I was wondering whether to post or not, it seems conclusions have already been drawn... anyway.

1) Make sure you file permissions are set up correctly, all the way down.

2) If you use Zone Alarm or any other privacy software (also check your browser) - make sure cookies blocking is completely disabled/ad blocking disabled, and all your javascript is turned on.

3) There is plenty of documenation on the net, use it (search). Once you've got it installed and you don't like something, or something is missing why not help us?

4) Yes module development is quicker with the starter kit. But if you are not familiar with DNN, and wish to get a demo up and running then why not go for the source version (if you are a developer). You don't even need VS for this, but you can use it later.

5) If you are interested in DNN 5, wait for 5.01. If you are developing software this is probably the way to go, it will improve release after release. If you want better stability go for 4.9.1 (or 4.9.2 when it gets released).

Be nice to each other folks....

Thanks for the pointers guys. I spent another couple hours on it tonite and really have nothing to show for it except some more debug info. I used the DNN install PDF along with the guide linked earlier in this thread (mitchel sellers) and the following page: http://www.bestwebsites.co.nz/dotnetnuke/easy-dotnetnuke-installation-guide/.  Again remember I am installing completely from scratch. I deleted all of my old attempts from the last couple days and started from a clean unzip of the source code version of 4.9.1. I have recreated the db a couple times, and between attempts I ensure to delete everything from the db and delete the install date from the web.config.

I have triple verified the full control permissions on the ASPNET user. The database user is configured and has dbo. The wizard will run through the first couple steps. It will rewrite the web.config with the install date. I can successfully check file permissions and database communication. But on the database install screen I continue to get the same result as earlier... the installer creates one empty Version table and the three DatabaseVersion sp's. Then it pretty much halts. There is no onscreen feedback, just the red scrolling thing scrolling away.

Watching the install in SQL Profiler I can see the three sp creates and then hundreds of calls to 'exec dbo.GetHostSettings' coming through as the user I configured (dnnuser) in sql. Then I get a few calls to exec [dnn].[sys].[sp_procedure_params_managed] @procedure_name=N'GetEventLogConfig',@procedure_schema=N'dbo' with a few more 'GetHostSettings' calls, and all is silent in the Profiler.

Checking the Event Log reveals several unhandled exception errors each time I try this install process. They are all pretty much as follows:

  ===================================================================================================

Event code: 3005
Event message: An unhandled exception has occurred.
Event time: 1/8/2009 8:25:35 PM
Event time (UTC): 1/9/2009 4:25:35 AM
Event ID: 5214756fec0b4594bb8bca80deda2bc6
Event sequence: 4
Event occurrence: 1
Event detail code: 0
 
Application information:
    Application domain: 99c3bfec-15-128759487334062500
    Trust level: Full
    Application Virtual Path: /Website
    Application Path: F:\work\dnn\Website\
    Machine name: XXX
 
Process information:
    Process ID: 876
    Process name: WebDev.WebServer.EXE
    Account name: XXX\abc
 
Exception information:
    Exception type: SqlException
    Exception message: Could not find stored procedure 'dbo.GetHostSettings'.
 
Request information:
    Request URL: http://localhost:1169/Website/js/dnn.js
    Request path: /Website/js/dnn.js
    User host address: 127.0.0.1
    User: 
    Is authenticated: False
    Authentication Type: 
    Thread account name: PROMETHEUS\schwank
 
Thread information:
    Thread ID: 10
    Thread account name: XXX\abc
    Is impersonating: False
    Stack trace:    at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject stateObj)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Run(RunBehavior runBehavior, SqlCommand cmdHandler, SqlDataReader dataStream, BulkCopySimpleResultSet bulkCopyHandler, TdsParserStateObject stateObj)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.ConsumeMetaData()
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.get_MetaData()
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.FinishExecuteReader(SqlDataReader ds, RunBehavior runBehavior, String resetOptionsString)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReaderTds(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, Boolean async)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReader(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, String method, DbAsyncResult result)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReader(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, String method)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior behavior, String method)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior behavior)
   at Microsoft.ApplicationBlocks.Data.SqlHelper.ExecuteReader(SqlConnection connection, SqlTransaction transaction, CommandType commandType, String commandText, SqlParameter[] commandParameters, SqlConnectionOwnership connectionOwnership)
   at Microsoft.ApplicationBlocks.Data.SqlHelper.ExecuteReader(String connectionString, CommandType commandType, String commandText, SqlParameter[] commandParameters)
   at Microsoft.ApplicationBlocks.Data.SqlHelper.ExecuteReader(String connectionString, CommandType commandType, String commandText)
   at Microsoft.ApplicationBlocks.Data.SqlHelper.ExecuteReader(String connectionString, String spName, Object[] parameterValues)
   at DotNetNuke.Data.SqlDataProvider.GetHostSettings() in F:\work\dnn\Library\Providers\DataProviders\SqlDataProvider\SqlDataProvider.vb:line 588
   at DotNetNuke.Entities.Host.HostSettings.GetHostSettings()
   at DotNetNuke.Common.Globals.get_HostSettings()
   at DotNetNuke.Entities.Users.UserOnlineController.IsEnabled()
   at DotNetNuke.HttpModules.UsersOnline.UsersOnlineModule.OnAuthorizeRequest(Object s, EventArgs e) in F:\work\dnn\Library\HttpModules\Users Online\UsersOnlineModule.vb:line 56
   at System.Web.HttpApplication.SyncEventExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute()
   at System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously)
  ===================================================================================================

So it would seem that the correct permissions are all in place, both sql and file system. Any further ideas??? Is there something missing from the installer?

FWIW, I noticed that the .webproj file in both versions of the 4.9.1 download is only 1 byte and blank. It refused to open the IIS site no matter what I did. I removed that project from the solution, and re-added the folder as a website. I still got 2 build errors related to poor referencing to the CountryDropDown control. Once I properly configured the reference to point to the project output, I finally got the downloaded code to compile.

Anyway, I would love to get this up and running at least. There has to be something besides the basic setup that is wrong here.

PLease be aware, that WAI has a number of limitations and issues, IMHO it is currently not of great help. AFAIK Shaun is going to work with the WAI team to get it improved.