How to install Microsoft OLE DB Provider for DB2 Version 4.0 on Windows Server 2012 Core

If you’re happily running MS SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server 2012 Core, but you need to install the Microsoft OLE DB Provider for DB2 Version 4.0, that smile won’t last long.

The installation fails trying to create an Internet shortcut, as Internet Explorer isn’t installed:

Action 10:33:43: WixCreateInternetShortcuts. 
WixCreateInternetShortcuts: Creating IUniformResourceLocatorW shortcut 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft OLE DB Provider for DB2 Version 4.0\Online Help.url' target 'http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=232712'
WixCreateInternetShortcuts: Error 0x80040154: failed to create an instance of IUniformResourceLocatorW
WixCreateInternetShortcuts: Error 0x80040154: failed to create Internet shortcut
CustomAction WixCreateInternetShortcuts returned actual error code 1603

I solved this issue by creating a MSI transform to remove the actions creating the URL. I used my long time standby ORCA to create the transform. I’ve made the transform available for download.

So on with the installation on Windows Server 2012 Core.

First make sure you meet the prerequisites, 2 key packages being Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86 and x64). A quick way to see what you have installed on Core is with some PowerShell of course:

Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Sort Name | Select Name

Assuming you have the MSI and transform in a folder on your server, you can install with the following command (and you can add /qn to run silent):

C:\Installs>msiexec /i DB2OLEDBV4_x64.msi TRANSFORMS=noURL.mst /lv c:\installs\results.txt

I hope this helps save you some frustration!

-Joe