WMI Configuration Error

All right, got a need for help. WMI seems to be screwing up in a grade A fashion when I attempt to install SQL 2005. The specific error number is 2147749896 (0x80041008). I do get past the SQL configuration; the setup program bombs out at the point where I get to the System Configuration Check. The specific text in the application is "SQL Server Setup is scanning your computer's configuration...".

I've also attempted to check out WMI from Services; that brings up a different error when I attempt to start the service. That gets me the following error:

Could not start the Windows Management Instrumentation service on Local Computer.

Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start.

Anyone got any ideas whatsoever on what I can do to fix the sitch?