Win2K3 SE x64 upgrade to Win2K3 EE x64 – Install.exe missing file

[DRRummel]

I was given our agency’s base OS image. It have been debugged, though quality assurance, and approved. So, the upgrade to EE needs to appear simple. The fewer the perceived steps, the sooner I can deploy it. The base image is Windows 2003 Std. Edition SP2 R2. All software should have been downloaded from the MVLP. The CD Key on the base image is the same as the CDs I am using. The CD (DVDs) I have in my hands are labeled:

W2K3 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition (with SP1?) (Disk 1 of 2)

W2K3 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition (contains R2) (Disk 2 of 2)

W2K3 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition (Contains SP2)

I tried to run our W2K3 EE for x64 with SP1, but it says that the base OS image is newer then the CD install.

So I tried to slipstream SP2 into the OS install. I copied each of the CD to the local disk. Each is in its own directory.

Attempt 1:

1. I copied the contents of the OS w/ SP1 directory to a new directory called AIO.

2. I then ran the SP2 hotfix with the integrate command line parameter /integrate:d:\AIO (WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB914961-SP2-x64-ENU.exe /integrate:d:\AIO). I got a pop up message about integrating files.

3. I ran the setup from the AIO directory and I got an error message during the install that it could not find the file INSTALL.exe. I also could not find the Install.exe in any of the directories.

Attempt 2:

1. I copied the contents of the OS w/ SP1 directory to a new directory called AIO.

2. I extracted the SP2 file with the /x parameter (WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB914961-SP2-x64-ENU.exe –x:d:\SP2_Files). The files were extracted to d:\SP2_files.

3. I then tried to slipstream SP2 in the sourse directory using the –s parameter (c:\SP2_Files\AMD64\update\update.exe –s:d:\AIO

4. I ran the setup from the AIO directory and I got an error message during the install that it could not find the file INSTALL.exe. I also could not find the Install.exe in any of the directories.

Wondering if the missing install.exe was part of the R2 install, I attempted to integrate the R2 components into the source.

Attempt 3:

The same as attempt 1 but with the R2 source files copied to the d:\AIO directory.

Failed again looking for the missing INSTALL.exe.

Attempt 4:

The same as attempt 2 but with the R2 source files copied to the D:\AIO directory. Failed like all the rest.

Attempt 5:

Same as attempt3, but this time I allowed the setup routine to go to the internets to download any setup updates from Microsoft. Still not finding Install.exe.

Interesting notes, when the setup prompts for Install.exe, if I skip the file, setup will continue to run. I believe that after the first reboot, the R2 setup automatically runs its setup routine. So I am guessing it is the SP2 routine that is triggering the Install.exe prompt. Another thought is that some other installed application is trying to reinstall after the OS update. Maybe Dell OpenMange? This is the best part, the logon screen has the Windows 2003 x64 STANDARD Edition graphic, but once logged on MSINFO32 indicates that the OS is Windows 2003, x64, Enterprise Edition, with R2.

What is causing the Install.exe prompt? How do I build a clean upgrade process to get from Windows 2003 SE x64 SP2 R2  Windows 2003 EE x64 SP2 R2?

[DRRummel]

I had to build the base image step by step and test the EE SP2 upgrade every step of the way until I installed the offending product. My money was on the Broadcom teaming software, the Dell Diagnostics or the Dell Server Assistance. But it turns that the DotNetFramework 2.0 was the problem. Going to the Add/Remove programs control panel applet and removing the dotNetFramework 2.0 SP1 resolved the issue with the supplied SE server image. I don’t know if it was the base dotNetFramework or the service pack for it. But removing them allowed for a clean slipstream upgrade.