Install fails because of SA password - horrible installer experience

Question

I'm really disappointed in the installer experience for SQL Server Express. I was prompted to enter a SA password. I did. It went through the download, installed, asked me to reboot, etc, and ended at a failure. Why? Because my SA password wasn't strong
enough. Why in the heck didn't it tell me that when it prompted? 

Answer 1

Hi,
Antivirus software or password policy check failure could make the installation failed.
I suggest you disable the antivirus software and follow the below steps to disable the password policy enforcement feature, then try install again, also check the setup log if installation failed
Disable the password policy enforcement feature for the SQL Server login, please take these steps:
1) Create a reg key by name “SQLArg3” of type REG_SZ in the registry location 
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\<Instance ID Created by the install>\MSSQLServer\Parameters and add the value “-T4606”
Note: SQLArg3 should be replaced with a value higher than existing keys. So if you already have SQLArg0, SQLArg1, SQLArg2, SQLArg3 then add the value above with SQLArg4
2) Stop SQL Server Service and click “Retry” in the setup window and setup should proceed further and complete successfully.
Additional information:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlsakthi/archive/2010/09/02/login-failed-for-user-sa-while-installing-sql-server-2005.aspx
Thanks.
Tracy Cai
TechNet Community Support