I have to start this post by saying DNN is such an outstanding product that I have decided to turn all my Web design jobs into DNN deployments (after two successful 4.5.5 installs). But now I am not so sure anymore. There are two major problems with this product as I have discovered during an entire day of trying to install the latest version:

1.) Your installation wizard seems to be buggy as hell.
2.) There is a distinct lack of installation guides--either that, or it is impossible to find on your site. Especially when it comes to upgrades.

I am experiencing the same issue as several other people who have posted on these forums--an issue that has yet to be addressed or resolved by the people who will be soaking up the glory at the upcoming OpenForce '07. The issue I am referring to is the following, which can be found in numerous posts in one form or another:

Using the Custom installation option in the config wizards (install/install.aspx?mode=install), everything works, including the "Test Connection" on the database (SQL 2005), until you get to "Run Database Installation Scripts".  The progress bar loops twice, and the following message appears in the text area:

"Installing Database - Version 4.4.0...undefined...Installing Database - Version 4.4.0...Success"

And then the "Next" button becomes enabled. But if you click on it, it just runs the script again, with the same result. This happens over and over again. I have tried using the DBO account in my connectionString with same result. My permissions are all correct.

Best of all, this issue has had the runaround and nobody has actually been able to successfully resolve it. See all the posts below--all of them having pretty much the same issue, but ultimately no resolution.

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/107/threadid/175439/scope/posts/Default.aspx

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/107/threadid/156208/scope/posts/Default.aspx

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/107/threadid/161707/scope/posts/Default.aspx

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/107/threadid/142292/scope/posts/Default.aspx

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/107/threadid/141456/scope/posts/Default.aspx

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/107/threadid/138331/scope/posts/Default.aspx

I have tried installing 4.1.1 and then upgrading to 4.6.1, but then I get an error on the first installation wizard screen about the database connection not being correct. And this is the same connection string I have been using on this database all along. I even tried the DBO account in the string--no luck. I am now back to a fresh installation of 4.6.1 and still no progress. I am afraid that I will have to abandon using DNN in favor of something else if no one can help us solve this issue.

I AM BEGGING PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE ONCE AND FOR ALL HELP US FIX THIS ISSUE???????????? IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE??????????

Nick

I just installed my DNN after getting stuck on the db loop. Like the other guy suggested, make sure that the db-user is a db_owner. Unzip your DNN file again to your folder and run the installation. This time, it will run the scripts.