Steps to Install Team Foundation Server 2005

Installing
Microsoft Team
Foundation Server is a ridiculously arduous
and difficult process. I’ll spare you my own complaints and simply list the checklist for installing this beast.
This assumes you’re installing TFS in a domain-enabled
environment and in single-server mode; this is the typical configuration for a
small-to-medium-size organization:

1. Designate a machine to host your Team Foundation Server repository. This
   machine must not double as a domain controller as this configuration is not
   supported by TFS.
   
2. Set up at two regular user accounts (not administrators, and if you
   have any group policies you may – according to your configuration – want to keep these users out of the relevant OUs) in your Active Directory.
   I used the trivial TFSService and TFSReports accounts. Also you’ll need a user with
   administrative privileges on the target server; I personally prefer to avoid the associated headaches, so I simply used a
   domain administrator user for installation purposes (but used the aforementioned two
   users to set the beast up. (Note: It is also a good idea to have a domaintfssetup account that you use to install the TFS.)
3. If necessary, install Windows 2003 Server
   (whatever flavor) on the machine; don’t forget the
   necessary service packs and updates. If your pipe is fat enough, just let Windows Update do its magic.
   
4. Add an Application Server role, make sure you
   enable ASP.NET 2.0 during the installation process
   
5. Install SQL Server 2005. Make sure you
   read the installation guide first though, as
   you’ll need to set it up to "Use the built-in
   System account," enable all services except Notification and finally select Windows
   authentication as the preferred authentication mechanism. You’ll also need to let the SQL Serverinstaller install a
   bunch of prerequisites before actual installation
   begins. One tip: make sure SQL Reporting Services is running under Default Web Site.
6. Install SQL Server 2005 Service
   Pack 2.
   
7. From the TFS installation media, install hot-fix 913393 for .NET Framework.
   
8. Install Windows SharePoint Services
   2.0 with Service Pack 2.0. Make sure you select server farm mode when installing, or you’ll just
   have to redo the installation (don’t complete wizard, just run TFS installer).
   
9. Install Team Foundation Server itself.
   
10. Back up the reporting services encryption key
    (you can find a description of the procedure here).

11. Install hot-fix 919156, a.k.a the Quiescence
    GDR (no, I have no idea what GDR stands for).
    
12. Install Team
    Foundation Server Service Pack 1.
    
13. Make sure TCP port 8090 is open in your
    firewall software if you want web access to your
    Team Foundation Server (to be honest, I haven’t found any use for it yet.)
    
14. Install Team Explorer from the installation media (required for many add-ons, including eScrum).
    
15. Install Visual
    Studio 2005 Team Suite Service Pack 1. This
    can, and will, take forever.

Note: If you encounter Error 1305 that a file is not accessible, shut down your antivirus software.