I've been pulling my hair out trying to make DNN work. Trying to run on Win 10 with SQL Server 2014.

(1) The Web Installer 5.0 freezes after download. It also freezes after clicking 'Cancel.' I have to kill the process.

(2) Install from the runtime version goes fine up to a point. It will set up the database and allow me to put in the configuration settings. But...

(3) Fails trying to show the default.aspx page. It just reads 'DNN Error'

I've tried several times...wiping the database and web folders and reinstalling. Nothing helps. I can NEVER get DNN to work, and have tried a few times over the past few years. Nada. Here's the log dump:

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at DotNetNuke.UI.Skins.Skin.GetSkin(PageBase page)
at DotNetNuke.Framework.DefaultPage.OnInit(EventArgs e)
at System.Web.UI.Control.InitRecursive(Control namingContainer)
at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)
2018-06-22 03:53:54.942-07:00 [Cosmo2][D:8][T:27][ERROR] DotNetNuke.Services.Exceptions.Exceptions - ~/Default.aspx?tabid=20&error=terminate
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at DotNetNuke.UI.Skins.Skin.GetSkin(PageBase page)
at DotNetNuke.Framework.DefaultPage.OnInit(EventArgs e)
at System.Web.UI.Control.InitRecursive(Control namingContainer)
at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)
2018-06-22 03:53:54.967-07:00 [Cosmo2][D:8][T:27][ERROR] DotNetNuke.Services.Exceptions.Exceptions - DotNetNuke.Services.Exceptions.PageLoadException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at DotNetNuke.UI.Skins.Skin.GetSkin(PageBase page)
at DotNetNuke.Framework.DefaultPage.OnInit(EventArgs e)
at System.Web.UI.Control.InitRecursive(Control namingContainer)
at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---

Any help will be appreciated.