I've seen this discussed several times in the this forum, but not exactly in the context that I'm experiencing. We have a server (Windows Server 2003 R2)already running SPS 2003 with SQL Server 2000. I'm trying to install WSS 3.0 side-by-side, but the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard cannot make it past step 2. I get the following message: "Failed to create the configuration database. An exception of type System.runtime.InteropServices.COMException was thrown." When I reference the log file generated, this is the error that is shown: "04/22/2008 10:49:00 8 ERR Task configdb has failed with an unknown exception 04/22/2008 10:49:00 8 ERR Exception: System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80080005) at System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ThrowExceptionForHRInternal(Int32 errorCode, IntPtr errorInfo) at System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection.ManagementObjectEnumerator.MoveNext() at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPAdministrationServiceUtilities.GetWindowsDirectory() at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPAdministrationServiceUtilities.GetWindowsTempDirectory() at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPServer.GetWindowsTempDirectory() at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPServer.StaticProvision(SPConfigurationDatabase configurationDatabase) at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPFarm.Join() at Microsoft.SharePoint.PostSetupConfiguration.ConfigurationDatabaseTask.CreateOrConnectConfigDb() at Microsoft.SharePoint.PostSetupConfiguration.ConfigurationDatabaseTask.Run() at Microsoft.SharePoint.PostSetupConfiguration.TaskThread.ExecuteTask()" Has anybody encountered this error before?

Hi Mark, To the best of my knowledge you cannot run SPS 2003 side by side with WSS v3. You can only run the V3 enterprise equivalent side by side. So in your case you can only run MOSS 2007 side by side with SPS 2003. I know the error does not indicate that at all...should definitely be a little more helpful. The first thing I would try is to download the MOSS 2007 trial and run that side by side and see if you get the same error. Ihave not technically tried this but if my memory serves me (which somtimes it doesn't) what you are trying to accomplish will not work and is not a supported scenario. Hope this helps, Cheers, Jason Medero WSS MVP www.sharepointblogs.com/jasonmedero www.bandrsolutions.com

Thanks for the response. I'll try that tonight and report back.

Mark, did you find a solution? i've a similiar problem when installing moss 2007. Anyone can help? here is the error message 04/28/2011 17:07:07 7 ERR Task configdb has failed with an unknown exception 04/28/2011 17:07:07 7 ERR Exception: System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80080005) at System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ThrowExceptionForHRInternal(Int32 errorCode, IntPtr errorInfo) at System.Management.ManagementObjectCollection.ManagementObjectEnumerator.MoveNext() at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPAdministrationServiceUtilities.GetWindowsDirectory() at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPAdministrationServiceUtilities.GetWindowsTempDirectory() at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPServer.GetWindowsTempDirectory() at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPServer.StaticProvision(SPConfigurationDatabase configurationDatabase) at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPFarm.Join() at Microsoft.SharePoint.PostSetupConfiguration.ConfigurationDatabaseTask.CreateOrConnectConfigDb() at Microsoft.SharePoint.PostSetupConfiguration.ConfigurationDatabaseTask.Run() at Microsoft.SharePoint.PostSetupConfiguration.TaskThread.ExecuteTask()