errors installing SQL Server Express 2005

I've been having horrific problems installing and working with SQL Server Express 2005. I installed SSE with the Visual Web Developer tool so I assumed that the instance would synch up; but it didn't (see log contents at end) so I opened up permissions wide open to all users, and even that didn't help. I don't know for sure but I suspect that the problem probably relates to my deleting SQL Server entries from the registry and all directories and files related to it on disk. After going through the process of uninstalling and reinstalling Express 2005 numerous times, I became frustrated and decided to pull out all stops.

After reading and following all MSDN instructions and every blog and forum I could possibly locate on the subject, I could never resolve the problem of not reaching my database. I enabled all pipes and TCP/IP, etc. in the Configuration Manager, in both instances I had created; had run all command-line procedures recommended; and used cleanup programs that I could find, before reinstalling. I couldn't even get success in doing a test connection. I did get to a point where my ASP returned the message that it had connected but that the user didn't have permissions.

I think I'm destined to working with Access, which is a shame since I have encouraged students in a Web development class I teach to work with the more powerful SQL Server products. They've had success with SQL Server, so I'm setting a bad example.

Thanks in advance for help any of you can suggest.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Setup beginning at Sun Feb 05 23:48:08 2006
Process ID : 2036
c:\6645bd818fccc8ef0bad80e6a12f5b\setup.exe Version: 2005.90.1399.0
Running: LoadResourcesAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:6
Complete: LoadResourcesAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:6, returned true
Running: ParseBootstrapOptionsAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:6
Loaded DLL:c:\6645bd818fccc8ef0bad80e6a12f5b\xmlrw.dll Version:2.0.3604.0
Complete: ParseBootstrapOptionsAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8, returned true
Running: ValidateWinNTAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8
Complete: ValidateWinNTAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8, returned true
Running: ValidateMinOSAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8
Complete: ValidateMinOSAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8, returned true
Running: PerformSCCAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8
Complete: PerformSCCAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8, returned true
Running: ActivateLoggingAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8
Complete: ActivateLoggingAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8, returned true
Running: DetectPatchedBootstrapAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8
Complete: DetectPatchedBootstrapAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8, returned true
Action "LaunchPatchedBootstrapAction" will be skipped due to the following restrictions:
Condition "EventCondition: __STP_LaunchPatchedBootstrap__2036" returned false.
Running: PerformSCCAction2 at: 2006/1/5 23:48:8
Loaded DLL:C:\WINDOWS\system32\msi.dll Version:3.1.4000.2435
Loaded DLL:C:\WINDOWS\system32\msi.dll Version:3.1.4000.2435
Complete: PerformSCCAction2 at: 2006/1/5 23:48:9, returned true
Running: PerformDotNetCheck at: 2006/1/5 23:48:9
Complete: PerformDotNetCheck at: 2006/1/5 23:48:9, returned true
Running: ComponentUpdateAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:9
Complete: ComponentUpdateAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:30, returned true
Running: DetectLocalBootstrapAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:30
Complete: DetectLocalBootstrapAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:30, returned true
Running: LaunchLocalBootstrapAction at: 2006/1/5 23:48:30

To my comment "I suspect that the problem probably relates to my deleting SQL Server entries from the registry and all directories and files related to it on disk," I should append the following: "...after I uninstalled everything."