CLR Initialization Failed With Hresult 0x80131022

I guess this may not strictly be a CLR integration question, because what I'm actually doing is using sp_OACreate in a T-SQL batch to call a COM object written in C#. Not as nice as using full CLR integration, but unfortunately the T-SQL must run without error on a SQL 2000 server before it is upgraded to 2005, and I preferred this option to using reams of dynamic SQL.



The first call to sp_OACreate fails with hRes 0x80131022. MSSQLServer also logs the following error to the app event log:

"Failed to initialize the Common Language Runtime (CLR) v2.0.50727 with HRESULT 0x80131022. You may fix the problem and try again later."



Please can anyone suggest why this is happening? I've tried repairing the .NET framework (v2) installation, and reinstalled SQL Server Express. I've double checked both CLR integration and OLE Automation are allowed in the Surface Area config tool for SQL Express. I've tried running SQL Express using both LocalSystem and the administrator account on the machine. I've even checked there is plenty of free memory (including virtual memory). Nothing has helped though.



Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you can provide,



Rob