Mohamed Yehia - SharePoint Matters

I was trying to setup up a new virtual machine for SP2010 based on VMWare.  I followed the steps as described by Jie Li's on Installation Notice for SharePoint 2010 Public Beta 

Just a quick summary:

1. Windows 2008 R2
2. Dot Net Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1
3. WCF Roll up Fix
4. SQL Server Express 2008 SP1
5. SQL Server Express 2008 SP1 Cumulative Update 2
6. Promote server to domain controller
7. Run SharePoint Installation
8. Run and install the prerequisites
9. Install SharePoint
10. Run SharePoint Configuration Wizard

The SharePoint configuration wizard is a 10 step process.  In step number 5, the wizard tries to register the various SharePoint services.  You get the exception below when it comes to register SharePoint Search service:

An exception of type System.ServiceProcess.TimeOutException was thrown

even when you try to run the SharePoint Search Service you get the following error:

Windows could not start the SharePoint Server Search 14 service on Local Computer. Error 6: The handle is invalid.

Most internet resources will guide to either:

1. Redo everything and follow Jie Li’s instructions.
2. Delete relevant registry files

I recommend that you try them out as they could work you.  Unfortunately they did not. 

Inspired from John Rayner's - MOSS: Error "The handle is invalid" when starting Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) Search service, I tried the following:

1. While the configuration wizard is running, after it successfully provisions SharePoint Search Service
2. Open the services management console (from Run command type services.msc)
3. Locate SharePoint Search Service
4. Change the logon type to LocalSystem
5. Restart the service
6. Do the same for SharePoint Foundation Search.

I have also posted my findings on SharePoint 2010 Forums

BR,

Mohamed Yehia