Source : http://blog.lab49.com/?p=222

After installing VS.NET 2005, I began receiving the following WMI configuration error when trying to install SQL Server 2000, 2003 or 2005:

The SQL Server System Configuration Checker cannot be executed due to WMI configuration on the machine [machine name]Error:2147749896 (0×80041008).

Following various abortive efforts to fix, I finally came across this batch file that resolved the issue:

@echo on
cd /d c:\temp
if not exist %windir%\system32\wbem goto TryInstall
cd /d %windir%\system32\wbem
net stop winmgmt
winmgmt /kill
if exist Rep_bak rd Rep_bak /s /q
rename Repository Rep_bak
for %%i in (*.dll) do RegSvr32 -s %%i
for %%i in (*.exe) do call :FixSrv %%i
for %%i in (*.mof,*.mfl) do Mofcomp %%i
net start winmgmt
goto End

:FixSrv
if /I (%1) == (wbemcntl.exe) goto SkipSrv
if /I (%1) == (wbemtest.exe) goto SkipSrv
if /I (%1) == (mofcomp.exe) goto SkipSrv
%1 /RegServer

:SkipSrv
goto End

:TryInstall
if not exist wmicore.exe goto End
wmicore /s
net start winmgmt
:End