Manually rebuild Performance Counters

I tried to install some construction estimation software requiring MS SQL Server 2008 on a computer running Windows 8 only to encounter an unusual anomaly. MS SQL Server 2008 refused to install due to corrupted performance counters. The error message was kind enough to mention http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300956, but you should really go and visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2554336.

In my case it was sufficient to verify no occurance of any registry keys named “DisablePerformanceCounters”.

I then ran:

cd c:\Windows\System32
lodctr.exe /R

The latter command exited with an error message:

Error: Unable to rebuild performance counter setting from system backup store, error code is 2

I decided to run it again, and this time it mysteriously succeeded:

Info: Successfully rebuilt performance counter setting from system backup store

I finally ran:

cd c:\Windows\SysWOW64
lodctr.exe /R
WINMGMT.EXE /RESYNCPERF

In the end all is well. MS SQL Server 2008 was eventually installed as part of the estimation software, and everyone’s happy.