Windows Server 2003 is running pre-release software

[This topic is intended to address a specific issue called out by the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool. You should apply it only to systems that have had the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool run against them and are experiencing that specific issue. The Exchange Server Analyzer Tool, available as a free download, remotely collects configuration data from each server in the topology and automatically analyzes the data. The resulting report details important configuration issues, potential problems, and nondefault product settings. By following these recommendations, you can achieve better performance, scalability, reliability, and uptime. For more information about the tool or to download the latest versions, see "Microsoft Exchange Analyzers" at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=34707.]  

Topic Last Modified: 2008-03-11

The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool examines the Win32_OperatingSystem Microsoft Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) class to determine the value of the ServicePackMajorVersion key. The Exchange Server Analyzer also examines the following registry entry to determine the version of Windows that is running on the destination computer:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\CurrentVersion

If the value for the second instance of CurrentVersion is 5.2, and the value of ServicePackMajorVersion is greater than 2, the Exchange Server Analyzer displays a warning message.

A CurrentVersion value of 5.2 indicates the computer is running a Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 operating system. A ServicePackMajorVersion greater than 2 indicates that a service pack later than Service Pack 2 (SP2) has been installed. Because SP2 is the latest released service pack for Windows Server 2003, any Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 3 or later that is installed must be pre-release software.

Unless you are part of a Technology Adoption Program (TAP) or a similar Microsoft sponsored program, it is recommended not to run pre-release software in production environments.

To correct this warning

  1. Uninstall any pre-release software that has been installed.

  2. If the uninstall option is available, rebuild the operating system and restore the Exchange Server settings and data.

For more information about Windows Server 2003 software updates, see the Windows Server 2003 Software Updates Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=33760).