Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Installing and Deploying Updates

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 R2

About this Guide

What Is an Update?

The Standalone Update Installation

The Combination Installation

Installing SP1 and updates with Windows Server 2003

Removing Updates

Copyright

About this Guide

This guide was formerly called "Hotfix Deployment and Installation Guide."

This guide is geared for system administrators who are installing software updates on Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Unless specified, this guide uses the term "update" to refer to any software update, including an update rollup, service pack, feature pack, critical update, security update, or hotfix that improves or fixes a software product that is released by Microsoft Corporation. For definitions of each of these types of software updates, see article 824684, "Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates," in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

This guide includes technical information, procedures, and recommendations for installing updates on multiple computers in a small business or corporate environment. This includes installing updates separately or in combination with Windows Server 2003, with or without a service pack.

If you want to deploy either the standalone version of SP1 or the version of SP1 that is integrated with the operating system, see the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Installation and Deployment Guide (on the Microsoft TechCenter Web site).

Although this guide includes some basic operating system information, it assumes that you have a working knowledge of Windows Server 2003 and update installations. This guide is designed to complement formal training and other sources of information, such as the Windows Server 2003 Help documentation, not to replace them.

Although updates are available for both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003, throughout this guide, all examples will use the format for 32-bit updates.

What Is an Update?

An update is a file or collection of files that you can apply to your operating system to correct a specific problem. You can install updates separately from the operating system or in combination with Windows Server 2003, with or without a service pack.

An update is an executable (.exe) file. When you install an update, backup files are automatically created so you can remove the update later if you want to. The installation process also copies the new files to specific folders and updates registry settings.

Windows Server 2003 update files are named according to the following convention:

  • For the 32-bit (x86) versions of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems:

    WindowsServer2003-KB*######-x86-LLL*.exe

  • For the Itanium-based versions of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems

    WindowsServer2003-KB*######-ia64-LLL*.exe

  • For the x64-based versions of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems:

    WindowsServer2003-KB*######-x64-LLL*.exe

The symbols ###### represent the Microsoft Knowledge Base article number that explains the details about the update, and LLL represents the language version of the update.

Updates are self-installing. There are two main types of update installations:

  • The standalone update installation

    Use this to install Windows updates on computers that are already running Windows Server 2003.

  • The combination installation

    Use this to perform an unattended installation of Windows updates in combination with an installation of Windows Server 2003, SP1, or both.

Important

Updates are applied only to software that is already installed. If you remove a component and later reinstall it, you must reinstall any updates that apply to that component. In addition, if you add further components to your computer that require this update, you must reinstall the update for it to apply to the new component. However, if you install updates by installing SP1, the updates are applied to all components that you add or reinstall. You would not need to reinstall SP1.

The Standalone Update Installation

During the standalone update installation, Windows updates are applied to a computer that is already running Windows Server 2003. When you run the update program, it automatically installs updated system files and makes the necessary registry changes. After the computer is restarted, the installation is complete, and the operating system runs with an updated file set.

You can install the updates by running one of the update program files listed previously, which extracts the update files and runs the Update.exe installation program. Update.exe then checks the service pack version that you are currently using. If the service pack version was released before the updates, and the language is the same, Update.exe automatically installs the updates. If your service pack version was released after the updates, the installation is not completed, and an error message appears stating that the version of the updates is incorrect.

For more information about Update.exe, see the white paper, "Inside Update.exe - The Package Installer for Windows and Windows Components," on the Microsoft Web site.

Note

If your service pack version was released after the updates and you were completing an unattended installation using either the /U (unattended setup) or /Q (quiet setup) option, the installation does not continue and no message appears. For more information about command-line options, see Command-line options for the update package, later in this document.

If the language of the updates does not match the language that you selected for your Windows Server 2003 operating system, Setup is interrupted. If there are no conflicts with the language version, Setup continues with the installation, and Update.exe registers the updates under the following registry keys:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Server2003\SP2\KB*######*

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Hotfix\KB*######*

During the installation, information for removing the updates is stored in a hidden folder named %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB*######*$. For information about removing updates, see Removing Updates later in this document.

Methods for installing updates

There are several methods that you can choose from to install an update, such as:

  • Run Update.exe manually using a combination of installation options.

  • Use Systems Management Server (SMS).

  • Use Windows Installer.

You can deploy updates to multiple computers on a network by using a shared network distribution folder or by downloading the updates from the Web. Because this guide is intended primarily for corporate users, the procedures in the following section apply to the distribution of updates on a shared network. This is the most common way of distributing updates in a corporate environment.

