Trouble installing MSDE

I'm trying to get started in ASP.NET and so bought a book (Sams Teach Yourself ASP.NET in 24 Hours) with a CD of the programs required. All was OK until I tried installing the MS Desktop Engine. I get to the box which says "Please wait while Windows configures MS SQL Server Desktop Engine"; the progress bar nearly completes but then sinks back to the beginning and disappears! That's it! My book then says that if I have trouble come to this forum, so here I am.

My computer's OS is Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2. Does SP2 cause problems perhaps? Whatever, does anyone know what I should do to install this?

You can try downloading the most up-to-date MSDE version from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/msde/downloads/default.asp
If that doesn't work, check your event log for why the installation is failing.

Trythis blog entry

Thanks for your help so far; I feel I might be getting somewhere. I'd wanted to avoid such a large download so I've tried the advice on your blog. I've got a log file of 3.63MB and so have not read it all yet. Also, what sort of things would I be looking for?

What large download are you talking about?

I'd wanted to avoid downloading MSDE if possible, as in DarrellNorton's idea, as it would take so long and I have it on the CD that came with the book. The log file that's 3.63MB was written when I tried installing MSDE using the instructions in your blog i.e. "setup/L*v C:/MSDELog.log".
I've reproduced the first and last few lines below:

=== Verbose logging started: 06/05/2005 19:34:57 Buildtype: SHIP UNICODE 3.01.4000.1823 Calling process: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msiexec.exe ===
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:34:57:781]: Resetting cached policy values
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:34:57:781]: Machine policy value 'Debug' is 0
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:34:57:781]: ******* RunEngine:
******* Product: C:\sql2ksp3\MSDE\Setup\SqlRun01.msi
******* Action:
******* CommandLine: **********
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:34:57:781]: Machine policy value 'DisableUserInstalls' is 0
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:34:57:906]: SOFTWARE RESTRICTION POLICY: Verifying package --> 'C:\sql2ksp3\MSDE\Setup\SqlRun01.msi' against software restriction policy
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:34:57:937]: Note: 1: 2262 2: DigitalSignature 3: -2147287038
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:34:57:937]: SOFTWARE RESTRICTION POLICY: C:\sql2ksp3\MSDE\Setup\SqlRun01.msi is not digitally signed
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:34:57:937]: SOFTWARE RESTRICTION POLICY: C:\sql2ksp3\MSDE\Setup\SqlRun01.msi is permitted to run at the 'unrestricted' authorization level.

* * * * *

Property(C): DATABASE = C:\DOCUME~1\Mark\LOCALS~1\Temp\25ec8e.msi
Property(C): OriginalDatabase = C:\sql2ksp3\MSDE\Setup\SqlRun01.msi
Property(C): UILevel = 3
Property(C): ACTION = INSTALL
=== Logging stopped: 06/05/2005 19:36:10 ===
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:36:10:937]: Note: 1: 1708
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:36:10:937]: Product: Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine -- Installation operation failed.

MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:36:10:968]: Grabbed execution mutex.
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:36:10:968]: Cleaning up uninstalled install packages, if any exist
MSI (c) (C0:A4) [19:36:10:984]: MainEngineThread is returning 1603
=== Verbose logging stopped: 06/05/2005 19:36:11 ===

I don't know if this helps but I hope so.

I would download the MSDE if I were you and follow a tutorial that i wrote up a while back.
http://daniweb.com/tutorials/tutorial19392.html
It is pretty easy to follow. good luck.

The instructions given in the blog entry assume you extracted the items into the C:\MSDERelA folder.

And as you can see, I talk about the latest MSDE version. Anyway isnt it quicker to download the latest version and install, rather than wasting time figuring out what you got and why its not working

OK, I'm downloading the latest MSDE now. Thanks for all your suggestions.
Yes, it works!!
Cool