To make my AlwaysOn demo up-to-date with latest release, I uninstalled SQL Server 2012 (a.k.a. Denali) CTP3 from my machine(s) and and started to install SQL Server 2012 RC0.

Setup started fine and later after doing feature selection and then I received this error. Interestingly I didn’t receive error another machine both were made from same image.

Here is the text of the error message for better search.

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Rule Check Result
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Rule "Prior Visual Studio 2010 instances requiring update." failed.

This computer has an installation of Visual Studio 2010 that requires a Service Pack 1 update that is needed for a successful installation of SQL Server based on your feature selection. To continue, install the required Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1 from SQL Server media or from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=220649.
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OK  
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one might ask, I don’t have Visual Studio product installed, why do I get this error. Well, SQL Server Tools (SSMS, BIDS) uses Visual Studio Shell. But, I thought that why setup didn’t do this check on earlier screens. Later, looking at the code I realized that we do this check if we install components which need Visual Studio Shell (like SQL Server Management Studio)

Here is the public proof of my theory from setup logs. You will also understand what all we check over here.

<Detail.txt>
(07) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Loading rule: DEV10RTMDetected
(07) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Creating rule target object: Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SetupExtension.DetectInstalledProductsFacet
(07) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Rule applied features  : BIDS;SSMS
…
…

(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Init rule target object: Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SetupExtension.DetectInstalledProductsFacet
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VSIntShellRTM_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VSIsoShellRTM_Cpu32: Installed – Version: 10.0.30319
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VBExpress_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VCSExpress_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VCExpress_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID WPExpress_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VSPremium_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VSPro_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VSTE_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VSUltimate_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VSLabAgent_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VSTestAgent_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VSTestController_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Package ID VWDExpress_Cpu32: NotInstalled
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: The package ‘VSIsoShellRTM_Cpu32’ is installed.
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Rule ‘DEV10RTMDetected’ detection result: AreAnyProductsInstalled= True
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Evaluating rule        : DEV10RTMDetected
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Rule running on machine: ALWAYSON-SRV4
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Rule evaluation done   : Failed
(12) 2011-12-07 22:46:51 Slp: Rule evaluation message: This computer has an installation of Visual Studio 2010 that requires a Service Pack 1 update that is needed for a successful installation of SQL Server based on your feature selection. To continue, install the required Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1 from SQL Server media or from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=220649.
</Detail.txt>

DEV10RTMDetected is the rule name and it would fire only if you select BIDS and/or SSMS, we would fire the rule and block installation on failure. Now why it did not come on another machine because I didn’t select tools there.

Okay, now you may ask – what I need to do now? Well, have a look at error message. It tells you the action needed. So here are the solutions.

• Go to http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=220649 and download SP1. As per note on the link

  ”This web installer downloads and installs Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1. An Internet connection is required during installation”

• Other better way is to use the setup media. Yes, you read is correctly, SQL Server 2012 RC0 setup media. Below is the location of the package to install Visual Studio 2010 SP1

Once you start installing this patch, below is what you would see.

If you have not cancelled the setup after seeing the message, you can use “Re-run” button to run the check again

And you are green!!

Now, go ahead with the setup and post a comment here if this helped.

Cheers,
Balmukund Lakhani
Twitter @blakhani