation of my work machine. I installed Windows on drive C: but my Users folder is on drive D:. After trying to install SQL Server 2012 Express, I always got errors that said

Could not find the Database Engine startup handle in SQL Server Express 2012

So I checked Windows Event Viewer. I noticed that there were several errors:

Windows cannot find the local profile and is logging you on with a temporary profile. Changes you make to this profile will be lost when you log off.

Windows cannot log you on because your profile cannot be loaded. Check that you are connected to the network, and that your network is functioning correctly.

DETAIL – Only part of a ReadProcessMemory or WriteProcessMemory request was completed.

Windows cannot copy file \?\D:\Users\Default\ to location \?\D:\Users\MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS. This error may be caused by network problems or insufficient security rights.

DETAIL – Access is denied

So I think that the user account which corresponds to SQL Server Express does not have r/w rights to my profile folder on D:.

How do I resolve this? I don't know which user account to add to the folder rights and I don't want to give Everyone the rights.

Best Answer

I have found the solution. It was, in fact, a r/w rights error. I have added following users to my profile folder:

IUSR
Local Service
Network
IIS_IUSRS
Service

I know I went overkill here but I wanted to be sure without giving everyone access rights. I will disable them one by one and find the right one(s) needed to properly run SQL Server Express 2012.

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