Why is it so hard to install on Windows 2008

[Thomas]

I got technet and everything is so hard to install and evaluate.
I am upto two days just trying to get Porject Server to install.

Why is the software so broken?

What is the hidden secret to installing the software?

I did the 'slipstream' trick and I finally got the software to install.
Then the next 'gotcha' comes up and I can find a solution anywhere on technet.

I ran the Config wizard and it fails with another useless error message.
( So many useless error messages in Microsoft software )

The error is "Failed to start the database service
MSSQL$OfficeServers...blah blah blah'

This is a totally useless error message. I don't have a database by that name.

Has anyone successdfully installed Porject Server 2007 on Windows 2008?

 

[Thomas]

I got technet and everything is so hard to install and evaluate.
I am upto two days just trying to get Porject Server to install.

Why is the software so broken?

What is the hidden secret to installing the software?

I did the 'slipstream' trick and I finally got the software to install.
Then the next 'gotcha' comes up and I can find a solution anywhere on technet.

I meant I CAN NOT find a solution on TECHNET or Microsft website.
I don't believe software installs should be this difficult. But at least I
know the risks of using this software. It is very dangerous and hard to
install.

 

[Marc Soester [MVP]]

Thomas,

you will need the Project Server 2007 Media (CD) that has already SP1 on the
media, otherwise you are not able to install Project Server on a 2008 Server.
Hope this helps

 

[Sander]

As you can see in a previous post on this topic, I'm strugellling also with
the installation. But only on getting the queue working. The installation up
to that point went very good. But I know once I will get the queue working I
have to face the cube builing process on this intallation. I'll bet that will
be a hard one too.

My experience thus far, gets me to the conclusion that it is difficult to
install on win2008 because of the many security 'enhancements' that is
standard switched on. One by one they have to be turned off or changed to get
things working. So a better description of requirements on win2008 would be a
gift for us at this point

Sander

 

[Sander]

Did you do a single server installation? This installs SQL express and
creates the MSSQL$OfficeServers service.

Sander

 

[Thomas]

Thank you for the reply.

Yes I did a single server install.

W2008 Server
SQL Server 2005
Sharepoint with SP1

Too bad they don't provide a way to choose the SQL Server during install.

Accounting, BizTalk and Sharepoint let me choose the installed SQL Server.

Well I bought Technet for a reason and that was to learn, learn and then
learn some more.

This weekend I will do an experiment and install a fresh copy of W2008 on a
new partition and try to install Project Server first. I'll see that SQL
Express is installed.

It is probably as silly as the order of install that causes trouble.


Thanks for you help.

Tom

 

[Gary L. Chefetz]

Thomas:

Choosing the Single Server installation dumbs down the product considerably.
You probabl want to choose the small farm installation and install
everything on one box. There are two types of installations you can perform,
limited and full. You chose the limited option. This isn't obvious. What
kind of guidance did you access before attempting any of this? Your story is
very similar to others who approach this with the notion that all they have
to do is insert the CD. click setup and complete the installation. Keep in
mind that you are installing a solution, not *an* application. If you choose
the small farm option, you can choose your SQL Server.

--
----------
Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
MSProjectExperts
Project Server Consulting: http://www.msprojectexperts.com
Project Server Training: http://www.projectservertraining.com
Project Server FAQS: http://www.projectserverexperts.com
Project Server Help Blog: http://www.projectserverhelp.com

 

[Thomas]

Hi Gary,
Thanks for the reply.

I tried again, but the install does not prompt for anything.

The software is from the Technet CD's. I applied the SP1 slipstream.
The install asks for the product key and then just installs.
There is no dialogs.

I'll re-read all the installation instructions again.

Do you have any advice on what I should try next?

This weekend I will rebuild my w2008 server and
installl everything again. So far everything works except Project Server.
Which I know works because other were succcessful.

BizTalk, SQL server, Sharepoint, Accounting.

 

[Stephen Sanderlin]

If you've already installed MOSS to the server farm, Project Server will
just install without prompting. I believe this is also the case if
you've already installed WSS.

--

Stephen Sanderlin

Principal Consultant

MSProjectExperts



For Project Server Consulting: http://www.msprojectexperts.com

For Project Server Training: http://www.projectservertraining.com



Read my blog at: http://www.projectserverhelp.com/

Join the community at: http://forums.epmfaq.com

 

[Gary L. Chefetz]

Thomas:

When you run the install, the screen immediately after the EULA screen
should say "Choose the installation you want" with two buttons: 1) Basic
2)Advanced. Choose the advanced button and then small farm. Are you using
the TechNet instructions? These are very good. For a more detailed
installation tutorial, you might have a look at our Implementing and
Administering book. In your last message you mention that you're also
running BizTalk and Accounting on the same server. I don't know if there
might be compatiblity issues with these as I've never piled that much onto
one server.

--
----------
Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
MSProjectExperts
Project Server Consulting: http://www.msprojectexperts.com
Project Server Training: http://www.projectservertraining.com
Project Server FAQS: http://www.projectserverexperts.com
Project Server Help Blog: http://www.projectserverhelp.com