Any help would be most appreciated

i am getting this error every time i try to create a dnn site in vs2005.  I hit ctrl-f5 and choose automatic.

i then get:

00:00:41.683 -   Creating Portal: My Website
00:00:42.964 -   Error: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
00:00:42.964 -   Portal failed to install:Error!
00:00:42.964 - Installing Optional Resources:

needless to say, i get a nasty error when i try to access the portal.

if i try a custom install, it gets to the screen where it says that it is creating the database scripts but never does anything.  I did run the test and it said that it passed and had the ability to write, delete, etc....

i hav tried to uninstall and reinstall and get the same error.

I have searched and searched and the only thing i can find is some people have said that this error has to do with ntfs permissions.  I dont think that this can be my problem because i am logged on as the admin and every user on this machine has admin rights.

windows xp pro

visual studio 2005

sql server express edition

Installation Status Report

00:00:00.093 - Installing Version: 4.4.0
00:00:00.109 -   Executing Script: DotNetNuke.SetUp.SqlDataProvider Success
00:00:00.406 -   Executing Script: DotNetNuke.Schema.SqlDataProvider Success
00:00:14.264 -   Executing Script: DotNetNuke.Data.SqlDataProvider Success
00:00:23.200 - Installing MemberRole Provider:
00:00:23.200 -   Executing Script: InstallCommon.sql
00:00:25.684 -   Executing Script: InstallMembership.sql
00:00:27.387 -   Executing Script: InstallProfile.sql
00:00:28.059 -   Executing Script: InstallRoles.sql
00:00:29.340 - Upgrading to Version: 4.5.3
00:00:29.371 -   Executing Script: 04.04.01.SqlDataProvider Success
00:00:29.746 -   Executing Script: 04.05.00.SqlDataProvider Success
00:00:32.309 -   Executing Script: 04.05.01.SqlDataProvider Success
00:00:32.559 -   Executing Script: 04.05.02.SqlDataProvider Success
00:00:33.199 -   Executing Script: 04.05.03.SqlDataProvider Success
00:00:33.480 - Performing General Upgrades
00:00:34.277 - Loading Host Settings:
00:00:35.090 - Configuring SuperUser:
00:00:36.980 - Installing Modules:
00:00:36.996 -   Installing Module File HTML_04.05.00_Install:  Success
00:00:38.699 -   Installing Module File Links_03.03.07_Install:  Success
00:00:41.667 - Executing Additional Scripts:
00:00:41.683 -   Creating Portal: My Website
00:00:42.964 -   Error: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
00:00:42.964 -   Portal failed to install:Error!
00:00:42.964 - Installing Optional Resources:

Installation Complete

Also, not sure if this means anything, but when i hit ctrl-f5 to initiate the wizard, all of the links to the images are broken. (not sure why)