Sometimes, in haste, you install SQL a little too fast and miss installing a feature you actually need.  Case in point, today I built a new SQL 2005 Server and attempted to create a new maintenance plan – ERROR.

“‘Agent XPs component is turned off as part of the security configuration for this server”

So instead of reinstalling SQL, there is a simple script fix which I found here (http://www.treeratfishing.com/2008/01/15/enabling-agent-xps-on-sql-2005/) 

• sp_configure ’show advanced options’, 1;
• GO
• RECONFIGURE;
• GO
• sp_configure ‘Agent XPs’, 1;
• GO
• RECONFIGURE
• GO

You can now create Maintenance Plans.