Login failed for user 'sa' while installing SQL Server 2005

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I was working in a SQL Server 2005 setup case which failed while starting SQL Service with error: 

SQL Server Setup could not connect to the database service for server configuration. The error was: [Microsoft][SQL Native Client][SQL Server]Login failed for user 'sa'. Refer to server error logs and setup logs for more information.

 

Then I reviewed the SQL Server error log and noted that 

DateTime Logon Error: 18456, Severity: 14, State: 10

DateTime Logon Login failed for user 'sa'.

 

As per https://support.microsoft.com/kb/925744 State 10 corresponds to PASSWORD POLICY CHECK failure. The box I was working was in a workgroup. So we went ahead and used trace flag 4606 to byepass password policy check.

 

How to do that?  

Create a reg key by name “SQLArg3” of type REG_SZ in the registry location  

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\<Instance ID Created by the install>\MSSQLServer\Parameters 

and add the value “-T4606”

 

Note: SQLArg3 should be replaced with a value higher than existing keys. So if you already have SQLArg0, SQLArg1, SQLArg2, SQLArg3 then add the value above with SQLArg4

 

Now stop SQL Server Service and click “Retry” in the setup window and setup should proceed further and complete successfully.

 

Use of trace flag 4606 is documented in https://support.microsoft.com/kb/936892

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 31, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 31, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    February 28, 2011
    Hi, We encountered the same error when installing SQL Server 2005 EE on a windows 2003 Server, which is a Domain Member. Also, Password Policy check is disabled at the Domain Controller level. Adding the registry key as per your post helped complete the installation.Could you please guide us on finding the root cause of the issue or is it some kind of a bug with SQL 2005 Installer ? .. Because No password policy was enabled at the DC and we were able to install SQL 2005 EE successfully on other Domain Member servers with the same 'sa' password.. Thanks !

  • Anonymous
    March 01, 2011
    Please confirm whether you password policy settings are reflecting locally too. You can do this by checking "password length" and "Password must meet complexity requirements" under "Computer SettingsWindows SettingsSecurity SettingsAccount PoliciesPassword Policy" in gpedit.msc

  • Anonymous
    March 01, 2011
    Hi, Many thanks for the response ! The Password Policy 'Password Must Meet Complexity Requirements' is set to 'Disabled' under Group Policy of the Domain Controller.. The same password Policy is Grayed out locally for the Windows 2003 Domain Member server where SQL 2005 is installed. This local setting was verified using 'secpol.msc' and under Account Policy Password Policy..Same was the case when checked using 'gpedit.msc' also.. In addition, the settings are same on other Domain Member servers with SQL, which seem to have no problem with the 'sa' password at all.. Kindly advise if additional details are required. Thanks !