MSDE fails to install; cnfgsvr cannot start the instance service.

Windows XP, SP2; MSDE 2000 Release A - on some installs of the XP SP2 MSDE installation fails, the section of the install log that applies is:

Executing "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn\cnfgsvr.exe -V 1 -M 1 -U sa -I "INSTANCE" -Q "SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS""
MSI (c) (60:64) [19:21:20:734]: Font created. Charset: Req=0, Ret=0, Font: Req=MS Shell Dlg, Ret=MS Shell Dlg

Setup failed to configure the server. Refer to the server error logs and setup error logs for more information.
MSI (s) (B4!F4) [19:21:33:546]: Product: Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine -- Setup failed to configure the server. Refer to the server error logs and setup error logs for more information.

Action ended 19:21:33: InstallFinalize. Return value 3.

Examining cnfgsvr.out yields:

###############################################################################

Starting Service ...
SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS
-m -Q -T4022 -T3659
An error occurred while attempting to start the service (1460)
SQL Server configuration failed.
###############################################################################

Manually starting the service and then running cnfgsvr from a command window correctly configures the server.

Does anyone have any hints as to why cnfgsvr is not able to start the service? I would like to figure out what on the machine is causing the MSDE install to fail.
Nothing?|||I have the exact same problem :(
|||This problem is difficult to detect and is likely caused by mixed up MDAC product stack. Please try upgrading to latest MDAC and retry.