Wait on the Database Engine recovery handle failed!! SQL Server 2012 installation

Question

Can someone please guide me on how to overcome the following error. I am trying to install SQL Server 2012 Express on my win7 32bit system. I had SQL Server 2008 R2 32 bit i

Answer 1

The problem is with the new account creation after Windows 8.1 Update 1 for me. If you are trying to install on Win8.1.1 try the instructions found here

Basically you need to reset the permissions on the default account. I remember someone having problems with creating new child accounts after this update as well.