SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)

Looks like your installation is broken. Remains to see where.

Open the SQL Server Configuration Manager, first try to start the service that way. (I don't expect it to work, but let's try the simple things first.)

Next right-click the service and select Properties. Check the Service tab and make note of the BinaryPath:

Next, check the Startup parameters tab. You should see three parameters for the options -d, -e and -l:

Again, do the files for -d and -l exist?

Agree with Erland. Since you are trying to start from services applet, go to the properties of the service and look for "Path to executable"

I am almost certain that sqlservr.exe is missing from the path.

Just for fun, I renamed sqlservr.exe to sqlservr_.exe and here is what I see while starting the service.

@Erland Sommarskog

I don't think issue is with other parameters (-e. -d) as the error would have been different like below.

Thanks Balmukund! I was too lazy to do those experiments myself.