Microsoft KB Archive/826508

= An unattended installation of Windows Server 2003 cannot continue and you receive a message with error code 18 =

Article ID: 826508

Article Last Modified on 7/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition

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SYMPTOMS
When you try to perform an unattended installation of Microsoft Windows Server 2003, and the Unattend.txt file includes the setup command entry OEMPreinstall = Yes, the Setup program generates the following error message:

File  could not be loaded. Error code is 18.

Setup cannot continue.

Press any key to continue.



CAUSE
This problem occurs when the computer that you are installing Windows Server 2003 on supports the OEM Virtual Disk feature, and the Unattend.txt file does not specify any files to be preinstalled. Under these conditions, the Setup loader program does not use the OEM Virtual Disk to locate any third-party device drivers.

Note The OEM Virtual Disk feature was created by various original equipment manufacturers so that you can load third-party drivers on the virtual disk for use in unattended installations.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement
You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, 32-bit editions
  Date         Time   Version       Size     File name ---  11-Apr-2004  06:53  5.2.3790.161  431,616  Setupdd.sys 22-Apr-2004 16:40                278,688  Setupldr.bin 22-Apr-2004 16:40  5.2.3790.165  259,072  Setupldr.exe

Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
  Date         Time   Version       Size     File name ---  11-Apr-2004  06:23  5.2.3790.161  899,584  Setupdd.sys

Hotfix installation information
After you extract the hotfix files, you must move them to the I386 or to the IA64 folder, depending on your edition of Windows Server 2003.

Windows Server 2003, 32-bit editions
To complete installation on a 32-bit edition of Windows Server 2003, follow these steps:
 * 1) Locate the I386 folder in the Windows Server 2003 Setup folders on the network share.
 * 2) Rename the following files by appending the .bak extension to each file name:
 * 3) * Setupdd.sy_
 * 4) * Setupldr.bin
 * 5) * Setupldr.ex_
 * 6) Copy the following hotfix files to the I386 folder:
 * 7) * Setupdd.sys
 * 8) * Setupldr.bin
 * 9) * Setupldr.exe
 * 10) If you plan to use a custom CD to perform the installation, make a new CD that contains the hotfix files.

Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
To complete installation on a 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2003, follow these steps:
 * 1) Locate the IA64 folder in the Windows Server 2003 Setup folders on the network share.
 * 2) Rename the Setupdd.sy_ file by appending the .bak extension to the file name.
 * 3) Copy the Setupdd.sys hotfix file to the IA64 folder.
 * 4) If you plan to use a custom CD to perform the installation, make a new CD that contains the hotfix files.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about the terminology that is used in this article, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbsetup kbbug kbfix kbqfe kbwinserv2003presp1fix KB826508

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