Resolving Error 2772:105 and Project Creation Failures in PCS 7 V9.0

Error 2772:105 ('PCS 7 Wizard could not create project') occurs in PCS 7 V9.0 SP2 when the engineering workstation's computer name violates industrial naming conventions, when required Windows security groups are missing from the logged-on user, or when Microsoft SQL Server permissions block WinCC database generation. In SIMATIC PCS 7, the computer name must contain a maximum of 15 uppercase alphanumeric characters starting with a letter. Adding the user to 'Administrators', 'SIMATIC HMI', 'SIMATIC NET', and 'Siemens TIA Engineer' resolves the permission conflict.

Root Causes of PCS 7 Wizard Error 2772:105

When launching SIMATIC Manager and executing the "New Project Wizard" in PCS 7 V9.0 SP1 or SP2, the creation process frequently fails at the final step with the error:
Error (2772:105) The project could not be created.

This error is generated when the wizard attempts to instantiate the integrated Operator Station (OS) WinCC project container. Detailed diagnostic analysis reveals three primary causes:
1. Invalid NetBIOS Computer Hostname: WinCC relies on Microsoft SQL Server and NetBIOS named pipes. If the Windows computer name contains lowercase letters, hyphens (-), underscores (_), spaces, or exceeds 15 characters, SQL Server fails to bind the database instance.
2. Missing Local Windows Security Groups: The user executing the wizard is a standard local administrator, but lacks membership in specialized industrial Windows security groups created during PCS 7 setup.
3. Microsoft SQL Server (WINCC) Instance Failure: The SQL Server (WINCC) service is either stopped, running under an unauthorized service account, or blocked from creating database files in C:\Program Files (x86)\Siemens\WinCC.

Mandatory Computer Naming Conventions and User Groups

To guarantee compatibility across SIMATIC Manager, WinCC, BATCH, and Route Control, industrial PCs must comply with strict naming rules:

Hostname Naming Rules

Maximum of 15 characters (NetBIOS limitation).
Must contain only uppercase letters (A–Z) and numbers (0–9).
Must start with a letter (never start with a number).
Strictly forbidden: Hyphens (-), underscores (_), periods, spaces, and special symbols.
Identity Rule: The Windows Computer Name, SIMATIC PC Station Name in HW Config, and WinCC Computer Properties must match identically (case-sensitive).

Mandatory Local Windows Security Groups

The user account logged into the engineering station must belong to the following groups in Windows:
* Administrators: Local administrative control.
* SIMATIC HMI: Full access to WinCC database engines and graphic services.
* SIMATIC NET: Configuration rights for network communication processors (CP 1623, Softnet).
* Siemens TIA Engineer: Engineering system inter-process permissions.

Step-by-Step Resolution and Workstation Preparation

Follow this configuration workflow to clear error 2772:105:

Correct the Windows Computer Name:
* Open Windows Settings -> System -> About -> Rename this PC.
* Enter a compliant name (e.g., ESSTATION01 or PCS7ES01).
* Click Next and restart the computer.
Assign Windows User Groups:
* Open Computer Management (compmgmt.msc).
* Navigate to Local Users and Groups -> Groups.
* Add your active Windows user account to:
- Administrators
- SIMATIC HMI
- SIMATIC NET
- Siemens TIA Engineer
Verify SQL Server Service Health:
* Open Windows Services (services.msc).
* Locate SQL Server (WINCC).
* Verify that the status is Running and the Startup Type is set to Automatic.
* Ensure the service logs on as LocalSystem (or the default Siemens virtual service account).
Execute the Wizard:
* Open SIMATIC Manager with administrative privileges (Run as Administrator).
* Launch File -> 'New Project' Wizard.
* Select CPU type (e.g., S7-410) and assign the project name. The wizard will now complete project instantiation successfully.

Verification

Monitor the PCS 7 Wizard progress bar. Confirm that it advances past "Creating OS" to 100% without displaying error 2772:105.
In SIMATIC Manager, confirm that the multiproject structure appears containing the AS project, OS PC Station, and Master Data Library.
Open the OS project in WinCC Explorer. Confirm that the WinCC project opens cleanly with active database connectivity.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Changing the computer name on an existing engineering station invalidates existing WinCC projects if their computer names are not updated in WinCC Explorer. Always set the computer name correctly before creating projects.
Antivirus software must be configured with Siemens-approved folder exclusions (excluding C:\Program Files (x86)\Siemens and project directories) to prevent file creation locks.
In virtual machine environments, ensure the VM hostname is unique on the corporate network to avoid NetBIOS IP name collisions.

Engineer FAQ

Why does WinCC fail if the computer name has a hyphen?
Microsoft SQL Server and legacy WinCC DCOM communication wrappers interpret hyphens and special characters as syntax delimiters, resulting in database attachment failures.
Does this error occur on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC?
Yes. The error is related to computer naming and user permissions, not the specific Windows 10 LTSC build.
Can I create the project manually without the wizard?
Yes. You can select File -> New..., insert a Multiproject, insert an AS station, and manually insert a SIMATIC PC Station to bypass the wizard entirely.

Technical References

SIMATIC PCS 7 Engineering System Configuration Manual (A5E41356220-AA).
Siemens Industry Online Support Entry ID 109801081: Computer Naming Conventions and Group Rights in PCS 7.
SIMATIC WinCC V7/V8 Installation Guide: SQL Server Database Requirements.

Related Tags

PCS 7, WinCC, Project Wizard, Error 2772, Computer Name, User Rights, SIMATIC HMI, SQL Server

Resolving Error 2772:105 and Project Creation Failures in PCS 7 V9.0