Hi,
I came across the following issue when trying to install SQL Express Edition SP2 on my Vista Business Edition laptop today. The install would kick off fine but about half way through it will fail with the error message…
Product: Microsoft SQL Server Native
Client — Error 1706. An installation package for the product Microsoft SQL Server Native Client cannot be found. Try the installation again using a valid copy of the installation package ’sqlncli.msi’
It turns out I already have the SQL Native Client installed, but for some reason the Express installer doesn’t detect this. Thankfully there is a simple fix, just go to add and remove programs (or Programs and Features in Vista) and uninstall the SQL Native Client. I’d recommend you uninstall any other SQL 2005 components that were installed before the setup failed to ensure a clean install the next time. Once you’ve got everything uninstalled, re-run the setup and you shouldn’t have any problems.
N3ilb
Thank you! Now I can stop beating my head against a wall.
Install worked, my head not so much.
By: KenK on August 19, 2008
at 8:05 pm
Ken, no worries, glad you found this useful!
By: n3ilb on September 5, 2008
at 5:39 pm
Thanks now it works no more problems woot wooot
By: O tjanks man it woeks on September 11, 2008
at 11:22 pm
This works for those of us programming on XP platforms as well – I had the same issue installing SQL Server 2005 Express.
cheers!
By: RobertC on November 25, 2008
at 11:38 pm
Robert – you are very welcome, glad you found it useful!
By: n3ilb on November 26, 2008
at 11:13 pm
Thanks man you saved me.
By: Jeff Tan on December 18, 2008
at 6:24 am
Thank you so much for the solution. I was so upset with SQL Express not getting installed on Vista, coz the same setup would run flawlessly on other machines. Didnt realise that there was an old corrupt SQL setup installed on the Vista box.
By: Prashant Joshi on December 26, 2008
at 12:19 pm
Thanks a lot it works fine after uninstallation of native client.
By: Chitta on March 28, 2009
at 11:22 am
You’re very welcome, glad it helped!
By: n3ilb on March 28, 2009
at 3:24 pm