Can’t install MySQL 5.0.51a in Vista because its “side-by-side configuration is incorrect”?

Are you having trouble installing MySQL 5.0.51a in Vista because of the following error message?

The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log for more detail.

There is a problem with the MySQLInstanceConfig.exe in this version of MySQL. If you selected the option to “configure this instance of MySQL now” at the end of the installation, you may have noticed that nothing happened. I believe this is for the same reason. You can fix this by following the steps below:

Install Resource Hacker

First, download and install Resource Hacker.

Launch Resource Hacker and Load MysqlInstanceConfig.exe

Launch the program, and from the File menu choose Open.

In the Open dialog, browse to your MySQL installation’s bin directory (Probably C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0\bin), and select MySQLInstanceConfig.exe.

Edit the assembly manifest

In the tree that appears in the left side of the window, navigate to 24 -> 1 -> 1033.

MySQLInstanceConfig.exe in ResourceHacker

On line 6, the assembly manifest specifies that it requires the privilege “asAdministrator”. The actual name of this privilege is “requireAdministrator”.

Change asAdministrator to requireAdministrator.

Next, click the Compile Script button and then choose Save from the File menu.

Update: If you are unable to save the file, see this comment.

Exit ResourceHacker.

Launch MySQLInstanceConfig

Launch MySQLInstanceConfig.exe and the configuration wizard should now appear.

February 21st
Filed under: Programming

60 Responses to “Can’t install MySQL 5.0.51a in Vista because its “side-by-side configuration is incorrect”?”

patrick, on February 21st, 2008 at 9:47 am Said:

You sir, are a life saver.
Ha ha.. but really, thank you
Nicemann, on March 1st, 2008 at 4:03 am Said:

Nice guide mate but I can’t save after I have renamed it why? it just says: Cannot rename original file. Saving cancelled. why?
Robert S., on March 1st, 2008 at 9:08 am Said:

My best guess is that the file is in use. Check your Task Manager processes to see if it is open, if so end the process and try again.

Hope that helps - let me know how you get on
Jhanawa, on March 1st, 2008 at 10:00 am Said:

Thank you, spent 2 hours trying to fix this before I saw your post. Resource Hacker is no longer available, had to use XN Resource editor, but the concept was the same. Thanks so much…
Robert S., on March 1st, 2008 at 11:42 am Said:

I double-checked the Resource Hacker web page and I see that although the author is no longer developing the software, there is still a link to download Resource Hacker at the very bottom of the page.

Thanks for the warning - glad I could help you get MySQL going!
Brad, on March 1st, 2008 at 1:16 pm Said:

I had to run Resource Hacker as administrator to get it to save the file.
Nicemann, on March 2nd, 2008 at 4:10 am Said:

Okey I got it saved but now I had the mysql work before and I wantet again after I unistalled it but now when I should write down the password again same ( password like I had before ) don’t work anymore :S I get an error at apply security settings thing everytime why? I have checked my firewall isit any chance to shift password then?
Antraxx, on March 4th, 2008 at 6:42 pm Said:

Ilove you man….you save me thanks…..thanks thanksthanksthanksthanksthanksthanksthanksthanksthanksthanksthanksthanks
Joseusz, on March 5th, 2008 at 7:13 am Said:

I’ve spent 3 whole days to find this solution. I’ve tried everything before : turning off UAC, running as an administrator, turning off windows’ firewall, but…

You’re my hero
Lost, on March 5th, 2008 at 8:14 pm Said:

YOU ARE AWESOME!!! WHOEVER U ARE..

THANK YOU
Ricardo Palacios, on March 8th, 2008 at 5:44 pm Said:

Excelent solution, thank you for sharing this information.
Stephane, on March 9th, 2008 at 1:30 am Said:

Excelent ! How did you discover this? I would never have found it myself !
Jagan Sirigiri, on March 10th, 2008 at 2:51 pm Said:

I could also not save the file after changing the script.I checked Task manager to see whether it is opened multiple times but no other instance of this file opened.I tried to close all programs and try to save.Any body has a solution please.
Andre, on March 12th, 2008 at 5:29 am Said:

Thank you!! Thanks a lot!
Mike, on March 12th, 2008 at 6:57 am Said:

Thank you so much for this, I need it for a competition and I just could not figure it out.

@Jagan did you try compiling the script then saving it? If that doesn’t work then try restarting your computer, making sure none of MySQL processes are open, then open the instance editor in resource hacker. Then compile and save, I had to do that.
Andrea, on March 13th, 2008 at 1:26 pm Said:

…for president!

Thanks!
Andrey, on March 18th, 2008 at 8:46 am Said:

Thank you very much, I experienced this problem and didn’t know what to do, but then I’ve found your solution.
God Bless You
Ian Semmel, on March 18th, 2008 at 11:55 am Said:

It would be nice if MySql fixed the problem instead of leaving a broken file on their download site.

Perhaps Sun will put a rocket up their arse.
duder, on March 18th, 2008 at 8:47 pm Said:

You rock. Thanks for sharing.
venky, on March 20th, 2008 at 7:29 am Said:

i really thanks for u r help.beleive me u are a legend its been two days iam working onit.idont know how u did it u ra champ
mikes, on March 25th, 2008 at 11:59 am Said:

Awsome!
Ehtisham, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:55 am Said:

Thank a lot. I was thinking of switching back to Win XP just to make this thing work. This tutorial was a life saver!
saurabh banerjee, on March 28th, 2008 at 10:51 pm Said:

Hello All ,

I can’t save after I have renamed MySQLInstanceConfig.exe it just says: Cannot rename original file. Saving cancelled. why?

I have restarted , disabled firewall , and also checked in task manager processes , but had no luck .

