Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {XXXX} failed due to the following error: 80080005

Question

What is the troubleshooting process for the "Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {XXXX} failed due to the following error: 80080005" errors in .Net? To clarify: I am getting this at runtime, on my XP machine, with client being .net code running under admin account. {XXXX} refers to one of our in-house COM components.

From what I understand, 0x80080005 refers to "permission denied", but where do I go to check/change the permissions? Or am I completely wrong here, and the error is coming from the component itself, and not out of Windows COM subsystem?

Answer 1

Seems to be a rather generic error relating to starting up the COM server. Possible issues include timeouts, logon failures (check the Q about CO_E_SERVER_EXEC_FAILURE), or security permissions, or (evidently) a VS2008 ATL bug. Hitting an error in CreateInstance would do the trick as well, I think.

I'd start by checking Event Log for anything interesting.

Answer 2

0x80080005 is "Server Execution Failed", according to ERRLOOK.EXE. WinError.h lists this as CO_E_SERVER_EXEC_FAILURE. Not "Access Denied".