Shadowpdx wroteThe docs also state that you must manually create the database - I think the tables are the ones that are created automatically during the install process.
Installing DotNetNuke was a bit of a pain, but (IMHO) an enjoyable one. This is my second CMS. The other one (which runs under linux) is based on PostNuke, which is PHP/MySQL based. I find DNN more robust -- more dynamic. As a matter of fact, the portal website was PostNuke and I installed DNN "for the difference". You just have to "dot the Is and cross the Ts" An automated installer would be good for the less advanced and I am sure it must be in the works.
In the 'installation of dotnetnuke 4' section of the manual, NOT the "starter kit" section there is no mention of databases at all. And in fact, when running SQLExpress it has quite happily made the database for me and populated the tables for me. Maybe it's doing too much!
This isn't my first CMS either. I've written half a dozen in a variety of languages, had to go through the pain of trying to fit many disparate parts of phpNuke together and make it secure. I like what DNN is trying to achieve, but it's not yet as easy (and therefore as popular) as some other products.
Still, good news: after about the 10th attempt, the portal has started working. Now all I need to do is uninstall it and work out the exact steps. Then uninstall everything and work out the exact steps for making it work on SQL2000. Then post my findings somewhere. Then reinstall it all and start working.