Please help me out .
saurabh banerjee, on March 28th, 2008 at 11:14 pm Said:

Also please suggest that if I uninstall MySQL and re install (previously MY SQL 5.0 and now MY SQL 5.1 ) do I need to delete some entries from windows registry .
Eduardo, on April 1st, 2008 at 9:42 am Said:

Muito boa dica, funcionou perfeitamente.
Obrigado(THANK YOU)!!!
Chilly, on April 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm Said:

Thank you!!! I was totally frustrated because of this before I found your solution.
Pankaj Vishwani, on April 2nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm Said:

Thanks a lot …

I was wondering if you want to add the following, for people who are not able to save the .exe file later after clicking on compile script.

If you are unable to save it when you click on Save, then click on Save As instead and save it to some other location like desktop or something with the same name, ie, “MySQLInstanceConfig.exe”. After saving, exit the Hacker application and move this MySQLInstanceConfig.exe to the bin folder of MySQL.

Thanks anyways. It was a great help!!!

Pankaj Vishwani
Marth, on April 2nd, 2008 at 5:41 pm Said:

Oh my god, you’re a life saver! You sir, are amazing! Thanks a million!
Anonymous, on April 3rd, 2008 at 12:34 pm Said:

Thank you so much, Robert S and Pankaj Vishwani!
shawn, on April 4th, 2008 at 2:06 pm Said:

I don’t understand why mySQL didn’t fix this its such a basic, quick fix.
shawn, on April 4th, 2008 at 2:06 pm Said:

by the way, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You are a life saver.
Dalton, on April 4th, 2008 at 2:18 pm Said:

wont save the file after i edit it…..i do it all step by step like it says and wont save it
VP, on April 5th, 2008 at 11:49 pm Said:

Thanks a lot it works
Raphael Tagliani, on April 6th, 2008 at 7:27 am Said:

Answer for Jagan : it’s because of vista user rights management.

Just choose ’save as…’ and save in your user folder.

Then, replace (copy-paste) C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0\bin\MySQLInstanceConfig.exe by the exe file you saved.

I think there should be other workarounds, like disabling user rights management…

By the way, does someone has a mysql account to post the bug? I don’t want to create an account…

By the way : many thanks to the author!
Rob, on April 10th, 2008 at 5:10 pm Said:

Did not work still get same message
Chris Miller, on April 11th, 2008 at 11:13 am Said:

You…are….AWESOME. Holy crap how did you figure this out… wow… thank you!!

-Chris (www.servermotion.com)
HS, on April 12th, 2008 at 8:12 pm Said:

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rc, on April 13th, 2008 at 2:29 pm Said:

Man you are great! MySQL works great now.. how the hell did you figure that it was all with the manifest file!? cool dude!!!!
Thomas Jakober, on April 15th, 2008 at 3:41 am Said:

Dear Sir

You saved me hours of pain. Many thanks to this great solustion!

Thomas
eRyz (Having Fun With Love N Hate), on April 15th, 2008 at 9:07 am Said:

Thanks a lot.. Ur helping me with my work..
u are Great..!!

-Love N Hate-
Claudio, on April 15th, 2008 at 1:55 pm Said:

You are the man!!!!!

Run the hack tool as administrator if your MySQL is installed under Program Files.
Rick W, on April 16th, 2008 at 11:07 am Said:

Thanks, works great!
links for 2008-04-16 « cygweb, on April 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pm Said:

[…] Can’t install MySQL 5.0.51a in Vista because its “side-by-side configuration is incorrect”? (tags: mysql windows2008 windows vista) […]
Henrik S, on April 18th, 2008 at 10:15 am Said:

Hey man!

Thanks, you saved my weekend… now I can go on working…
Dominique Kraus-Ahma, on April 18th, 2008 at 12:17 pm Said:

Perfect! Finally i can use Vista for development. Thanks a lot.
Salmanassar, on April 19th, 2008 at 4:08 am Said:

Microsoft! Hire this man! NOW!
Scott, on April 19th, 2008 at 8:31 am Said:

I cannot thank you enough for this tip! Working under a deadline over the weekend and you’re keeping me productive. Thanks and God bless!
Jayden, on April 21st, 2008 at 6:40 am Said:

Thanks heaps - worked well.
boby, on April 21st, 2008 at 11:39 am Said:

thanks. worked well
Murat, on April 23rd, 2008 at 1:47 am Said:

Thank you very much.. Super solution for me.. And also in 2008
ham, on April 23rd, 2008 at 11:43 am Said:

You are legend…. Thanks a million.
Yabood, on April 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm Said:

Thanks alot man, worked for me.
Potato, on April 25th, 2008 at 12:09 pm Said:

Thank you for your great answer for a tricky problem.

I agree with others;

You are a saver, you are AWESOME !!

Thank you seriously!!!
Ryan, on April 26th, 2008 at 8:39 am Said:

Hey, thanks man…. I’ve been pulling my hair out for two days trying to do this! Your solution worked like a charm!
René, on April 27th, 2008 at 7:55 am Said:

TY so much <3 u !!!!
Şükrü KAYA, on May 8th, 2008 at 12:21 pm Said:

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Roberto, on May 13th, 2008 at 8:29 am Said:

TY so much
Fahmi Hachicha, on May 27th, 2008 at 12:37 am Said:

Excellent utility,

Thank you for help
Fahmi
Randall Shane, on August 7th, 2008 at 8:30 am Said:

You have my everlasting admiration! This works perfectly and I can assure you the resource hacker will be one of the most used tools in my Vista experience.

Good Work!!
Saba, on September 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 am Said:

Thanks buddy. Solved my problem in a few seconds. Good work. Thanks a lot.

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