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repair-a-failed-sql-server-installation.md

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title Repair a Failed SQL Server Installation
description Follow these steps to repair an installation of SQL Server.
author rwestMSFT
ms.author randolphwest
ms.date 12/17/2025
ms.service sql
ms.subservice install
ms.topic install-set-up-deploy
monikerRange >=sql-server-2016

Repair a failed SQL Server installation

[!INCLUDE SQL Server -Windows Only]

Use the repair operation in the following scenarios:

  • Repair an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] that becomes corrupted after a successful installation.

  • Repair an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] if the upgrade operation is canceled or fails after the instance name is mapped to the newly upgraded instance.

    • If you see the following message in the summary log, you can repair the failed upgrade instance:

      [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] upgrade failed. To continue, investigate the reason for the failure, correct the problem, and then repair your installation.

    • If you see the following message in the summary log, you need to uninstall and reinstall [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]. You can't repair the [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] instance.

      [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] upgrade failed. To continue, investigate the reason for the failure, correct the problem.

Note

To repair [!INCLUDE ssexpress-md] edition, you need the offline installer. Run the [!INCLUDE ssexpress-md] edition installation and select the Download Media option. Use the downloaded executable to run [!INCLUDE ssnoversion-md] Setup in place of setup.exe.

Repair a SQL Server instance

When you repair an instance of [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion]:

  • All missing or corrupt files are replaced.
  • All missing or corrupt registry keys are replaced.
  • All missing or invalid configuration values are set to default values.

Before you continue, for [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] failover clusters, review the following important information:

Repair a failed installation of SQL Server from the Installation Center

  1. Launch the [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] Setup program (setup.exe) from [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] installation media.

  2. After prerequisites and system verification, the Setup program displays the [!INCLUDE ssNoVersion] Installation Center page.

  3. Select Maintenance in the left-hand navigation area, and then select Repair to start the repair operation.

    [!TIP]
    If you use the Start menu to launch the Installation Center, you need to provide the location of the installation media at this time.

  4. Setup support rule and file routines run to ensure that your system has prerequisites installed and that the computer passes Setup validation rules. Select OK or Install to continue.

  5. On the Select Instance page, select the instance to repair, and then select Next to continue.

  6. The repair rules run to validate the operation. To continue, select Next.

  7. The Ready to Repair page indicates that the operation is ready to proceed. To continue, select Repair.

  8. The Repair Progress page shows the status of the repair operation. The Complete page indicates that the operation is finished.

Repair a failed installation of SQL Server using the command prompt

Run the following command at a command prompt. Replace <instancename> with the name of the instance you want to repair.

setup.exe /q /ACTION=Repair /INSTANCENAME=<instancename>

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