Forum Discussion
SQL Server 2022 Express Install Issues
I am a non tech savvy student trying to install SQL Server 2022 Express for class and I am running into issues, looking for help.
It gets all the way through the install process and gives me "Unable to install SQL Server (setup.exe) Exit code (Decimal): -2061893606Error description: Wait in the Database Engine recovery handle Failed. Check the SQL Server error log for potential causes" and C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\160\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20250903_162628
I have fully uninstalled anything related to SQL and reinstalled multiple times with no success. I reset windows, no luck. Any help would be appreciated.
1 Reply
It is highly likely that you've encountered "Scenario 3" of this article:
Troubleshoot Operating System Disk Sector Size Greater Than 4 KB - SQL Server | Microsoft LearnThis is a known issue with Win11 and modern storage devices due to changes in Windows storage drivers.
Assuming you're attempting to install to C:\, you can use the following to verify if you have the issue:
fsutil fsinfo sectorinfo C:If the values for either "PhysicalBytesPerSectorForAtomicity" or "PhysicalBytesPerSectorForPerformance" are larger than 4096, your SQL Server does not support your hardware out of the box.
In the same article there's a workaround described, using registry editor.
Editing the registry carries some risks, I recommend reading the articles resolution chapter.
In case the link dies at some point in the future, I will also leave the suggested registry change here:
# Add new registry key New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device" -Name "ForcedPhysicalSectorSizeInBytes" -PropertyType MultiString -Force -Value "* 4095" # Verify successful addition of the key Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device" -Name "ForcedPhysicalSectorSizeInBytes"
