Installing SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Tools fails with the error: “Another version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 has been detected on this system that must be updated to SP1. Please update all Visual Studio 2008 installation to SP1 level, by visiting Microsoft Update.”

Problem

You attempt to install SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Tools on a server or desktop:

but notice that it fails with the error:

Another version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 has been detected on this system that must be updated to SP1. Please update all Visual Studio 2008 installation to SP1 level, by visiting Microsoft Update.

Your SQL Server 2008 R2 setup operation has been cancelled.

Another version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 has been detected on this system that must be updated to SP1.  Please update all Visual Studio 2008 installations to SP1 level, by visiting Microsoft Update.

You attempt to download Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 (Installer) from the following URL:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=10986

… but when running the install throws the following error:

Setup has detected that this computer does not meet the requirements to install this update. The following flocking issues must be resolved before you can install Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 SP1 software update.

Installation Requirements:

A compatible version of Visual Studio 2008 was not detected on the system. This update is designed for only the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 (ENU) product family, and is not compatible with any Express editions.

Solution

This probably was a difficult one to resolve as it took me quite a bit of searching to find a solution and the time it took to find an answer is why I choose to write this post in hopes that I could help someone who may experience the same problem.  What ended up working for me was instructions a user posted in the following thread:

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlsetupandupgrade/thread/baf09c3f-be97-4bc8-b6d7-bdeea2e3719e

I went ahead and located the SP and SPIndex REG_DWORD attributes in the following registry keys:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftDevDivVSServicing9.0
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftDevDivVSServicing9.0VSR1033

… and changed the values from 0 to 1:

Changed to 1:

The user also suggested to change SPName REG_SZ to RTM but I did not have to do this as the install successfully completed with the previous changes: