SharePoint (MOSS): Error Starting Office SharePoint Server Search Service, and using one service account

When bringing up a SharePoint farm, I was starting the services on the main SharePoint box. I got the following error:

An unhandled exception occurred in the user interface.Exception Information: OSearch (svc-moss)

The quick solution is to enter the MOSS service account as DOMAINNAME\accountname when filling out the screens. Simple, hey? This post explains it further.

By the way, in every implementation, we’ve used only one service account, instead of the million (figurative number) accounts they recommend. That way you don’t have to guess what account and password to use. Be sure to make the account name and password tough to hack, though. Don’t be like King Roland of Druidia or President Skroob and make the password 12345.