A few days back, I noticed that I was unable to access websites as I had lost connectivity to my DNS server. When I checked the console, I found that my server had failed to install an update… Windows Server 2003 SP2 as it happens, which Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) had pushed out via the automatic updates mechanism. I restarted the machine and waited as it restored the prior configuration, running the software update removal wizard (at least it recovered cleanly), then waited as WSUS tried to push SP2 again. As the repeat update ran interactively, I found the problem – for some reason, towards the end of the installation, the following message was displayed:
Administrative Privileges Required
You must be an administrator of this computer to run this utility.
Log off, and then log on using an administrator account.
(even though I was logged on as the domain Administrator). After clicking OK, the installation continued before reporting:
Automatic Updates
You have successfully updated your computer.
You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect.
I’ve not seen any issues since the restart and the service pack seems to have applied successfully but checking the system event log reveals two entries describing the original problem:
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Windows Update Agent
Event Category: Installation
Event ID: 20
Date: 16/03/2007
Time: 06:00:19
User: N/A
Computer: servername
Description:
Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80242007: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (32-bit x86).
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 57 69 6e 33 32 48 52 65 Win32HRe
0008: 73 75 6c 74 3d 30 78 38 sult=0x8
0010: 30 32 34 32 30 30 37 20 0242007
0018: 55 70 64 61 74 65 49 44 UpdateID
0020: 3d 7b 39 34 35 32 35 30 ={945250
0028: 33 43 2d 30 35 42 45 2d 3C-05BE-
0030: 34 41 36 34 2d 39 39 45 4A64-99E
0038: 44 2d 39 41 35 39 46 37 D-9A59F7
0040: 44 36 35 33 39 38 7d 20 D65398}
0048: 52 65 76 69 73 69 6f 6e Revision
0050: 4e 75 6d 62 65 72 3d 31 Number=1
0058: 30 34 20 00 04 .
Event Type: Error
Event Source: NtServicePack
Event Category: None
Event ID: 4374
Date: 17/03/2007
Time: 15:16:38
User: N/A
Computer: servername
Description:
Windows Server 2003 installation failed, leaving Windows Server 2003 partially updated.
The installation of the Service Pack did not complete, and a rollback to the pre-installation state has been initiated. A rollback is a two-step process. Step one is complete; to complete step two, click OK. To be reminded at next login to complete step two, click Cancel. After you complete the rollback, your system will reboot and you may retry the installation of the Service Pack.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
My other Windows servers seem to have updated without any problems; however this illustrates the risk of having WSUS automatically approve updates.
Mark, I am receiveing the same W3K SP2 install error. I am wondering if you have found a resolution yet ? (if not I have an e-mail into Microsoft on it)
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your comment but it seemed to work just fine after I clicked OK. Seems that the warning about needing to be an administrator (even when you are!) is bogus.
I’d be interested to hear what Microsoft have to say about it though!
Mark
had the same problem yesterday and i solved it with a trick.
of course i do not like to hit ok and forget while errors occur…
so, if you still could revert one of those windows 2003 to a state previous to the installation of sp2, try:
administrative tools –> local security settings –> local policies –> user rights assignments –> act as part of the operating system = (set it to) localserver\administrators
this worked for me
kisses from italy, m4tteo on gmail.com
I’m also having this issue on a 2003 DC. Tried a few workarounds to no avail.
Anyone else go a fix ??
I just spoke with a Microsoft Engineer regarding this issue. We made a few changes and toniht WSUS will push out the update again. I will post the results.
Here is what we tried:
Windows 2003: SP2 fails to install
*** Problem Description ***
When attempting to install Windows Server 2003 SP2, the installation fails.
If you look at the svcpack.log file, you may see errors similar to those below
(NOTE: The names of the .cat files may be different.)
942.656: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\Tmp.0.scw.cat
with error 0x57
942.734: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from
C:\WINDOWS\Tmp.0.scw.cat with error 0x80092004
947.031: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\Tmp.0.sasetup.cat
with error 0x57
947.062: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from
C:\WINDOWS\Tmp.0.sasetup.cat with error 0x80092004
958.937: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\Tmp.0.osccab.cat
with error 0x57
958.953: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from
C:\WINDOWS\Tmp.0.osccab.cat with error 0x80092004
959.546: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\Tmp.0.ntprint.cat
with error 0x57
959.687: GetCatVersion: Failed to retrieve version information from
C:\WINDOWS\Tmp.0.ntprint.cat with error 0x80092004
960.484: InstallSingleCatalogFile: MyInstallCatalog failed for Tmp.0.ntprint.cat;
error=0xfffffbfe.
960.484: DoInstallation:MyInstallCatalogFiles failed:STR_CATALOG_INSTALL_FAILED
970.984: UnRegisterSpuninstForRecovery, failed to delete SpRecoverCmdLine value,
error 0x2
970.984: DoInstallation: Failed to unregistering spuninst.exe for recovery.
971.000: Failed to install catalog files.
Select ‘OK’ to undo the changes that have been made.
988.421: Message displayed to the user: Failed to install catalog files.
Select ‘OK’ to undo the changes that have been made.
988.421: User Input: OK
988.421: Starting process:
C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /~ -u -z
988.812: Software Update Rollback has completed with return code 0x643. This
rollback requires a reboot.
988.843: Service Pack 2 installation did not complete.
…………………..