The instructions in the rest of this section explain how to install updates on computers that are already running Windows Server 2003.

Using Qchain.exe

Windows Server 2003 updates have Qchain.exe functionality built in as part of Update.exe. This means that you can install SP1, and then install any number of post–SP1 updates without having to restart the computer between installations.

If multiple updates replace the same file, Update.exe ensures that the correct version of the file is retained. If you install multiple updates, be sure to use the /Z option that is described in "Command-line options for the update package," the next section in this guide.

Command-line options for the update package

Command-line option Description

/?

or

/Help

Displays help text.

/ER

Enables extended return codes that return a detailed error message if the update installation fails. For more information, see the white paper, "Inside Update.exe - The Package Installer for Windows and Windows Components," on the Microsoft Web site.

/F

Forces other applications to close after you install the update package and before you restart the computer.

/Forcerestart

Restarts the computer after the update installation is complete. This option follows standard shutdown behavior. It does not force applications to close.

/integrate: path

Integrates this software update into the path you specify. Be sure to provide the absolute path to your operating system source files.

/L

Lists installed updates.

/N

Does not back up files for removing updates. An entry for the update does not appear in Add or Remove Programs if you use this option.

/O

Overwrites OEM files without prompting.

/Q

or

/Quiet

Uses quiet mode. Shows no user interface during the installation of the updates. This is the same as unattended mode, except that the user interface is hidden. No prompts will appear during the installation process.

/U

or

/Passive

Uses unattended Setup mode. Requires no user interaction during the installation of the updates and shows only critical errors and a progress bar.

/Z

or

/Norestart

Does not restart the computer after the installation is completed.

Installing updates on computers running Windows Server 2003

To install an update on a single computer, run the update program, WindowsServer2003-KB*######-x86-LLL*.exe, on that computer.

If you want to install the update on more than one computer, you can create a distribution folder for the update on the network. The following procedure describes how to install one or more updates using this method.

Important

You must install SP1 either in combination with or before you install updates released after SP1. Installing more recently released updates before you install SP1 can cause problems with your system.

Note

For the following procedure, Drive:\ represents the drive of the network or computer on which your distribution folder is located.

To install an update by running the Update.exe program

  1. Connect to the network or computer on which you want to create the distribution folder.

  2. In the shared network distribution folder, create a distribution folder for the update files.

    For example, to create a distribution folder named Update, type the following:

    mkdir Drive**:\Update**

  3. Copy the Windows Server 2003 Update.exe program to the distribution folder that you created in Step 2. For example, to copy the SP1 Update.exe program to the distribution folder named Update, type the following:

    xcopy C:\WindowsServer2003-KB*######-x86-LLL***.exe Drive:\Update**

  4. To install the update from the shared network distribution folder, run the WindowsServer2003-KB*######-x86-LLL*.exe program.

    For example, to install the update from the distribution folder named Update, type the following:

    Drive**:\Update\WindowsServer2003-KB***######-x86-LLL***.exe**

  5. To ensure that your updates take effect, restart your computer after you finish installing all of the updates.

Note

The WindowsServer2003-KB######-x86-LLL.exe file supports the same command-line options as Update.exe. You can use the command-line options that are described in the table that precede this procedure.

Installing several updates together

You can group multiple updates together in a batch file and install them as a unit. This makes it unnecessary for you to restart your computer after you install each update. The update installer provides options that you can use when performing this type of installation.

The following code sample is a batch file that installs updates and ensures that the correct files are replaced after the computer is restarted.

@echo off
setlocal
set PATHTOFIXES=Drive:\update
%PATHTOFIXES%\WindowsServer2003-KB######-x86-LLL.exe /quiet /norestart
%PATHTOFIXES%\WindowsServer2003-KB######-x86-LLL.exe /quiet /norestart
%PATHTOFIXES%\WindowsServer2003-KB######-x86-LLL.exe /quiet /norestart

Important

To ensure that the updates that you installed take effect, restart the computer if the batch file does not automatically restart it for you. If you want your computer to restart automatically, in the last update that you install, replace the option /norestart with the option /forcerestart.

The Combination Installation

The combination installation uses both the update installation and integrated installation processes to install SP1 with one or more of the following:

  • Windows Server 2003

  • Windows Server 2003 updates

  • Additional Microsoft and non-Microsoft software that might be included on the SP1 CD

Note

An integrated installation is one in which the operating system and the service pack are installed together as a single installation.

