Problem Installing SQLce RC1 on Virtual Windows Vista

I've attempted to install SQL Server Compact Edition RC1 on Windows Vista Ultimate (RTM) running under Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 Beta 2 (1.1.531.0 EE R2 SP1) as Administrator. SQLServerEv31-EN.msi (dated 12/19/2006) creates the \Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Everywhere Edition\v3.1 folder but only adds the System.Data.SqlServerCe.xml file.

None of the sqlce*30.dll runtime files, System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll, or EULA_EN.rtf appear in the ...\v3.1 folder. However, the 3.1 version of System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll appears to install because 1) it's in the GAC and 2) the [DataDirectory] macro works in a connection string. We've tried installing with or without UAC to no avail.

There's no problem running SQLServerEv31-EN.msi with a "concrete" Vista Ultimate instance on an ordinary partition. SQLServerEv31-EN.msi also installs correctly on a virtual Windows Server 2003 R2 instance. In either of these two cases, all expected SQLce files are present and accounted for.

Has anyone else seen this problem? Yes or no, please leave a comment.

Update 1/15/2005: Microsoft says that Virtual Server 2005 R2 isn't a supported platform for SSCE.

Previous posts on SQLce: ADO.NET Sync Framework for Occasionally Connected Systems (11/9/2006) and SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition RC1 Available (11/8/2006)

P.S.: So far, I haven't yet encountered any other issues with SQL Server 2005 Express with Advanced Services SP2 or Visual Studio 2005 SP1 with the Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Update for Windows Vista Beta running under Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 Beta 2.