The current SKU is invalid - SQL Server 2008

This is an error you might get when when you try to install SQL Server 2008 or 2008 R2 to add a node to a failover cluster. As mentioned in the Microsoft KB Article:

FIX: Error message when you try to add a second node to a SQL Server 2008 failover cluster: "The current SKU is invalid"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957459

This problem occurs when you install SQL Server 2008 from a deployment share that uses a custom Defaultsetup.ini file, and this custom file includes the product key for SQL Server 2008. Additionally, this problem may occur when you install a second node for SQL Server 2008 from installation media that has a custom Defaultsetup.ini file that includes the product key.


While the resolution provided in the KB article to install CU1 for SQL Server 2008 might be the best step forward, unfortunately it did not seem to work for us. So we planned a work-around and it did work for us.

Work Around Steps:
1. The file DefaultSetup.ini is located under the below locations, depending on the processor architecutre you are using

SQL Server 2008 R2\x64\DefaultSetup.ini
SQL Server 2008 R2\ia64\DefaultSetup.ini
SQL Server 2008 R2\x86\DefaultSetup.ini

2. Open the file and it would read like below:

:SQLSERVER2008 Configuration File
[SQLSERVER2008]
PID="xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"

3. Make a note of the PID mentioned in the DefaultSetup.ini file and store it seperately.

4. Change the contents of the configuration file as below and save the file:

:SQLSERVER2008 Configuration File
[SQLSERVER2008]
PID=""

5. Re-launch the Setup and when you reach the below screen, enter the PID manually and that should take you though the window.

 


Applies To:
SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2008 R2