Error during installation of SQL Server 2008: ''The registry key SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RsFx0103\InstancesShares is missing.''

You might encounter the following error during installation of SQL Server 2008:

"The registry key SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RsFx0103\InstancesShares is missing."

To resolve the error, perform these steps:

Important: Always back up the registry before making changes. Refer to microsoft.com on how to do a registry backup.

1. Launch Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RsFx0103
3. Right-click on RsFx0103, and then select New > Key.
4. Name the new key InstancesShares.
5. Perform a clean uninstall of the failed installation of SQL Server 2008. Follow the instructions located in article 1506, How to perform a clean uninstall of Microsoft SQL Server, for more information.
6. Retry the installation.

The installation should pass the previous point of failure.

OnGuard 2009 (6.3.249) or later
Microsoft SQL Server 2008