I need help installing SQL Server 2012 Express

Question

I am very much an amateur. I got a new machine. The old one had Server 2008 R2 but the recommendation was that I need to move to 2012 Express.
When I moved to the new machine, the mover (LapLink) screwed up the version of 2008 R2. IOW, I now have to go forward and install 2012..
I downloaded all the 64 bit files (5 of them). When I start SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe, the process starts and then I'm given the choice of a new install or upgrade. I chose the new install. The process started and I got the following message ...
"Failed to retrieve data for this request.."
There are no hints anyplace as to what this means.
When I click "OK", a new status window pops up and proclaims that something is wrong. Then all activity stops.
I don't know what to do. I can't use either version and I really can't tell you much more to help me.
Eric Johnson

Answer 1

I'm not certain how to send the log material so I'll just cut 'n paste the file named "Summary_Eric-PC_20140921_134001_GlobalRules" If this isn't the right way, please forgive me and suggest what is right. Anyway, here goes ...
Overall summary:
  Final result:                  Failed: see details below
  Exit code (Decimal):           -2146233088
  Exit facility code:            19
  Exit error code:               5376
  Exit message:                  Failed to retrieve data for this request.
  Start time:                    2014-09-21 13:40:09
  End time:                      2014-09-21 13:40:29
  Requested action:              RunRules
  Exception help link:           http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?LinkId=20476&ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=setup.rll&EvtID=50000&ProdVer=11.0.2100.60&EvtType=0x48BB60BC%400xBB814387&EvtType=0x48BB60BC%400xBB814387
Machine Properties:
  Machine name:                  ERIC-PC
  Machine processor count:       8
  OS version:                    Windows 7
  OS service pack:               Service Pack 1
  OS region:                     United States
  OS language:                   English (United States)
  OS architecture:               x64
  Process architecture:          64 Bit
  OS clustered:                  No
Package properties:
  Description:                   Microsoft SQL Server 2012
  ProductName:                   SQL Server 2012
  Type:                          RTM
  Version:                       11
  SPLevel:                       0
  Installation location:         c:\851594228c4871a4e88415938631\x64\setup\
  Installation edition:          Express
User Input Settings:
  ACTION:                        RunRules
  CONFIGURATIONFILE:             
  ENU:                           true
  FEATURES:                      
  HELP:                          false
  INDICATEPROGRESS:              false
  INSTANCENAME:                  <empty>
  PID:                           *****
  QUIET:                         false
  QUIETSIMPLE:                   false
  RULES:                         GlobalRules
  UIMODE:                        AutoAdvance
  X86:                           false
  Configuration file:            C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20140921_134001\ConfigurationFile.ini
Rules with failures:
Global rules:
There are no scenario-specific rules.
Rules report file:               The rule result report file is not available.
Exception summary:
The following is an exception stack listing the exceptions in outermost to innermost order
Inner exceptions are being indented
Exception type: Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.EnumeratorException
    Message:
        Failed to retrieve data for this request.
    Data:
      HelpLink.ProdName = Microsoft SQL Server
      HelpLink.BaseHelpUrl = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink
      HelpLink.LinkId = 20476
      HelpLink.EvtType = 0x48BB60BC@0xBB814387
      DisableWatson = true
    Stack:
        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.Enumerator.Process(Object connectionInfo, Request request)
        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Chainer.Infrastructure.SqlDiscoveryDatastoreInterface.ProcessDTbl(DataTable dt, Int32 level)
        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Chainer.Infrastructure.SqlDiscoveryDatastoreInterface.ProcessDTbl(DataTable dt, Int32 level)
        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Chainer.Infrastructure.SqlDiscoveryDatastoreInterface.CollectSqlDiscoveryData(String machineName)
        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Chainer.Infrastructure.SqlDiscoveryDatastoreInterface.CollectDiscoveryData(String machineName)
        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Chainer.Infrastructure.SqlDiscoveryDatastoreInterface.LoadData(IEnumerable`1 machineNames, String discoveryDocRootPath, String clusterDiscoveryDocRootPath)
        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.SetupExtension.RunDiscoveryAction.ExecuteAction(String actionId)
        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Chainer.Infrastructure.Action.Execute(String actionId, TextWriter errorStream)
        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Setup.Chainer.Workflow.ActionInvocation.ExecuteActionHelper(TextWriter statusStream, ISequencedAction actionToRun, ServiceContainer context)
    Inner exception type: Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.Sco.ScoException
        Message:
                Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation.
        HResult : 0x84bb0001
                FacilityCode : 1211 (4bb)
                ErrorCode : 1 (0001)
        Data:
          WatsonData = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE@SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.SQLEXPRESS\Setup
        Stack:
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.Sco.InternalRegistryKey.OpenSubKey(String subkey, RegistryAccess requestedAccess)
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.Sco.SqlRegistryKey.OpenSubKey(String subkey, RegistryAccess requestedAccess)
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Discovery.DiscoveryUtils.GetLocalMachineSubKey(ServiceContainer ctx, String machineName, RegistryView regView, String regPath, RegistryAccess registryAccess)
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Discovery.DiscoveryEnumObject.GetInstanceMapObject(String machineName, RegistryView registryView, String instanceId, String instanceName, String
instanceType, String instanceSuffix, UpgradedInstanceStateEnum instanceState)
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Discovery.DiscoveryEnumObject.GetInstanceMapCollectionInHive(String machineName, RegistryView regView, List`1 subKeys)
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Discovery.DiscoveryEnumObject.GetInstanceMapCollection()
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Discovery.Instance.GetData(EnumResult erParent)
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.Environment.GetData()
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.Environment.GetData(Request req, Object ci)
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.Enumerator.GetData(Object connectionInfo, Request request)
                at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.Enumerator.Process(Object connectionInfo, Request request)
        Inner exception type: System.UnauthorizedAccessException
            Message:
                        Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation.
            Stack:
                        at Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.Sco.InternalRegistryKey.OpenSubKey(String subkey, RegistryAccess requestedAccess)