I have been trying to install the developer edition of SQL Server 2016 and I get the generic error (below - see logs). Interesting I had the same issue on this same laptop (ACER Aspire R3-471TG) with RC2 of SQL Server 2016, however RC3 installed without issue. I did post about this RC2 issue (see https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/73f84ce8-7c69-41e1-832c-8a5828dd0fd7/rc2-install-errors?forum=SQLServer2016Preview).
I have found some stuff on account privileges which has a similar error, but this is not the error in this case.
FYI - I have tried installing maybe 6 times today with different settings and running as admin as well. A generic MS response I suggest would not be helpful. Please note RC3 was running without issue up until yesterday.
Feature: Database Engine Services
Status: Failed: see logs for details
Reason for failure: An error occurred during the setup process of the feature.
Next Step: Use the following information to resolve the error, uninstall this feature, and then run the setup process again.
Component name: SQL Server Database Engine Services Instance Features
Component error code: -2147467261
Error description: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
Looking at the detailed logs I get
(01) 2016-12-11 19:10:56 Slp: Sco: Attempting to dispose script
(01) 2016-12-11 19:10:56 Slp: Sco: Attempting to disconnect script
(01) 2016-12-11 19:10:56 Slp: Current SqlServer Connection closed...
(01) 2016-12-11 19:10:56 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature SQL_Engine_Core_Inst during timing ConfigRC and scenario ConfigRC.
(01) 2016-12-11 19:10:56 Slp: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
(01) 2016-12-11 19:10:56 Slp: The configuration failure category of current exception is ConfigurationFailure
(01) 2016-12-11 19:10:56 Slp: Configuration action failed for feature SQL_Engine_Core_Inst during timing ConfigRC and scenario ConfigRC.