C135 PCS 7 (PCS7)
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Troubleshooting SIMATIC PCS 7 New Project Wizard Freezes and Error 2772-106

Troubleshooting SIMATIC PCS 7 New Project Wizard Freezes and Error 2772-106

SIMATIC PCS 7 New Project Wizard freeze and Error (2772:106) occur when the wizard fails to instantiate the master project template due to missing Windows OS prerequisite updates, lack of administrator privileges, or corrupted master templates in the STEP 7 directory. To resolve this, verify that Windows 7 SP1 64-bit or Windows 10 has all mandatory Siemens compatibility updates installed (specifically KB2999226 and KB3033929), run SIMATIC Manager with 'Run as administrator', and ensure the project path contains no special characters. Alternatively, bypass the wizard by creating a blank Multiproject manually via 'File' -> 'New' -> 'Multiproject'.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

When starting a new automation project in SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 SP1, new engineers frequently use the 'New Project Wizard' (PCS 7 Wizard) to generate the baseline multiproject structure, automation station (AS), and operator station (OS). However, on freshly installed operating systems or misconfigured engineering stations, the wizard can freeze during project generation and abort with the fatal error message: 'The project wizard could not create the project. (2772:106)'. This guide analyzes the architectural root causes of Error 2772:106, details the required operating system prerequisites, outlines template directory restoration, and explains the manual multiproject creation workaround.

Architectural and System Mechanics

SIMATIC PCS 7 New Project Wizard execution mechanics:

  • Master Template Copying: The PCS 7 Wizard does not construct projects from scratch. It copies pre-configured project templates located in C:/Program Files (x86)/Siemens/Step7/S7PROJ/WIZARD/ and modifies project properties, controller types, and plant hierarchies dynamically.
  • Operating System Prerequisites: In PCS 7 V9.0 SP1 on Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate (64-bit), the wizard relies on Microsoft Universal C Runtime (CRT) and updated cryptographical libraries (SHA-2 code signing support via KB3033929). If KB2999226 is absent, the underlying automation COM objects fail silently, hanging the wizard at the DB creation phase.
  • Windows User Permissions: The wizard must write to S7PROJ and interact with the local SQL Server instance (WINCC). Without administrative elevation, file lockouts trigger Error 2772:106.
  • Path Constraints: Non-ASCII characters or spaces in the project destination directory cause database attachment scripts to abort.

Step-by-Step Engineering and Implementation Procedure

Step 1: Verify Windows OS Prerequisites and Hotfixes

  1. Confirm Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is installed (winver).
  2. Verify that Microsoft KB3033929 (SHA-2 code signing) and KB2999226 (Universal C Runtime) are installed in Windows Updates.
  3. If missing, install these packages and reboot the PC.

Step 2: Verify User Group Memberships and File Permissions

  1. Open Computer Management -> Local Users and Groups -> Groups.
  2. Verify that the current user account is a member of Administrators, SIMATIC HMI, and SIMATIC NET.
  3. Right-click the destination engineering directory (e.g., D:/PCS7_Projects/) and grant Full Control to SIMATIC HMI.

Step 3: Run SIMATIC Manager as Administrator

  1. Right-click the SIMATIC Manager shortcut on the desktop.
  2. Select 'Properties' -> 'Compatibility' tab.
  3. Check 'Run this program as an administrator' and click OK.
  4. Launch SIMATIC Manager and re-attempt running the New Project Wizard.

Step 4: Bypass the Wizard (Manual Multiproject Creation)

If the wizard remains locked due to corrupted template files, use the industry-standard manual creation method:
1. In SIMATIC Manager, select 'File' -> 'New...'.
2. Select the 'Multiproject' tab, enter the project name and destination path, and click OK.
3. Select 'File' -> 'New...' again, choose 'Project', check 'Add to current multiproject', and create the AS project.
4. Insert a 'SIMATIC 400 Station' into the AS project, configure HW Config, and insert CFC charts.
5. Insert a second project for the OS, add a 'SIMATIC PC Station', and configure the WinCC application.

Verification

To verify proper project creation:
1. Verify that the project appears in SIMATIC Manager with both Component View and Plant View accessible.
2. Open HW Config on the AS station; confirm that the CPU and communication modules load without catalog errors.
3. Insert a test CFC chart, place a block, and execute a test compilation (CFC -> 'Compile' -> 'Charts as Program').

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Operational precautions:
- Windows 7 Ultimate is no longer supported by Microsoft; for modern PCS 7 engineering, migrate to Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC certified for your PCS 7 release.
- Creating projects manually requires configuring the Plant Hierarchy manually (defining hierarchy levels and OS assignment) before creating block icons.
- Never store active PCS 7 projects on mapped network drives or cloud-synchronized folders (such as OneDrive or Dropbox) to prevent database corruption.

Engineer FAQ

Q: What does Error 2772:106 indicate?

A: It indicates that the STEP 7 wizard could not duplicate the master project template or failed to initialize the project database.

Q: Is using the New Project Wizard mandatory in PCS 7?

A: No. Most experienced system integrators avoid the wizard and create multiprojects manually to maintain precise naming and architectural control.

Q: Why does the wizard hang during project creation?

A: The wizard typically hangs when waiting for an unresponsive COM interface or when blocked by missing Windows C Runtime libraries.

Q: Where are the wizard template projects stored?

A: Templates reside under C:/Program Files (x86)/Siemens/Step7/S7PROJ/WIZARD/.

Q: Can I copy a project from another PC instead of using the wizard?

A: Yes, use the 'Retrieve' function in SIMATIC Manager to restore an archived project (*.zip).

Technical References

Related Articles

Related Tags

PCS 7 Wizard, Error 2772:106, SIMATIC Manager, STEP 7 Prerequisites, Multiproject

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