"Failed On Start" - SPS 2007 Error

I have been trying all these days to make my hands real dirty with SPS 2007! And I finally suceeded.

I have a machine running Win 2003 R2 and SPS 2007 (Beta 2). The idea was to try and get hooked up with SPS 2007. There are couple of things that need to be done (as pre-requisties) to install SPS 2007. Here are a few of them:

1. .NET Framework 2.0 or later
2. Windows Workflow Foundation Beta 2.

I 'm smart and installed .NET 3.0 RC! (it has released versions of both the components) And bingo - my SPS got installed without any glitch! No additional stuff to be downloaded or installed except for Framework 3.0.

However, couple of days later - I was trying to work on a "Approval" workflow, which is pre-defined in SPS 2007. I give all the parameters, all the options filled up and start the workflow. The workflow on starting says "In Progress" however within moments it changes to "Failed to Start". I tried installing SPS again and the framework as well - but the workflow just couldnt start.

I failed to understand the reason - as all the pre-requisites were installed and the workflow should have run. Infact stuff like Excel services were running great. I failed to get a solution to why this was happening.

Then came a brainwave - I installed Sharepoint again - this time with .NET Framework 2.0 and Windows Workflow foundation 2.2 (Beta). I tried running a workflow on a document library and voila, this time it surely worked! No more errors and the process was as smooth as it can get!

Here is a story behind! SPS 2007 Beta 2 was supposed to work with Windows Workflow Foundation 2.2 Beta! With .NET Framework 3.0 - I got the RC build of WWF. That created the problem. I had hence to download both the components (WWF and .NET Framework 2.0) and reinstall SPS 2007 Beta 2. However, I guess if I had Beta 2 tech Refresh of SPS 2007, .NET 3.0 RC would have work - thats my assumption - though havent tried that out.

Task finally completed - and a Shutdown in process. More about SPS 2007 installation comming up in later posts! Keep blogging :)

Great SharePoint Server Consolidated Links

I have been getting my hands dirty - and I mean it - real dirty with Sharepoint 2007. There have been times when I am frustrated and just end up banging my head on the desk - cause there are only a handful people whom I know - have an drilled down in-dept knowledge of sharepoint and have answers to most of the question that you can ever have.

One such guy is Mark Krugar, a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) - who runs a Sharepoint blog on http://www.sharepointblogs.com/mkruger/.

This guy is really awesome and wonderful! He has gone ahead, taken pains to consolidate all the link of articles, trainings, weblogs, webcasts, etc on Sharepoint and post it on his blog! A truly awesome community spirit - and probably my only one stop source (his blog) for all my sharepoint problems.

Will Vista stall Net traffic?

There have been talks going on in forums about Vista doubling the internet traffic because it supports the new IPv6 standard, which will provide a broader and a larger range of IP Addresses.

I tumbled upon a CNET News article, which have interviews from Paul Mockapetris, the guy who invented DNS (Domain Name System). Its a must read article - probably one of few better written.

Dont know if Vista will hamper the network traffic or not - but sooner or later just like China - everyone will move to IPv6 standard and probably an OS which would be (rather it is) ready for IPv6 addressing space would be Vista.

Windows Vista Available to CPP

Vista RC1 , finally releases to the CPP (Customer Preview Program) participants. And again - its the same build which was released on friday to beta testers (like me).

In Microsoft's words

"Update: Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) is now available for Customer
Preview Program (CPP) participants only. If you are not registered but would
like to receive RC1, the CPP will open to new participants in the coming weeks.
Please check back periodically for updates."

Get it from http://download.windowsvista.com

Need Windows Vista for Free?

Microsoft lately appeared quoting in couple of international media about offering Vista for free! Yes, Microsoft is offering Vista, free upgrade.

However, the free upgrade will be only available for MCE (Media Center Edition) users of Windows XP. For Windows XP Profession users, the upgrade would be around USD 110 for the entry level OS, while for the premium version it would be close to USD 270.

apparently, there is a tentative corporate launch of Vista scheduled around 10th November 2006 - Vista will only be available for Corporate customers - the retail versions are slated to be launched in January 2007

So if you are a retail user, and what a free upgrade to Vista and are looking for buying a new computer, go ahead and buy it with Media Center Edition.