We wound up installing this product several times to learn the nuances and to try to get everything installed correctly.  Interestingly we could not get past the problems of our first attempt even with Microsoft’s assistance.  And the learning unfolded from there!

Install Attempt #1

We learned NOT to save Internet connectivity for later.  It was not performed on a first install and wound up being corrupt and requiring a re-installation.  Even Microsoft’s $240 per incident support staff couldn’t budge it!

Install Attempt #2

We learned NOT to try to size the partitions too small.  Our original installation accepted the 12GB default only to find the partition filling too quickly on what was otherwise a reasonably successful installation.  There was also a problem with SharePoint server that seemed to be resolved by Internet-based Windows 2003 server updates.  (See #5 it was!)

Install Attempt #3

We learned NOT to interrupt (e.g. cancel) the continuing install process in order to change the CD-ROM drive and format additional partitions (I like to make the CD drive ‘Z:’ opening up ‘D:’, ‘E:’, etc. for local hard disk drives.)  The switch confuses the installation routine and in our case caused both the SharePoint Server and client applications modules NOT to install properly.  Also don’t try to change the administrator password until all the initial SBS installation procedures are complete.  It may, as it did for us, allow the Administrator and internal system logon to get out of sync.

Install Attempt #4

We learned not to install service packs until everything has first passed the normal update and is working properly the presence of a service pack on software already not working properly makes the software (In this case SharePoint) unable to be re-installed. 

Install Attempt #5

Finally an installation that seems to work including again SharePoint after the updates and before the service packs.  Be sure to set a password before installing the full version of SQL server or you’ll have to seek out and change the password for the SQL service whenever you finally set a password for the system.  And, don’t forget as we almost did the ‘REQUIRED’ MS-SQL SP# update.

The installation of the SharePoint service pack breaks that tool again, but it is repaired by a relatively straightforward if cryptic command line that the error message and help screen lead to directly.

We did not yet manage to install ISA and have it work.  The ISA install lead to no connectivity to the Internet, and no error messages so we removed it...

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