Crusty Orange

Microsoft - Where’s the Quality Gone? Vista + IIS + SQL Server 2005 = Hell

Microsoft and Quality are two mutually exclusive words nowadays, let me explain why I feel this way.


I installed Vista Ultimate on my desktop computer a few months ago. Recently I had the need to install the developer version of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 on this computer. I put the CD in the drive and the adventure begins.


SQL Server 2005 requires Internet Information Services (IIS) to be running. While running the installation wizard it detects that IIS is not running on my computer. I go to Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Internet Information Services Manager and sure enough it IS running, and correctly shows the files in my wwwroot directory. Unfortunately though, they will NOT display in my browser when I go to http://localhost After searching on Google for the cause and trying a few suggestions I found (uninstall IIS, uninstall WPA, reinstall), it still doesn’t work. Strike 1 for Microsoft.


Someone suggested that it might be a good idea to do an in-place update of Vista overtop of the existing Vista. I thought this might work as it would replace all of the files, including those possibly corrupted with fresh files. I start the update and it says it cannot continue because Nero 7 Burning Rom is not compatible with Vista. I had mistakenly installed Nero 7 a month ago thinking it would work. DOH! This resulted in another problem. Vista can’t remove it!! What good is an operating system if it can’t remove programs!! I had to download a utility from Nero to uninstall it. Strike 2 for Microsoft.


After a few hours of Vista Upgrading and patches, I finally had a fresh install of Vista installed. I sat back and prepared for a smooth installation of Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Fresh upgrade of Vista (had to confirm its Genuine again and re-activate it), fresh copy of SQL Server2005, and fresh IIS setup. I start the install and BAM! It tells me that IIS isn’t running again. Strike 3!!


Why can’t Microsoft make their crap run with its own products!!!! Where the hell has the quality assurance gone!! Don’t they thoroughly test this stuff!!


As a side note, I installed SQL Server 2005 on my Windows XP laptop the first time flawlessly.


I’m sure I’ll be spending 3 hours or so on the phone with Microsoft trying to work this out.