Can not install sql server 2008 r2 express on windows 7 64 - error 0x80070002

When trying to install sql server 2008 R2 from the SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe the file extracts, but after the extract the installer never runs (I can see the cmd prompt window flash briefly). In %TEMP%, I found the SQLsetup.log with this error:

01/27/2012 15:34:51.059 ======================================================================
01/27/2012 15:34:51.059 Setup launched
01/27/2012 15:34:51.059 Attempting to determine media source
01/27/2012 15:34:51.059 Media source value not specified on command line argument.
01/27/2012 15:34:51.075 Setup is launched from media directly so default the value to the current folder.
01/27/2012 15:34:51.106 Media source: c:\5221130223cc01b446a08e\
01/27/2012 15:34:51.106 Attempt to determine media layout based on file 'c:\5221130223cc01b446a08e\mediainfo.xml'.
01/27/2012 15:34:51.122 Media layout is detected as: Core
01/27/2012 15:34:51.122 Not a slip stream media, so continuing to run setup.exe from media.
01/27/2012 15:34:51.122 /? or /HELP or /ACTION=HELP specified: false
01/27/2012 15:34:51.122 Help display: false
01/27/2012 15:34:51.122 Checking to see if we need to install .Net version 3.5
01/27/2012 15:34:51.122 Checking to see if we need to install MSI version 4.5
01/27/2012 15:34:51.122 RedistMSI::GetExpectedBuildRevision - Setup expects MSI 4.5.6001.22159 at the minimum
01/27/2012 15:34:51.122 Attempting to get Windows Installer version
01/27/2012 15:34:51.122 Setup closed with exit code: 0x80070002
01/27/2012 15:34:51.137 ======================================================================

I've looked up this error all over the internet and it states that you need .NET 3.5, but I also see this is embedded in windows 7. The 4.5 Windows installer also seems to already be loaded???

Any help would be appreciated, I've spent several hours trying to find a solution to no avail.

Thanks in advance!

 

Hi paul7410 and welcome to MGs.

This trouble shooting procedure may help if the installer itself is causing the problem - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2438651