SQL Server 2008 R2 setup fails with a Microsoft .NET Framework exception.
Example:
System.Configuration.ConfigurationErrorsException: Configuration system failed to initialize ---> System.Configuration.ConfigurationErrorsException: Root element is missing. (C:\Documents and Settings\nbkvx9a\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft_Corporation\LandingPage.exe_StrongName_ryspccglaxmt4nhllj5z3thycltsvyyx\10.0.0.0\user.config) ---> System.Xml.XmlException: Root element is missing.
Follow these steps to resolve the problem:
1. Notate the path of the user.config file that the error specifies.
2. Cancel or stop the SQL Server installation.
3. Go to the path notated in step 1 and rename the user.config file to something entirely different.
4. Restart the installation.