Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP3 (KB955706) won't install

This won't install, I have checked that all services are running, etc.

Error code:
Installation Failure
Error Code: 0x2B2F

I am running XP3.

Ditto--I've been unable to install it on at least a couple of machines.

At least you get an error code. I'm trying to use xp sp3

I get the same error, four times in a row now trying to install on XP SP3. It
always gives error 0x2B2F

I don't even get an error code. I've tried to install it probably 30 times.
It would be nice if Microsoft could do something right now and then.

Add me to the list too.

Microsoft are less than useless on the issue.

No help in the KB, and they want a small fortune for me to pay a techie to
help me fix what is clearly their mistake. What a quality company -.-

I have had the same experience with this issue. I am also running xp and
have tried numerous times to do the installation. I just keep getting the
same result: Installation Failure Error Code: 0x2B2F.

It is MS's error and they want us to pay them to solve it? How does that
work for customer service? What ever happened to quality and integraty! Are
you listening MS?

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Same problem here. Several machines fail installing this update. This is a
problem presented by Microsoft and from reading the posts and attemtpting to
get some help, it appears Microsoft has no intentions or desire to help it's
customers with this frequently occuring problem.

KB955706
Error code: 0x2B2F

1)
========
Error Code: 0x2B2F
Try to install the update again, or request help from one of the following
resources.

For self-help options:

Frequently Asked Questions
Find Solutions
Windows Update Newsgroup

For assisted support options:

Microsoft Online Assisted Support (no-cost for issues related to getting
updates)

2)
==========

Needless to say the last statement and link above is a lie.. That link
leads to the TOP ISSUES page below.. Note we're supposed to get no-cost help
with Updates but the links are merely run-arounds deliberately designed to
avoid helping us.. Since helping customers is expensive.. kinda like
Microsoft products.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/ph/6527#tab0

3)
==========
If you click on the link to the right to get some assisted help, you end up
here:

https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527

Which clearly says:

E-mail Support Response Time: Within 1 business day
Contracts
Professional support contracts can be used for this support

4)
==========
Translated - means you're not going to get any no-cost help. Did you really
expect Microsoft to provide no-cost help? Get a life! You must have a
support contract.

It is this reason that people are so frustrated with Microsoft. Endless
links leading to nowhere, jumping through hoops and loops, being misled as to
the services you get.. Products and services that barely work properly,
much less together as they are intended. Support that completely sucks and
for most people entirely non-existent..

Update: I found that if you choose home user at the page above it will let
you submit an incident.

Have you tried this?

<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968749>

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968749

Nope.. I didn't see any references in the information presented to me while
encountering the error and researching it to check into this. Also, it
doesn't appear to be the same issue at all. I'm getting the 0x2B2F error
code and not the error listed in this article. We had no problems installing
SQL Express. The issue is installing SP3 and the aforementioned error.

So a solution to this problem is to download the Windows Installer Cleanup
Utility

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...bd/msicuu2.exe

Install and run the utility

Then remove the Installer entry for MSXML 6 Service Pack 2 (KB954459)..

Then install the SQLServer2005Express SP3 from Windows/Microsoft Update.

The same issue exists when updating SQL 2005 to SP3, even if it isn't mentioned
in the article. I've had several machines fail to install SP3, with a 0x2B2F
error, and this procedure solved the problem.

Did you try what was recommended above? Run the installer cleanup
(http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...bd/msicuu2.exe) then run SP3 installation again.

I am havnig the same issue with installing SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP3. MS Updates shows that I have successfully installed this update numerous times but I am always immediately prompted to install it again. I receive no error codes. It just shows to succesfully to have updated. I actually successfully updated this 7 times in the past 2 days and I'm about to give up. I have Windows XP. I have been using IE7 but recently installed IE8. I've had this issue for the past couple of months, long before I installed IE8. Can anyone help?

I can't find this entry MSXML 6 Service Pack 2 (KB954459)

what else I can do?

I think it would be best for you to start a new thread, describing exactly what
problem you're having, your operating system and service pack level, and
anything you've already tried. That way we won't be assuming anything from what
previous posters said that might not apply to your specific situation.

OKAY GUYS I'VE NEVER DONE THESE TREADS BEFORE AND I AM NOT A COMPUTER
EXPERT..JUST A REAL ESTATE AGENT...THANK YOU GUYS !!! YES I DOES
WORK..MICROSOFT IS A HUMMDINGER..NETHER HERE NOR THERE.

THANK YOU..THANK YOU..HARRY & BRYAN

MY HATS OFF TO YOU..!!!!!

I GOT THE SAME ERROR OX2B2F....IT HAS BEEN TRYING TO UPDATE THRU WINDOWS
AUTOMATIC UPDATE ON MY COMPUTER SINCE JULY 5TH ! I SEPT 2ND AND I WORKED ON
THIS ALL MORNING ONCE I FIGURED OUT SQL SERVER 2005 SP 2 AND SP 3 I LOADED
THE

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...bd/msicuu2.exe

IT INSTALLED VERY FAST..BUT THEN I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO RUN THE PROGRAM OR
WERE IT WAS..I FOUND IT..UNDER START..PROGRAMS..DA!..

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE..I WAS SO HAPPY I WANTED TO THANK YOU..SO I TRYED TO
SIGN UP WITH WINDOWS LIVE..GOOD OLD MICROSOFT..I ALREADY HAD AN ACCOUNT..DID
THEY MAKE IT EASY TO OBTAIN FORGOT PASSWORK OR EMAIL I CREATED ..THEY WOULD
NOT LET ME CREATE ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE I HAD ONE...SO I SWITCHED
COMPUTERS....SO AGAIN THANKS...

Thanks for the help!
I went to your suggested link;
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968749>
downloaded the Install cleaner, found the MSXML 6 entry, deleted it, went
back to install history, re-installed the SQL 2005 Express Edition that had
failed about a dozen times, and it successfully installed for me.

I'm a business analyst, NAV ERP oriented, and cautious about fooling around
with registry issues, installation issues, and general platform tuning. But,
this looked specific, easy, and worth the try. AND....the price was right!

[obgamer]

While agreeing with everything Bryan had to say, he also showed me the solutions. Kb 968749 described my problem exactly and the work-around appears to have fixed the issue.