I was having some problems installing a fully functional 3.1 and am now having the same issues with 3.1.1

Background

Clean Installation of DNN v 3.1 using release package to dev machine
Only module installed was core announcements
Installed and functional, lovely.

Clean Installation of DNN v 3.1 using release package to production server
Only module installed is core announcements
Installed but received the below errors when attempting to access host>host settings and uploading files to portal via modules or file manager:

Error: Host Settings is currently unavailable.
DotNetNuke.Services.Exceptions.ModuleLoadException: Object reference not set to an instanceof an object. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. at DotNetNuke.Modules.Admin.Host.HostSettingsModule.BindData() at DotNetNuke.Modules.Admin.Host.HostSettingsModule.Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) --- End of inner exception stack trace ---

All other host tabs configurable, had to edit host settings via enterprise manager

Error: File Upload is currently unavailable.
DotNetNuke.Services.Exceptions.ModuleLoadException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. at DotNetNuke.Common.Globals.UploadFile(String RootPath, HttpPostedFile objHtmlInputFile, Boolean Unzip) at DotNetNuke.Modules.Admin.FileSystem.WebUpload.cmdUpload_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e) --- End of inner exception stack trace ---

Had to ftp files to portal folder and then synchronise

No real problem, work around limitations and I was hoping 3.1.1 would fix whatever was causing these problems

However today..

Clean install of 3.1.1 using install release files onto dev machine (XP-Pro)
Full control provided to ASP.Net Machine Account
Created new Db and user
Edited default host and admin credentials in DotNetNuke.install.resources
Set install template to portal.template
Added VMasanas.Simpledownload and Nestwood.linkImage to install/module
Edited release.config - connection string, set usednnconfig to false
Renamed to web.config
Installed

All core modules installed plus the two 3rd party modules
Portal loads, login using new host credentials ok
Same host settings error as above
Third party modules operate as expected but again have to ftp to portal root and synchronise for uploads.
Same File upload error as above when attempting to use file manager.

I dont feel like im a complete noob installing DNN particulary on my development machine.
Before I could create a working 3.1 portal on my dev machine but not on production now i cant get a 3.1.1 portal to work even locally without error.

Im beyond puzzled... always something to stop me sleeping at night.

Any clues?

Thanks

3.1.1 is still installed on my dev  machine (If im even qualified enough to call it that). I am also verifying with my host that 'I' have the permissions all set ready for installation 'up there

But tried another clean install locally today Clean db, Checked permissions , Full control given to root folder and inherited by children.

No source release code. I leave all that nasty sounding stuff like compiling to people who know more than i do

Again, everything installs and runs superbly but I fall over with the same errors.

Next Ill try the source code version, maybe i can break it badly myself, im good like that

Anyone got a good 'building your dotnetnuke package for release' tutorial?

My love/hate relationship with DNN continues.

Cheers

Havnt managed to figure whats going on with my local installation but the folks at seekdotnet.com installed a fresh 3.1.1 for me and there hasn't been any problems.