993.250: Update.exe extended error code = 0xf01e
Additionally, users will see this error message:
Service Pack 2 installation did not complete.
Windows Server 2003 has been partially updated and may not work properly.
You may also see this:
The SVCPACK.LOG has:
6.812: VerifyTargetFileSize: Unable to verify size as Source = NULL for file
c:\winnt\_000000_.cat
7.125: InstallCatalogFile: InstallCatalog failed for c:\winnt\_000000_.cat;
error=0xfffffbfe.
7.141: InstallInfCatalogFile: Installation failed; error=0x00000002.
7.141: IsInfFileTrusted: ValidateSingleFileSignature Failed:
STR_FAILED_INF_INTEGRITY
The error on this case is due to having too many updates:
# for hex 0xfffffbfe / decimal -1026
JET_errRecordTooBig
*** Resolution ***
Following the steps from “KB822798 You cannot install some updates or programs”
first.
http://www.support.microsoft.com/kb/822798
If this does not resolve the issue, do the following:
1) Browse to C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}
2) Create a temporary folder to backup some .cat files.
3) MOVE all KB*.cat and TMP*.cat files to the folder you created in Step 2. DO NOT
DELETE THEM!
4) Start the Installation of SP2.
If the installation still fails with the same error, review the svcpack.log file
for any other catalog file failures that may be mentioned. Find those .cat files
and move them to the same folder you created in Step 2 above and attempt the
installation of SP2 again.
Followed KB822798 advices but the new installation was unsuccesful.
Repeated most steps of KB822798, restarted the server many times during the process, uninstalled BDD and AIK. This time I had the SP2 installed. I remember that some componets used by WDS (included in AIK) are also present in the SP2; may be there were some conflicts.
This didn’t work for me either…
It looks like the issue may be with some sort of Group Policy. The problem is only happening on our Domain Controllers. SP2 via WSUS works great on our member servers.
I’ll post the fix if and when myself or Microsoft figures it out.
I had the same problem. I worked around the problem as folow:
1. First install Server 2003 Service Pack 1 again (gave some messages, but continued) (restart)
2. Installed Small Business Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (restart)
3. Installed Server 2003 Service Pack 2 and works fine! (restart)
Hi, just wondering if anyone has found the fix for this nasty problem.
Been running 2003 for 3 yrs no problems. I let it autoinstall sp2 and bam..reboot city inspite of trying everything on the safe menu.
Safe mode will sometimes work and give u a screen with 3 mousepointers and then 2 seconds later it blue screens out with a memory problem saying that a driver is misusing a resource.
This blows and I am stumped and DOWN, how can i uninstall this pos if I cant even get logged on
Hi,
I’ve installed the SP2 update on a Server 2003, DC running Exchange 2003 and one of the printers, a Canon, has now gone ‘Offline’ for some but not all of the users.
Looks like some spooling problem on the server. I’m going to try sending the data direct to the printer and spooling it there.
i have the same problem rightnow. so any body let me know how much time it take to complete the step2 because i click ok and its show software update removal wizard and process is running at last step i.e. running processes before uninstall.
any body can help me just give the ans on my email dipakavichal@yahoo.com
i am waiting for reply rightnow.
While i am trying to update the windows server 2003 its showing an error message “failed to install Catlog file” why this problem is comming and how can i solve this.
I ound out that the message which you get at installing SP1 about the WINS-service still running is the issue at our server.
After manualy stopping the WINS-service (Start-Control Panel-Administrative Tools-Services-Windows Internet Name Service) the update install went without problems.
I just installed windows 2003 SP2 and I lost mail server.
IT seems working but any client cant connect the ports 25 and 110 .
and I cant remove sp2 when it is removing suddenly it says something about missing file..
Türkay,
It’s a bit off topic but it sounds to me as if you may have some firewall issues. Windows Firewall shouldn’t be enabled by default on an upgrade (only on a fresh installation) but check the firewall settings. Try telnetting to the ports too – if you get a response (even a blank screen) then you are getting there but if you get a message to say that you can’t connect then it’s probably a networking (typically firewall) issue.
HTH, Mark
Türkay,
I have the same problem here trying to uninstall sp2. The error message is “The system cannot find the file specified.” I can’t find what file it means.
Have you found any solution to this?
no I couldn’t find.. however after this error ( The system cant find file bla bla ) windows firewall crushed too. we couldn’t open Firewall screen anymore with the message “Due to the unknown error .. bla bla “..
so we reinstalled the system .
Strange, I just noticed the exact same thing with the firewall here too…
if comment5’s methods don’t resolve your issue, try follows
(1)controler–>adds/delets : check out the security update files(delet some security update files(about five) that have the same article numbers as windows server 2003 sp2’s components(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914962))
(2)when you delet these security update files,system will show some warning messages, continue to delet these files,
because too many update files will balk the progress of installation
(3)restart the computer, install the windows server 2003 sp2 again
I had this same error. I followed the steps here exactly and it worked for me. I think that it was the second step that did it.
http://www.mcse.ms/archive/index.php/t-2470334.html
Colby, you’re fantastic! Worked like a charm for removing SP2 after a failed install.
Thanks!
Hi,
I have upgraded Windows 2003 Server from SP1 to Sp2. Sp2 got installed and did not throw any errors but it doesn’t show up in Winver or My Computer Properties. Could anyone please shine some light on this.Thanks
Try installing .net framework 2.0 or later before installing SP2 it will resolve all problems