Thanks for the tip Nino!

I wanted to do a little research on using SQL Server Compact Edition (SSCE) today.  I downloaded it and installed it.  No problem.  I then downloaded the SSCE tools for Visual Studio 2005 SP1.  I tried to install these and was greeted with a most unpleasant message:

"The upgrade patch cannot be installed by the Windows Installer service because the program to be upgraded may be missing, or the upgrade patch may update a different version of the program. Verify that the program to be upgraded exists on your computer and that you have the correct upgrade patch."

I was thinking a reinstall of SP1 might be worth it, but that took forever the first time I did it so I didn't want to repeat that process.  I started searching the blogs and came across this post by mobility guru Nino Benvenuti.  He had a much quicker and easier solution (which he only found after doing a reinstall of SP1 himself):

From the original Visual Studio installation media, locate the \WCU folder and install SQL Mobile from there. 

Once I did this, I retried the install and it worked!  Thanks Nino -- you saved me a bunch of time!

1 Comment

  • Wow, excellent tip, i tried the install SP1 but still gave me that message. This was much easier. I did get confused thou because after runnning the SQL mobile it does not say anything was installed, i waited just in case, but nothing, it however did install as I was able to run the SSCEtools afte that.

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