My guess is that the configuration of the SQL Server Express install is not optimised for WPS. I have used both SQL Express 2005 and 2008 with WPS 7 and the install process has no delays when performed manually following the instructions provided in the old Altiris KB.

The KB information is now in the new Symwise KB, so if you go here:

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=answers&startover=y&question_box=SQL+Server+Express&product_finder=Wise+Package+Studio&productselectorkey=56161&myclicker.x=7&myclicker.y=8

you will find links to a number of articles about setting up SQL Server Express for use with WPS.

I have not tried with SQL Express 2008 R2 but I would expect the same basic settings to work with this version as it has for the previous versions.

Let us know how you get on.

Have you tried manual installs to see if there are any issues arising?

Are you using the 64 bit edition of SQL Express 2008 R2?  I have only ever worked with 32 bit editions so cannot comment whether there are any issues with using the 64 bit version.

I do recall that installing on Vista required UAC to be turned off, but this was back with WPS 6.  It would be interesting to test the Win 7 install with UAC turned off also, since elevation is certainly needed to get both the SQL Express software installed, and also the WPS software. However, using the "Install as Admin" right click option on the installation executables, runs the install in the context of the local admin account and not in the context of the current user, so I wonder if there could be any user profile issues, as WPS's licensing information is stored in HKCU and is only valid for the installing user. Therefore the installation has to be carried out using the credentials of the user account that will subsequently use the tool, and elevation has to be applied to that account to permit correct installation.  By turning off UAC, you at least enable your admin account to run with full admin privileges so no additional elevation is required during the install.

If you can get it all working manually, then at least you are on the way to getting it all working via an unattended install, which I believe is your aim.  I cannot recall whether the SQL server express install requires a reboot to get all the services running, but a manual install will show up any such requirements.

One final thought - if you continue to have issues with SQL Express 2008 R2, try the R1 version.

By the way, if your intention is to create packages for multiple environments, eg XP and Win 7, then standard practices recommend you package on XP rather than Win 7, as this creates less issues with the resultant packages. You may also find that turning off UAC makes life easier when performing tasks such as capturing old applications. This leads me to another point - the WPS 8 capture engine does not work fully on 64 bit operating systems, so if you have a requirement to capture applications, do not use a 64 bit operating system as your test platform. (Capture is a 32 bit process so only records changes to the 32 bit areas of a 64 bit operating system)

You made some good points, Ed.

Re: SQL Express 2008 R2 - I match the version of SQL Express to the OS --in other words, I install 32-bit SQLE on Win7 32-bit and the 64-bit version on Win7 64-bit.

Re: UAC - we have also run into issues with this before, so a pre-requirement of running a local Wise install is to turn off UAC (set to lowest possible setting).

Re: reboot - I have not yet seen any reboot prompts on a manual install of SQLE 2008 R2 & Win8.0.

Re: SQL Express 2008 R1 - that's not a bad idea.  I'll have to try that and see if I get better results.

Re: Wise SetupCapture on Win7 64-bit - I couldn't agree more.  When Symantec says Wise 8.0 is "compliant" on 64-bit Windows 7, "compliant" is mighty loose term ;-).  For starters, the default exclusion list doesn't have *any* Win7 entries, much less 64-bit.  Wise Web Capture and other tools either don't work at all or work poorly on 64-bit.

Just for the record. There is no such thing as SQL Express 2008 R1. Only SQL Server Express 2008 including SP1 and SP2 (so far). R2 is different, because it contains some new features.

The naming scheme by Microsoft is not the best in my opinion, because people will mix this up with Windows Server 2008 R2, which is a 64-bit operating system only.

Sorry, my mistake. I was in fact referring to SQL Express 2008 with whatever service packs are applicable currently. I wrongly assumed that this was actually called the R1 release to differentiate it from the newer R2 release, but this would appear to be incorrect.

You make a valid point with your reference to 64 bit operating systems. As I understand it, there is a difference in the way that 32 bit and 64 bit DSNs are created, but I am unsure whether a 64 bit version of SQL Express can be accessed with a 32 bit DSN. Since the Wise products are all strictly 32 bit applications, and the tech notes have always referenced 32 bit versions of SQL Express, I would personally stick with what has worked for me in the past, even on a 64 bit O/S.

At some point, I am going to have to bite the bullet and set up a 64 bit VM on my 64 bit laptop and do some experimenting with the different versions of SQL Express, but in the meantime, if you get to any conclusive point, please let us share your experiences.