Installing SQL Server 2005 Express edition

I'm trying to install the latest SQL Server Express downloaded from Microsoft. I've followed all instructions on the download page but get the message concerning Incompatible Components being found on my machine. To my knowledge I have never installed any previous components from any betas or other previous versions. Nor have I had a previous version of .Net Framework 2.0 on my machine. Just in case, I've checked Add/Remove Programs and run the removal tool as recommended on the Microsoft site. The tool reports that it can't find any components! If I knew what to look for I'd go through the Registry to manually uninstall any problem keys. The trouble is that I can't get through to Microsoft to find out what might be causing the trouble. It appears that I'm not alone. Can anyone help please.Search for a file with a name that ends with Core.log. It can be found under C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server, if you installed SQL Server in C: drive.

Please find the latest version of the file. This file will list any incompatible component(s), that was found during installation.

I hope this helps.

-- JB|||Many thanks John. That was very helpful and I am grateful for your suggestion. On looking into the core.log file I've extracted the following piece of information:
"Product "{44568A1C-53F6-49A5-A163-CD9ADC0F76D5}" versioned 2.0.50727 is not compatible with current builds of SQL Server. Expected at least version: 2.0.50727.42 The Product Name is "Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0". Unfortunately, the most recent version that I can find from the Microsoft site is version 2.0.50727!!!!!!!!!!! Can anyone help me find the 2.0.50727.42 version?|||This is one area where things are confusing... I believe there were a few builds of the .NET Framework that were released that were versioned 2.0.50727.xx prior to the final release. The 2.0.50727.42 version is the FINAL RTM version of the 2.0 framework. If the very last number in the version is < 42, you do not have the final released version installed.

You can download the final release of the 2.0 framework from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&DisplayLang=en

jeff.|||Thanks Jeff. You're right this is VERY confusing. I believe that the link you've given me is the one that I downloaded and tried to install. Unfortunately without success. Since experimenting a bit I've actually found a download that works. Unfortunately, I've had to pull down the full SDK version. This is a BIG download with lots and lots of stuff. I have now got a working version of SQL Server 2005 Express but with a massive overhead of other peripheral material. Since installing it all (I wasn't given any choice as to what to install) my notebook has become very sluggish! You just can't win can you! It's all or nothing with this lot!!!!
Thanks to everyone for their help.