Missing MSI files SQL Server 2008 R2 SP3

Question

I have hit an issue while installing Service Pack 3 for SQL Server 2008 R2. The existing version is
10.50.4295.0 (SP2+CU9)
 When running the SP3 file the following error occurs
SQL Server Setup has encountered the following error:
The cached MSI file 'C:\Windows\Installer\91a4f43.msi' is missing.
Its original file is 'sql_engine_core_inst.msi' and it was installed for product 'SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2 Database Engine Services' from '\\ServerName\Share$\SQL\SQL105\ENT\x64\setup\sql_engine_core_inst_msi\', version '10.52.4000.0', language 'ENU'.
To resolve this problem, recover the missing file from the installation media and start setup again.
For more information about how to resolve this problem, see 'Steps to restore the missing Windows Installer cache files' (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=144387) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
Error code 0x84B20002.
The next I tried to remove CU9 before applying SP3. The following error occurred when CU 9 was attempted to be removed.
The cached patch file 'C:Windows\Installer\483c7040.msp' is missing.

Answer 1

Hello Alberto,
I tried this link
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969052
Using the VB script FindSQLInstall I tried getting some details about the missing MSI files. Just sharing the details incase you may have some details or better insight on what it says.
!!!! C:\Windows\Installer\91a4f43.msi DOES NOT exist in the Installer cache. !!!!
      Action needed, recreate or re-establish path to the directory:
\\Servername\Sharename$\SQL\SQL105\ENT\x64\setup\sql_engine_core_inst_msi\then rerun this script to update installer cache and results
     The path on the line above must exist at the root location to resolve
     this problem with your msi/msp file not being found or corrupted,
     In some cases you may need to manually copy the missing file or manually
     replace the problem file overwriting it is exist:
      Copy "\\Servername\ShareName$\SQL\SQL105\ENT\x64\setup\sql_engine_core_inst_msi\sql_engine_core_inst.msi" C:\Windows\Installer\91a4f43.msi
 It points to a location that doesn’t exist in the central server (servername) from where usually the installation media is present. The folder structures were re-arranged and the path mentioned (\\Servername\ShareName$\SQL\SQL105\ENT\x64\setup\sql_engine_core_inst_msi)
is no longer there.
Now from where do I copy this particular .MSI file? I've tried using search option but I'm unable to find it.
One more update is that I was successfully able to do the SP3 upgrade on another server which was SQL Server 2008R2 SP2 (No CU on it)
Hi Jayakrishna,
After your above steps, please put the SQL Server setup media on the same path
\\Servername\Sharename$\SQL, then run the VB script again and it will recreate the MSI file on the path C:\Windows\Installer with the name “91a4f43.msi“.
If the error still occurs, then you can manually restore the missing MSI file following the steps of Procedure 2 in this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969052 .
In addition, we recommend you use local copy of media to install SQL Server 2008 R2 SP3.
Thanks,
Lydia Zhang