Repair/Remove/Install processes for SQL Server 2012 Express get stuck or hung

Question

An instance of SQL Server 2012 Express became corrupted somehow.
I suspect it was related in some way to my use of Entity Framework, but have no proof yet.

When

Answer 1

Try sbEnable=1

This advice from TechNet worked for me:

Following Registry-Key must be set to 1[...]:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppCompat\sbEnable = 1

In my case that registry directory did not exist at all. And the uninstall was STILL stuck at that location for several (less than 10) minutes. But eventually it continued and finished.