TLDR: SQL Server 2016 installed fine from MS download, now refuses to uninstall saying min requirements aren't met.
I installed 2016 and was using it without issue in my ASPCORE project. Then, I tried letting a fellow employee access to my local dev instance via a sql login I created to validate the data captured, but could not get a successful login from a remote computer (even though I verified the login credentials by logging on locally, and ensured remote logins were enabled.)
I started checking SQL server instance/service, and thought perhaps I needed to restart the service. However, it does not show up in the list of services. Right clicking on the server in SSMS and the service control menu items are disabled (start, stop, restart, etc.) After a lot of searching, I could find no other way to restart the server and thought perhaps there was something corrupted with the install (I have versions going back to 2008 installed still apparently.)
I was going to uninstall all SQL versions and associated programs from add/remove (Win7) and then just reinstall 2016. However, when I try to uninstall it a small window first pops up with the following options: Add, Repair, and Remove. I tried Repair, but it requires install media (which I don't have, I just downloaded the setup from MS.)
When I try click Remove, the screen flashes briefly (looks like maybe a DOS window pops up behind briefly), and then I am given the following error message and unable to continue further...
"The operating system on this computer or its service pack level does not meet the minimum requirements for SQL Server 2016. To determine the minimum required operating system supported for this SQL Server release, see Hardware and Software Requirements for installing SQL Server 2016 at: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=398123"
...which is of no use whatsoever. Please advise.