I'm doing Sharepoint work for a client. They have a server running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 that is currently running Sharepoing Portal Server 2003. They want to have Sharepoint Server 2007 installed and running side-by-side to develop a new site, while still being able to use the old one which I understand is possible. The problem I'm running into is that it looks like someone, long before I got to it, tried to install and do something with 2007 on the server already. It is installed and I see a Central Administration Web Site in IIS. But trying to access the Central Administration site gives me: "Server error: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?LinkID=96177" I'd like to just uninstall 2007 and start from scratch here, but when I try to uninstall from the disk or from add/remove programs, it just quits the uninstallation a few seconds in without any errors. Sharepoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard likewise bombs out, but giving the error: "Exception: Microsoft.SharePoint.Upgrade.SPUpgradeException: Action 3.1.1.0 of Microsoft.SharePoint.Upgrade.SPContentDatabaseSequence failed. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object." I'm guessing that somewhere in the nine months since somebody tried to install this the databases just got deleted. I'm not sure where they are (were?) or what they were called. There are several SQL servers around here, so I'm not sure where to look or what to do. How can I clear off the 2007 (without hurting the 2003 installation) so I can start over from scratch with a new 2007 installation that will run side-by-side with the 2003?

Firstly, you can't install different versions of SharePoint on the same server. (Although there are limited ways you can temporally have both. From your description I think your chances of managing to do anything with this server in its messed up state are virtually zero. I would consider getting a new server; installing MOSS 2007 on that and try to move as much as possible of the data (manually - list/library by list/library) across to it from the present SPS 2003 installation. SP 2010 "FAQ" (mainly useful links): http://wssv4faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx WSS3/MOSS FAQ (FAQ and Links) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx Both also have links to extensive book lists and to (free) on-line chapters

I had seen a few people on various sites suggesting that it is possible to run both 2003 and 2007 on the same server at the same time. Such as: http://thedailyreviewer.com/windowsapps/view/side-by-side-sharepoint-portal-2003-2007-11399181 I don't know how reputable that site or any of the other sites I might have seen suggesting that are. And of course the "messed up state" of the current server is a completely different issue. Regarding the upgrade, we're not moving any data from the present sps 2003 installation to the 2007, they just want to start a fresh site and develop anew. I had hoped to be able to give them that ability on the same server. But if you tell me that they definitively can not get a 2007 installation running side-by-side with a 2003 installation, I'll stop attempting to remove whatever still-born 2007 installation they have on this server and see if I can't talk them into buying a new server for the 2007 site. If it is, however, possible to get them both running (temporarily) on the same server, then there has to be a way to get this other 2007 installation off so I can start from scratch doesn't there?

> they just want to start a fresh site and develop anew In that case that is what they should do. Find a new server; install the Operating System and then install MOSS 2007 (and consider instead using the latest version SPS 2010 - there is little point at this stage in starting from scratch with a back product). > get a 2007 installation running side-by-side with a 2003 installation The problem is with the term "side-by-side". That term is reserved for the running together of the WSS 2.0 from Small Business Server 2003 with WSS 3.0. The aim being to preserve the special functions of the version of WSS 2.0 that came with SBS 2003 alongside a standard WSS 3.0 installation. Side-by-side isn't used for any of the upgrade options for SPS 2003 to MOSS 2007 (or standard WSS 2.0 to WSS 3.0) instead there are three options for the upgrade. a) replace in-situ (and at once) - risky for MOSS 2007 b) add MOSS 2007 specifying only some of the sites in SPS 2003 for immediate move and moving the other sites later. (I think it's at the site level; maybe at list level) c) using the SPS 2003 database when creating a new MOSS 2007 system Only b) is remotely like "alongside" but it *is* regarded as being an only temporary thing. Hope this helps. In your case creating a completely new system on a completely new server seems by far the best approach. P.S. I suggest you change your Display Name to something more like a name than a product description. Click on your name and on the top right there is an Edit Your Profile link (which doesn't look like a link!). Click on it; change Display Name and Save. SP 2010 "FAQ" (mainly useful links): http://wssv4faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx WSS3/MOSS FAQ (FAQ and Links) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx Both also have links to extensive book lists and to (free) on-line chapters