Today I had to reinstall SQL Server 2000 on my Windows XP Dev machine - but I had a few problems.

On my first couple of attempts setup would hang with the message "setup is starting the server and installing your chosen configuration". I left if on this screen for about 30 minutes the first time and ended up having to kill the process and the second time around after a reboot I gave it 5 minutes before killing it again.

After goggling my problem I found this KB http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290991&Product=sql2k#4. After another restart I followed it's instructions but during installation I was informed that my installation had failed and to check the C:\WINDOWS\sqlstp.log log file. It was only when I looked through the log that I realised my mistake. Instead of deleting the contents of C:\WINDOWS\TEMP  I'd deleted the contents of C:\Documents and Settings\Damien\Local Settings\Temp as I'd typed %TEMP% when navigating to it. After another reboot I then following the KB's instructions again, properly this time, and the installation worked.

I'm not sure why this problem occurred in the first place as SQL Server had been uninstalled successfully before the reinstall - another little Windows mystery.