When I launch the Database Engine Tuning Advisor from SqlServer 2005 I get a C++ runtime error to the effect that attempting to
initialize the CRT twice is a no-no.

I presume "CRT" refers to the C Runtime Library.

And I presume this error shows that this supposedly release-quality application is actually buggy.

Can someone please tell me how I can at least >>launch<< the DETA successfully? Not necessarily do anything with it, mind you; I'd
be happy at this point to just be able to admire the subtle beauty of its interface.

I'll worry about actually >>doing<< something with it later.

For those who might run into this same problem:

I'm not sure exactly what I did to "cure" it, but fiddling around with the configuration of SqlServer2005 services on my server, and
with the "surface area" management utility, apparently resolved the problem (I didn't do anything to the installation on my client
machine where the problem appeared).

Mark
Glad to know that your problem has been resolved.This issue is being
investigated presently and is a consequence of a filed appcompat bug
(issue due to appcompat shimming and nothing specific to DTA process
itself).Can you check if you have registry entries corresponding to
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers?
Since you got around to fix it it is possible that appcompat shimming
has been turned off and the entries removed
Manoj

Manoj,

Sorry about the delay in getting back to you. Here's what my client machine (the one originally experiencing the problem) has for
that registry branch:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers]
"C:\\WINDOWS\\explorer.exe"="EnableNXShowUI"
"C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\rundll32.exe"="EnableNXShowUI"

[quoted text, click to view]

Mark
Can you try removing "C:\\WINDOWS\\explorer.exe"="EnableNXShowUI" entry
and see if DTA works?
Manoj