Sharepoint Install Failed - Unable to locate hosts file

This is a similar one to the server language reg file disappearing. After uninstalling MOSS the hosts file sometimes uninstalls as well and therefore cannot be found when you try to reinstall MOSS.

To fix it:

Either copy a hosts file from your computer or make one in notepad. Save it on the SP server in the Windows / System 32 / drivers / etc / hosts directory.

Run the SP Configuration Wizard again.

Failed to create the configuration database. Reason: The language is not supported on the server.

This may occur if MOSS Beta 2 uninstall removes the server language registry file. The error will occur when you try to install a new instance of MOSS (RTM).

To fix it:

• Open notepad and paste the following:
  
  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
  [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\12.0\ServerLanguage]
  "1033"=""
  


• Save this file as fixlanguage.reg on the server desktop and double click to run selecting yes when prompted.
• Run the SharePoint configuration wizard.

Configuring MOSS 2007 Beta 2 SSP & Web Apps

Once the SP configuration wizard has done its stuff you are ready to configure the MOSS environment.

1. Open Central Administration
2. Select Operations and go to Services on Server. The following services need to be started:
   • WSS Web Application
   • Office SharePoint Server Search
3. Open Application Management and select Create or extend a new Web Application
4. Select Create a new web application
   • Create a web application running on port 80 with a host header. This will host the portal and My Site.
   • Create another web application to host the SSP.
5. Select Application Management
6. Create / Configure this farm's Shared Services
7. New SSP
   • Select the SSP web application to host the SSP and select the portal web application to host My Site. Add a relative path to My Site (/mysite/).
   • The rest is pretty default - just need to add names for app pools / DBs etc. and the account details you are using for the build.
8. Once created go back to Application Management and create a site collection using the portal web app to host the site.
   • Make sure the correct web application is displayed in the Web Application drop down list at the top of the page.
   • Add a title, description etc.
   • In the template selection area select Publishing and highlight Collaboration Portal.
   • Assign the primary site collection administrator and verify the user name.
   • Click Ok.

Once created open the portal and you should have a site set up including homepage, document centre, reports centre, news etc.

This can be fully customised in SharePoint designer - soon to be explained in another blog!!

Setting up MOSS RTM using the V-PC Beta 2 image supplied by Microsoft

Microsoft kindly provided an image of SharePoint Beta 2 (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Beta 2 Technical Resource DVD) including Active Directory, DNS and Office 2007 etc for mucking around on.

This is excellent for setting up locally and testing bits and bobs but cannot be networked or accessed from anywhere other than the local computer it is set up on, so great for taking work home but not so great for testing across platforms.

It can be installed as is but this is much nicer to upgrade and use the RTM since we now have it. Here's how...

1. Instll Virtual PC & configure as per MS instructions
2. Run the Virtual PC image
3. Uninstall MOSS Beta 2
4. Uninstall WWF
5. Install .NET 3
6. Install Magic Disk and mount MOSS 2007
7. Install MOSS 2007
   
   • An error may occur at this stage if MOSS Beta 2 uninstall removed the server language registry file. If this is the case the file needs to be recreated.
     
   • To resolve the error open notepad and paste the following:
     
     Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
     [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\12.0\ServerLanguage]
     "1033"=""
     
     Save this file as fixlanguage.reg on the server desktop and double click to run selecting yes when prompted.
     
     Run the SharePoint configuration wizard.
     
8. Once installed go to Central Administration and start the required services on the server.
9. Provision Shared Services
10. Provision Portal & My Site (These may need to be run for the first time on the the server using the system account)
11. Save the Virtual PC Image for distribution & backup.

If you are using host headers remember to add them to the hosts file on your local PC (Windows / System 32 / Drivers / etc / hosts) and to update the IP & domain in your browser (Internet Options / Connections / Advanced)

Quick Start Guide to Installing MOSS Beta 2

A quick start guide to installing MOSS Beta 2 in a single server environment... well i say single but i did actually use another box to run SQL...

1. Copy the following packages onto the server
   • MOSS 2007
   • Windows Workflow Foundation
   • .NET Framework 2
   • SQL Server 2005
   • Virtual CD
2. Configure the server
   • Install IIS
   • Install ASP.NET
   • Install .NET Framework 2
   • Install WWF
   • Install SQL Server 2005
   • Install MOSS 2007
3. Configure SQL Server Security
   • Run SQL Server Management Studio
   • Create new SQL service account
4. Run the SharePoint configuration wizard using the SQL service account to connect to the configuration DB. Set the port number as required and use NTLM security settings.