MSDE Install Issues on an Upgraded XP Pro Machine

Problem:

MSDE won't install on a machine that has been upgraded from Windows 98 or Millennium to Windows XP Professional.

Cause:

When upgrading from Windows 98 or Millennium to Windows XP Professional, the performance counters can be formatted improperly.  You will see the following error on the Event Viewer:

"The performance counter name string value in the registry is incorrectly formatted.  The bogus string is 4820, the bogus index value is the first DWORD in Data section while the last valid index values are second and third DWORD in Data section."

Solution:

1. From the Windows Start Menu, click on "Run."

2. The box that opens reads "Type the name of a program, folder, document, or Internet resource, and Windows will open it for you."  In the Open: field, type in the following: "cmd", and click on the [OK] icon.  A "Command Prompt" screen opens.

3. In the Command Prompt window, type in the following: "lodctr /r:perfstringbackup.ini," and press [ENTER].  This reconfigures the performance counters.

You also need to ensure that you have downloaded and installed all critical updates and Service Packs for Windows XP Professional.  To check on which updates are required go to "www.microsoft.com."

Once you have downloaded and installed all Windows XP Professional critical updates, you need to download and install Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) version 2.61.7326.6.

Go to the following address to download this installation:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0e1e4fae-4abe-4cf7-b522-2c4cfce25de6&DisplayLang=en

Once you have installed MDAC, try the install again.