FILESTREAM feature cannot be enabled for SQL Server Express

Products

• Endpoint Protection

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to upgrade the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager (SEPM) to 14.3 RU1 or later, the SQL Server Express database installation fails with an error: 

FILESTREAM feature not enabled.

When you try to enable it manually through SQL Server Configuration Manager as per the Installation Guide, you get the following error:

FILESTREAM
There was an unknown error applying the FILESTREAM settings.
Check the parameters are valid. (0x80070842).

The ERRORLOG of SQL Express shows:

2021-04-19 09:16:49.46 spid5s FILESTREAM file I/O access could not be enabled. The operating system Administrator must enable FILESTREAM file I/O access on the instance using Configuration Manager.

Default folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager\DB\MSSQL14.SQLEXPRESSSYMC\MSSQL\Log

Note: This log folder is for SQL Server Express 2014 installed on Windows Server 2008 R2. If it is 'Microsoft SQL Server Express 2017' the installation directory will change accordingly.

Environment

SEPM 14.3 RU1 or later.
SQL Server Express version.

Resolution

As an alternate option, the FILESTREAM setting can be enabled through the registry by changing the following DWORD value:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL14.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQLServer\Filestream]
"EnableLevel"=dword:00000002

Note: It is highly recommended to take a backup of registry before making any direct changes.