error while deploying webapp

Hello.  I created a copy of an existing site to use as a qa site - same
environment, etc.  However I am unable to deploy a war - manually or
automatically.  When I attempt to do it manually through admin, the screen
refreshes with the message, "An error occurred while registering the new
component."  However there is no other message - nothing in the logs.  If
it's worth anything, I am able to deploy this webapp directly to tomcat (by
dropping it in the webapps directory).  Additionally, I've been able to
deploy this app to other Jahia instances.

Where should I be looking for clues?  

Thanks
chris