Error starting Windows SharePoint Server 3 Search

I am trying to start a new instance of a Microsoft Office SharePoint 2007 Server, and am having problems starting the Windows SharePoint Server Search service.
Here are the details:

The initial setup was performed by another administrator.  Because it did not have the naming/port conventions of our other SharePoint instances, it was decided we would clear out that setup and start a new one that did.  This was done by disconnecting from the server farm (this is the only server in the farm) and creating a new farm.  I am unsure whether or not the search service ever worked to begin with, as I didn't check before I unprovisoned.
When I tried to start the Windows SharePoint Search service, an IIS Application Error occured at the "Operation In Progress" page.  I cannot determine exactly what this error is because Custom Errors are turned on and I haven't been able to turn them off.
In the Event Logs, the following Application Errors can be found while the attempt to start the service is being made:
Warning - Event ID 10035 - Windows SharePoint Services 3 Search
Could not import the registry hive into the registry because it does not exist in the configuration database.

Context: Application 'bf3cdd2c-561d-4cd4-aba0-37ddf776115b'

Error - Event ID 10029 - Windows SharePoint Services 3 Search
Error backing up registry hive to the configuration database.

Context: Application 'Search index file on the search server'

Details:
      Access is denied.   (0x80070005)

Error - Event ID 2426 - Windows SharePoint Services 3 Search
Advise Status Change failed. The system is probably low on resources. Free up resources and restart the service.

Context: Application 'Search', Catalog 'index file on the search server Search'

Details:
       (0x80041812)


Error - Event ID 4609 - EventSystem
The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal processing.  HRESULT was 80110472 from line 44 of d:\nt\com\complus\src\events\tier1\eventsystemobj.cpp.  Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services to report this error.

Error - Event ID 17 - VSS
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: The EventSystem service is disabled or is attempting to start during Safe Mode.  The Volume Shadow Copy service cannot start while in safe mode. If not in safe mode, make sure that EventSystem service is enabled. CLSID:{4e14fba2-2e22-11d1-9964-00c04fbbb345} Name:CEventSystem [0x80040206]

Error - Event ID 8193 - VSS
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Unexpected error calling routine CoCreateInstance.  hr = 0x80040206.

Info - Event ID 1314 - ASP.NET 2.0.50727.0
Event code: 4011
Event message: An unhandled access exception has occurred.
Event time: 10/5/2007 2:00:20 PM
Event time (UTC): 10/5/2007 6:00:20 PM
Event ID: 45ff281eeeae42a29b32c2841dd7d1fe
Event sequence: 162
Event occurrence: 1
Event detail code: 0
 
Application information:
    Application domain: /LM/W3SVC/1660259873/Root-1-128360762891562500
    Trust level: WSS_Minimal
    Application Virtual Path: /
    Application Path: C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\wss\VirtualDirectories\44905\
    Machine name: Z000ADS1
 
Process information:
    Process ID: 6856
    Process name: w3wp.exe
    Account name: SYSTEM\spadmin
 
Request information:
    Request URL: http://z000ads1:8080/_admin/SPSearchServiceInstanceSettings.aspx?ServerId=7f2668ae-ba24-44c4-88a9-16d4f3f8d7da&Provision=1
    Request path: /_admin/SPSearchServiceInstanceSettings.aspx
    User host address: 10.108.122.17
    User: SYSTEM\swing
    Is authenticated: True
    Authentication Type: NTLM
    Thread account name: SYSTEM\spadmin
 
Custom event details:


I have tried the following, to no avail:
- Disconnect from server farm and reprovision a new instance (multiple times)
- Delete the "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office Servers\12.0\Data\Office Server\Applications" folder
- Uninstall and reinstall MOSS
- Use service account name directly, instead of DOMANNAME\<service account>

What could the problem be?