Manually removing sql server 2008

Question

I am not able to remove sql server 2008 from my machine.

I installed it in the past as a part of the installation of an application, this installed the runtime of sql server 2008 SP0. But now I cannot uninstall.

I tried to use the setup of SP0 and even of SP2 but it was not able to uninstall, by giving fatal errors when it does the preliminary checks.

This means that the only option I have is format my machine?

I cannot even intall a new instance, something is really corrupted.

Is it a way to remove it manually?

Answer 1

Take a look at this blog post.

Answer 2

I tried to uninstall 3 times and the third time it was succesful, anyway I was not able to install due to fatal errors in the installer.

By trial and error I found that the problem was a list of non existing files in the following registry key (Windows Vista):

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\PendingFileRenameOperations

So i simply deleted The key PendingFileRenameOperations and tried to install, it installed succesfully.

Anyway thinkinf of automatizing this is crazy, the best way to reinstall is to isntall on a new machine (I mean for customers).