While trying to install the SQL Server 2008 November CTP onto a fresh Windows XP VPC image, I came across this error:
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Setup Failure
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Setup has encountered the following error: Unable to find an entry point named 'MsiSetExternalUIRecord' in DLL 'msi.dll'..
Per Allen White's workaround posted on MS Connect, all that you need to do is manually install Windows Installer 3.1 before running the SQL Server setup.
You can find the Windows Installer 3.1 setup on the CTP DVD (ISO image) in the following directory:
D:\Servers\redist\Windows Installer
(Assume that drive D is your DVD-ROM)