Installing SQL Server 2012 Express fails with error " Could not find the Database Engine startup handle."

I'm attempting to install SQL Server Express 2012 w/ SP1 x64 on Windows 7 SP1 x64. This machine has previously had SQL Server Express 2012 installed. This instance was upgraded to SQL Server 2012 Standard, which has since been uninstalled.

Following are the options selected during the install:

-
Include SQL Server product updates in install -- 2 related to KB
2793634

-
Install all features to default directories

-
Named instance SQLEXPRESS in default instance root directory

-
Default services accounts: SQL Server Database Engine -> NT
Service\MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS

-
Default Database Engine Configuration

The install fails with following error:

TITLE: Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1 Setup


The following error has occurred:


Could not find the Database Engine startup handle.


For help, click:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?LinkID=20476&ProdName=Microsoft%20SQL%20Server&EvtSrc=setup.rll&EvtID=50000&ProdVer=11.0.3128.0&EvtType=0xD15B4EB2%25400x4BDAF9BA%25401306%254025


------------------------------ BUTTONS:

OK

I've read that this may be related to a corrupt MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS virtual account.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

Thanks,

Jon.

Summary.txt


Overall summary: Final result: Failed: see details
below Exit code (Decimal): -2061893607 Start time:

2014-03-24 12:08:49 End time: 2014-03-24
12:28:21 Requested action: Install


Setup completed with required actions for features. Troubleshooting
information for those features: Next step for SQLEngine: Use
the following information to resolve the error, uninstall this
feature, and then run the setup process again. Next step for
Replication: Use the following information to resolve the error,
uninstall this feature, and then run the setup process again.


Machine Properties: Machine name: MONTREAL

Machine processor count: 4 OS version:

A simple and complete solution to error ' Could not find database engine startup handle' in below link
Reason for the error can be

1.The account which user selected on Server Configuration page window ( during installation) is somehow not able to bring SQL Server database engine services online. Either is lacks privilege or it is corrupted. During installation of database engine services SQL Server tries to bring online database services as a internal process but due to startup account either corrupt or not having appropriate privileges it fails to do so and ultimately installation fails.

2.Other reason is when installation fails first time due to some reason and user uninstall failed installation from add remove program, the un-installation leaves account in broken state so any further attempt to install flashes this error message

Solution can be.

Uninstall SQL server completely from Add remove program

Launch setup by right click on it and select run as administrator. After launching the setup and providing necessary details you would reach to Server Configuration page . When you reach this page please select startup account for Database Engine services as NT Authority\SYSTEM which is also called as Local System account.

Complete details in SQL Server Installation Error:Could not find database engine startup handle

StackExchange Database Administrators Q#61616, answer score: 10