How to install SharePoint Foundation? Prerequisite installer doesn't work, and claims I don't have Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 even though I do

Question

I've downloaded both SharePoint Foundation 2013 and SharePoint Foundation 2010 from here and here respectively, as well as SharePoint Foundation 2013 with SP1 here.

When trying to install any of them, I get the error

Setup is unable to proceed due to the following error(s):

This product requires Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or above.

So I installed Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

However, it still gives me the same error when I try to install.

So I tried Install software prerequisites. Which gave me the error:

There was an error during installation. This tool does not support the current operating system.

This happened on both SharePoint 2013

and SharePoint 2010

So I checked the log file, and it says:

2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Processor architecture is (9)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Reading the following string value/name...
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Common Startup
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - from the following registry location...
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - The value is... 
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Trying to remove the startup task if there is any.
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\SharePointServerPreparationToolStartup_0FF1CE14-0000-0000-0000-000000000000.cmd
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Error: Startup task doesn't exist. This is not a continuation after a restart.
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Locating the following command line arguments file:
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - C:\Program Files (x86)\MSECache\SharePoint2010\PrerequisiteInstaller.Arguments.txt
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Error: This file does not exist
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Details of the current operating system: 
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Major version number of the operating system:  (6)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Minor version number of the operating system:  (1)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Build number of the operating system:  (0X1DB1=7601)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Major version number of the latest Service Pack:  (1)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Minor version number of the latest Service Pack:  (0)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Platform ID of the operating system:  (2)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Product suites available on the operating system:  (0X100=256)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Product type of the operating system: VER_NT_WORKSTATION
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Product type:  (0)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - OS type:  (3)
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Error: This tool supports Windows Server version 6.1 and version 6.2
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Configuring the application's property sheet...
2015-03-16 08:31:37 - Cannot retry

It says Error: This tool supports Windows Server version 6 and version 6.1 before closing. So I checked what version I have.

And it's version 6.1...

And I'm out of ideas. How do I install SharePoint Foundation? I'm on Windows 7 Enterprise, with Server Version 6.1 (Build 7601: SP1).

Edit:

I tried following this tutorial as suggested by Waqas Sarwar MCSE, but after running:

 SharePointServer.exe /extract:d:\SharePointFiles 

It said Installation of this package failed.

Answer 1

I think you are trying to install the SharePoint foundation 2010 on Windows 7. You have to follow the different method to install it.

pen the command prompt and execute the following command:

SharePointServer.exe /extract:d:\SharePointFiles

(Ensure that you are specifying the folder in which enough space is there)

So now we are ready with the files in the specified folder.

Modify the config.xml

Locate the config.xml file from the folder SharePointFiles\Files\Setup

Add the following tag inside the configuration section:

Run the Setup.cmd file

Read here for more details: http://www.codeproject.com/Tips/373724/SharePoint-Installation-on-Windows