Permission error during installation of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2

Solution 1:

I'm late to the party here, I realize, but I just wandered across this after having the same problem. The comment from @fission led me to the following KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2000257

The key information is here:

This behavior is by design. In addition to adding the user account that is running the setup as a local administrator as documented in How to: Install SQL Server 2008 (Setup), the setup user account requires the following default user rights for the setup to complete successfully.

Local Policy Object Display Name (User Right)

• Backup files and directories (SeBackupPrivilege)
• Debug Programs (SeDebugPrivilege)
• Manage auditing and security log (SeSecurityPrivilege)

Solution 2:

This post on MSDN forums worked for me:

I posted something on the Avast forums and got back a response that explains/solves the issue. Avast has a self-defense module that locks down permissions on the C:\Windows\Temp folder. It may lock down other folders, but I don't know that for sure.

This can be disabled. Doing so allows the installation to complete without error. To disable the Avast self-defence module:

Systray -> Right Click Avast -> Open Avast user interface -> Settings -> Troubleshooting -> Enable self-defense module.

Symantec does not cause the SQL installation to fail like Avast does. And, this problem does not happen on Windows 7.