OK, it is starting to work, it is rebuilding right now.
Found the problem: Previously the problem was that the DB was SQL Express, for which the SQL Agent doesn’t like to run, not sure why it installs, but it’s always a pain.
Now using SQLWeb, which does have SQL Agent to run jobs. Problem was that for some bizarre reason the installer assigned the full text index service an account but didn’t actually create the account correctly and there were login failures. Fixed the account, and now the reindexer is running.
I currently have it schedule to do it every night at midnight CDT/CST