SharePoint 2010: Warning 1015: Failed to connect to server. Error: 0x80070005

Problem

On a daily basis, you see the following warning appear in the SharePoint server 2010 host's Application log:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        MsiInstaller
Date:          [date]
Event ID:      1015
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          [SharePoint farm account]
Computer:      [a SharePoint Server 2010 host]

Description:

Failed to connect to server. Error: 0x80070005
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="MsiInstaller" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">1015</EventID>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="..." />
    <EventRecordID>8607</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>[a SharePoint Server 2010 host]</Computer>
    <Security UserID="..." />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>0x80070005</Data>
    <Data>(NULL)</Data>
    <Data>(NULL)</Data>
    <Data>(NULL)</Data>
    <Data>(NULL)</Data>
    <Data>(NULL)</Data>
    <Data>
    </Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

You may see a 100 or so similar warnings appear daily, each one accompanied by a corresponding Information event, such as the following:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        MsiInstaller
Date:          [date]
Event ID:      1035
Task Category: None
Level:         Information
Keywords:      Classic
User:          [SharePoint farm account]
Computer:      [a SharePoint Server 2010 host]
Description:
Windows Installer reconfigured the product. Product Name: Microsoft InfoPath Form Services English Language Pack. Product Version: 14.0.7015.1000. Product Language: 1033. Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation. Reconfiguration success or error status: 0.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="MsiInstaller" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">1035</EventID>
    <Level>4</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="..." />
    <EventRecordID>8608</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>[a SharePoint Server 2010 host]</Computer>
    <Security UserID="..." />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>Microsoft InfoPath Form Services English Language Pack</Data>
    <Data>14.0.7015.1000</Data>
    <Data>1033</Data>
    <Data>0</Data>
    <Data>Microsoft Corporation</Data>
    <Data>(NULL)</Data>
    <Data>
    </Data>
    <Binary>...</Binary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Each of these pairs corresponds to a different component that can be configured for the farm.

Discussion

These are associated with the farm's Product Version Job, which by default runs daily at 12:45 AM.  Compare the times of these warnings with the time that your farm's Product Version Job runs, and you'll see the association.

Solution

1. Add the farm account to the host's local administrator group.
2. Restart the SharePoint 2010 Timer service.
3. Remove the farm account from the host's local administrator group.
4. Run the farm's product Version Job.
5. Check the host's Application Log.

References

• Multiple errors from MsiInstaller with event id 1015 and text "Failed to connect to server. Error: 0x80070005"
• MsiInstaller Warnings and DistributedCOM Errors in the Event Log after configuring User Profile
• Product Version Job: DCOM 10016 strikes again
• Event ID 1015 — Windows Installer Service Availability
• a Sharepoint Timer Job called “Product Version Job

Notes

• Thanks to SP-Jim for finding this solution (scroll down near the bottom).

See Also

• An important place to find a huge amount of SharePoint related articles is the TechNet Wiki itself. The best entry point is SharePoint Resources on the TechNet Wiki