BUG: BOL Incorrect on SAPASSWORD and USEDEFAULTSAPWD Options for SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine Installation (285103)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE)
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE) SP1
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE) SP2

This article was previously published under Q285103

BUG #: 234939 (SHILOH_BUGS)

SYMPTOMS

The "Merging the Desktop Engine into Windows Installer" topic in Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Books Online incorrectly documents that you can use the SAPASSWORD and USEDEFAULTSAPWD parameters when you install the SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine by using Microsoft Windows Installer Merge modules.

CAUSE

The SQL Server 2000 Books Online documentation is incorrect. The SAPASSWORD and USEDEFAULTSAPWD options are not available when you use the products mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

WORKAROUND

The SAPASSWORD and USEDEFAULTSAPWD options are unavailable due to security purposes. If a system administrator (sa) password needs to modified, you should be able to make the modification after the installation completes successfully.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server 2000 Books Online.

MORE INFORMATION

According to SQL Server 2000 Books Online, the SAPASSWORD and USEDEFAULTSAPWD options have the following functionality:

Option	Description
SAPASSWORD	Can be used to modify the "sa" password.
USEDEFAULTSAPWD	Can be used to assign a blank password to the "sa" login.

However, because these commands are not available, specifying them on the command line when you run the SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine installation through the Microsoft Windows Installer has no affect. This behavior is also mentioned in the Readme.txt file included with the SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine installation.

REFERENCES

For additional information about MSDE and SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

810826 INF: New Switches in MSDE Service Pack 3 Setup

See the "Desktop Engine Setup Parameters" topic in the Readme.txt file that is included with SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine installation.

For additional information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

227091 Command-Line Switches for the Microsoft Windows Installer Tool

280352 HOWTO: Install SQL Server CE from the Command Line and Generate a Log File

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	8/25/2006
Keywords:	kbBug kbpending KB285103