Installing SQL Server 2008 on Windows 7 - Restart Computer Failed.

I have just bought a new PC and I am trying to install SQL Server 2008 Developer on it. The computer is running Windows 7 enterprise 64bit. However, I keep getting an error message on the Setup Support Rules check list. It always fails at the same point Restart Computer. I will try to post the solution here once I find it.
Solution update (19/02/10): Go to the bottom of article.

Running the installation process.

On the installation center I choose New SQL Server and stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation which is found under Installation. Once the program starts running I get the following error message.
---------------------------------

This program has known compatibility issues

Check online to see if solutions are available from the Microsoft website. If solutions are found, Windows will automatically display a website that list the steps you can take.

Program: Microsoft SQL Server 2009
Publisher: Microsoft
Location: F:\setup.exe

After SQL Server Setup completes, you must apply SQL Server 2008 Service Pack (SP1) or a later service pack before you run SQL Server 2008 on this version of Windows.

[check for online solutions] [run program] [cancel]
---------------------------------

I click [check for online solutions] and get the following window:
---------------------------------

Solve a problem with SQL Server 2008

Your version of SQL Server 2008 isn't compatible with this version of Windows.
An update is available that solves this problem.

Click to download the update from the Microsoft Corporation website
(Link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/968382)
---------------------------------

The link takes me to the SQL Server 2008 Service Pack (SP1) download page, and I down load the appropriate service pack and try to install it (SQLServer2008SP1-KB968369-x64-ENU.exe).

At the very start of the installation the installation process runs a series of check and it fails at the restart computer check point. Upon viewing the detailed report I get the following table. I find it odd as I have restarted the computer serveral times without it solving the problem.

When I try to repeat the SQL Server installation process  and click [run program] instead of [check for online solutions] I get the same error message Restart computer as with the SP1 installation error.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Setup - System Configuration Check Report

Computer Name(s): PR-PC
Report Date/Time: 17.02.2010 11:59
Saved to Directory: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20100217_115932\SystemConfigurationCheck_Report.htm

Rule Name		Rule Description	Result	Message/Corrective Action
PatchGlobalRules: SQL Server 2008 Setup configuration checks for rules group 'PatchGlobalRules'
	RebootRequiredCheck	Checks if a pending computer restart is required. A pending restart can cause Setup to fail.	Failed	A computer restart is required. You must restart this computer before installing SQL Server.
	AclPermissionsFacet	Checks if the SQL Server registry keys are consistent.	Passed	SQL Server registry keys are consistent and can support SQL Server installation or upgrade.
	Cluster_IsLocalNodeGroupOwner	Checks if the local computer is an owner of an online cluster group for a failover cluster instance that contains the SQL Server service, Analysis Services service or a generic service.	Passed	The local computer is not an owner of an online cluster group for a failover cluster instance that contains the SQL Server service, Analysis Services service or a generic service. The SQL Server instances do not need to be taken offline.
	Cluster_IsOnlineIfClustered	Verifies that the computer is not clustered or that the computer is clustered and the cluster service is online.	Passed	The computer is either not clustered or the cluster is up and online.
	Engine_ResourceDLLUpdateRestartCheck	Checks whether shared resource DLLs will be updated, causing restarts for clustered SQL Server instances active on this node.	Passed	Cluster resource DLLs will not be updated, or there are no other clustered SQL Server instances active on this node.
	OsVersionCheck	Checks whether the computer meets minimum operating system version requirements.	Passed	The operating system version meets the minimum requirements for this product.
	ThreadHasAdminPrivilegeCheck	Checks whether the account running SQL Server Setup has administrator rights on the computer.	Passed	The account running SQL Server Setup has administator rights on the computer.
	WmiServiceStateCheck	Checks whether the WMI service is started and running on the computer.	Passed	The Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service is running.

Rules Documentation:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=94001


Community:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/aa336317.aspx

Setup Help File:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb500469(SQL.100).aspx

Solution

The way I by-passed this problem as by editing the registry. To be more precise I edited the following registry entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\PendingFileRenameOperations

You could either rename the entry to PendingFileRenameOperations2 or delete it.

 Feel free to link to this post or write a comment if it has solved your problem. This way other people are more likely to find it :)