From Microsoft dll Hell to Microsoft Installation Hell

Update 14 Aug. 2008- After spending a few hours on the phone with MS, we decided I should uninstall VSTS and everything associated with it (Unity, SCSF, WCSF, VS SDKs, etc.) and SQL 2008 Server. This will take at least a day.

Then install in this order
1. SQL Server 2008
2. VSTS 2008
3. VS SP1

I'll post how it goes.

===============Original Below=================
Regretfully I have been sitting on getting started with project until SQL Server 2008 came out. Part of that project includes SSRS and I need BIDS (Business Intelligence Development Studio) to create the reports. The past 36-48 hrs have resulted in continuous failure to get BIDS installed.

Over all this has been a pathetic installation process. I know the team has a lot going on, but this may top the office 2007 mess originally released (http://realworldsa.dotnetdevelopersjournal.com/office2007install.htm).

I am Running Vista 64 with VSTS installed on the D drive. Apparently a situation that confuses the install.

I have tried the workarounds I found out on the web with no luck... listed below
--Changing the ConfigurationFile.ini http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3736462&SiteID=1
--Removing KB945140 VS Shell hotfix
--uninstalling old Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop.*
--Wiping everything related to SQL off the box, including express stuff.

My suggestion to all those that have not started down this path of self-inflected torture to wait until you see these issues addressed by Microsoft and then move forward with SQL Server 2008.

I have posted this in the technet forums, on MS Connections as a bug, and will be opening up a support ticket today.

I will post any resolutions back to this blog entry.