Microsoft KB Archive/235890

= Enterprise Edition Installer Program Requests SP3 Even If a Newer Service Pack Is Installed =

Article ID: 235890

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4

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This article was previously published under Q235890



SYMPTOMS
When you run the Enterprise Edition Installer program (Nhloader.exe) on a computer that has Service Pack 4 (SP4) or later installed, you may receive the following error message:

Install Service Pack 3

You must install Service Pack 3 to complete the installation of Windows NT Enterprise Edition. Press 'Start Installation' to finish the setup.

If the computer is running SP4, the problem persists even if you reinstall the service pack.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs when a service pack later than Service Pack 3 (SP3) is installed in Windows NT Server, and you then upgrade the computer to Windows NT Enterprise Edition by using the Winntup.exe utility. The SP3 version of the Nhloader.exe file is placed on the computer. The SP3 version of Nhloader.exe checks specifically for SP3 to be installed on the computer. If you have a later service pack installed, it requests SP3.

The SP4 Update.exe program does not replace the Nhloader.exe file, even though the updated file is part of the service pack. Service Pack 5 (SP5) and later does replace the Nhloader.exe file if you reinstall the service pack after upgrading the computer to Enterprise Edition.

WARNING: Do not to install SP3 on an installation of Windows NT that has already had a later service pack installed. Doing so may cause file version mismatches that may cause Windows to be unstable or unbootable.



RESOLUTION
The version of Nhloader.exe in SP4 and later has been updated to recognize the presence of service packs later than SP3.

If you are prompted to install SP3, quit without installing SP3. Then, copy the Nhloader.exe file from the same service pack version that is installed on the computer to the System32 folder in your installation, and run the new version of Nhloader.exe.

If SP5 or later is installed, reinstalling the service pack should replace the Nhloader.exe file with the updated version.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT Server version 4.0. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. service pack for Windows NT Server version 4.0. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

Keywords: kbbug kbenv kbfix KB235890

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