Sanity Free dot org

I thought the whole point of having an installer was to be able to "wizard" your way through an installation. I've never had to read an "Install Guide" when installing software that came packaged in an installer.

Friday I started installing the Team Foundation Server on a shiny new box here at work. Stupidly I started by just popping in the dvd and clicking "setup". Finally today at about 3 I get everything up and running.

here's a brief overview of the steps needed to install the damned thing:

1. install server 2003
2. install sharepoint services (typical install)
3. install team foundation server (get an error and exit)
4. break out the install guide and read it
5. uninstall sharepoint services
6. uninstall msde
7. install a patch for sqlserver 2005 just for TFS
8. install a patch for .net 2.0 just for TFS
9. re-install sharepoint services (using the "server farm" install, then get its windows update)
10. NOT CONFIGURE SHAREPOINT SERVICES
11. install team foundation server (get an error and exit)
12. remove front page 2002 server extensions
13. install team foundation server (get an error and exit)
14. Log into the domain controller, and create 4 new accounts (setup, services, reporting, and proxy... all needed to run team foundation server)
15. Log in as local admin
16. install team foundation server (get an error and exit)
17. Log out (after some googling to find out that I cannot run the setup as Local <anything>)
18. Log back into the foundation server as my normal (admin) domain user account.
19. install team foundation server (finally get a "finsihed" screen)

Its just sooo hard to get this thing up and running... I wish I'd checked off the box that I wanted to give feedback on the install experience (because I'd give them an earful).