Exchange 2007 setup /preparead error

[christ4]

We are having a problem while trying to install Exchange 2007. All the required preps completed successfully except setup /preparead which gives us the result below. This is being installed on new hardware running Windows 2003 server x64. This is a single domain, single site installation. One server running Exchange 2000 exists on the network (native 2000 mode). There are 2 domain controllers running 2003 server. The forest and domain have both been upgraded to the 2003 level.
Since the error causes a Watson dump, it seems like setup is running into an unexpected condition. Can anyone tell us what could be causing the setup /preparead to fail?

===================================================================================
D:\>setup /preparead
Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup
Preparing Exchange Setup
No server roles will be installed
Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check
Organization Checks ......................... COMPLETED
Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server
Organization Preparation ......................... FAILED
An unexpected error has occurred and a Watson dump is being generated: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
Exchange Server setup encountered an error.
D:\>
======================================================================================
The following Errors are also in the Application log:
Event ID 5000
Source: Microsoft Exchange Server
Bucket 53789643, bucket table 5, EventType e12, P1 c-rtl-amd64, P2 08.00.0685.020, P3 exsetup, P4 m.e.management, P5 m.e.m.t.initializeexchangeuniversalgroups.creategroup, P6 system.nullreferenceexception, P7 c4f6, P8 08.00.0685.024, P9 NIL, P10 NIL.
======================================================================================
Source: MSExchange Common
Event ID: 4999
Watson report about to be sent to dw20.exe for process id: 2592, with parameters: E12, c-RTL-AMD64, 08.00.0685.020, ExSetup, M.E.Management, M.E.M.T.InitializeExchangeUniversalGroups.CreateGroup, System.NullReferenceException, c4f6, 08.00.0685.02
======================================================================================
Any help or information is greatly appreciated!

 

[Zelandakh]

What server did you run this against? Dc? Were you logged on as a domain admin with full exchange server rights?

 

[christ4]

I was running this from the Exchange 2007 server... I was logged on as myself ( I have all the necessary permissions)

 

[Zelandakh]

ok, what are those permissions and did you get any errors on setup/prepareSchema?

 

[christ4]

setup/prepareSchema completed just fine. The permissions I have are Domain Admin, Domain Users, Firewall Admin, Enterprise Admin, Exchange Admin, Schema Admin and Exchange Domain Servers.

 

[GrimR]

I searched for your error it may have somthing to do with .Net

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810098

 

[GrimR]

See if you completed all these steps

http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Installing-Exchange-2007-Part1.html

 

[christ4]

Looks like that KB article dosent apply ( I tried What it suggested with no luck)The MSExchange.org site is what i used as a guide for seting up the Exchange server. ...Hmm

 

[Zelandakh]

Uninstall Exchange (if it objects, use MsiExec.exe /X{24B2C164-DE66-44FE-B468-A46D9D5E6B31} instead).
Check the AD domain prep parts to ensure they have run correctly and check event log.

Then use setup/mode:recoverserver

I've not seen this before so I'm intrigued.

 

[GrimR]

Zelandakh will this force an uninstall. Even if it says there are objects in the store?

Uninstall Exchange (if it objects, use MsiExec.exe /X{24B2C164-DE66-44FE-B468-A46D9D5E6B31}

 

[xmsre]

It;s certainly not a lack of schema admin rights,

"Bucket 53789643, bucket table 5, EventType e12, P1 c-rtl-amd64, P2 08.00.0685.020, P3 exsetup, P4 m.e.management, P5 m.e.m.t.initializeexchangeuniversalgroups.creategroup, P6 system.nullreferenceexception, P7 c4f6, P8 08.00.0685.024, P9 NIL, P10 NIL."

The problem occurs when it tries to create either the exchange domain servers or exchange enterprise servers groups. Could you descibe in a bit more detail the structure of your AD?

 

[Zelandakh]

It will uninstall it just about no matter what! (I've tried!).

It even uninstalls Exchange if you delete the Exchange folder!!