For a combination installation, you can include the components that you want to install as entries in the Svcpack.inf file, along with the updates. You can also choose to install SP1 at the same time.

This section provides instructions for using unattended Setup mode to simultaneously install Windows Server 2003 and updates.

Installing SP1 and updates with Windows Server 2003

This section explains how to perform a combination installation that includes SP1 and post–SP1 updates integrated with Windows Server 2003 in a shared distribution folder on a network. A combination installation makes it unnecessary for you to perform separate installations of Windows Server 2003, SP1, and the Windows Server 2003 updates.

If you want to install Windows Server 2003 with updates, you must use this method. This process installs the updates during Windows Server 2003 Setup.

Preparing for the combination installation

Before you deploy the installation of Windows Server 2003 and the Windows Server 2003 updates across a network, you must copy the Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 update installation files to a shared distribution folder and complete the steps described in the following procedure, "To create and set up the required folders and files for Windows Server 2003."

If you are an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and you plan to install additional OEM files (such as device driver, application, or component files) on the destination computers, create a \$1 subfolder within the \$OEM$ subfolder. The \$1 subfolder corresponds to systemdrive, which is the destination drive for the Windows Server 2003 installation.

Note

In the following procedure, Drive:</STRONG> represents the drive name of the network or computer where your distribution folder is located.

To create and set up the required folders and files for Windows Server 2003

  1. Connect to the network or computer on which you want to create the distribution folder.

  2. Create a distribution folder by typing the following (using the appropriate drive letter):

mkdir Drive**:\WServer2003DIST**

  1. Use the command xcopy to copy the files and subfolders from the integrated installation product CD or DVD that includes Windows Server 2003 and SP1 to the Drive:\WServer2003DIST folder.

    For example, if D is your CD-ROM drive, type the following:

    xcopy /E /I /V D:\ Drive**:\WServer2003DIST**

  2. Use the /integrate option to run the update that you want to install by typing the following:

    WindowsServer2003-KB*######-x86-LLL***.exe /integrate: Drive:\WServer2003DIST**

    Repeat this step for each update you want to include your deployment.

Important

If you want to include SP1 and updates in your deployment of Server 2003, and you do not have a version of the operating system that includes SP1, first you must integrate Windows Server 2003 with SP1 as described in the Service Pack Deployment Guide. Then you can integrate the updates. If you integrate the updates before SP1, you will not be able to include SP1 afterwards.

For more information about how to integrate updates, see article 828930, "How to integrate software updates into your Windows installation source files," in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

Deploying the combination installation

You can deploy the installation of the Windows Server 2003 updates and the Windows Server 2003 operating system to multiple computers from a shared distribution folder on a network. During the standard installation process, Windows Server 2003 Setup installs the operating system and applies the updates.

To deploy the installation

  1. Verify that the installation and executable files for the Windows Server 2003 updates and Windows Server 2003 exist in your distribution folder.

  2. Customize Windows Server 2003 Setup as necessary. For more information about customizing Windows Server 2003 Setup, see the Winnt32.exe command syntax topic in the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Professional Resource Kit Documentation on the Windows Deployment and Resource Kits Web site.

  3. Run Windows Server 2003 Setup. This deploys the installation of the Windows Server 2003 updates and Windows Server 2003 to multiple computers from the shared distribution folder.

Note

For more information about the preceding procedure, see the Microsoft Windows Corporate Deployment Tools User's Guide (Deploy.chm) included in Deploy.cab in the \Support\Tools folder on your SP1 CD.

Removing Updates

You can remove an update for Windows Server 2003 at a command prompt or by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.

If you want to remove updates, you must remove them in the reverse order in which they were installed. So, you must remove the most recently installed update first. For example, assume that you installed UpdateA before you installed UpdateB. To return your computer to its state before the installation of UpdateA, you must remove UpdateB before you remove UpdateA. You should follow this reverse order when you uninstall updates because some updates share files.

Important

If you try to remove the updates in the wrong order, a warning appears that lists all of the updates and programs that have been installed since you installed the update that you are trying to remove. The warning names the update you are trying to remove and warns you that if you continue, the programs listed might not run correctly. Click No if you do not want to remove the update and if you prefer to remove the programs and updates that are listed before you continue. Otherwise, click Yes. You cannot remove updates that were installed by using the combination installation method unless you reinstall the operating system. Reinstalling the operating system overwrites the updates.

To remove an update at the command line

  1. Specify this location at the command line:

    %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB*######*$\spuninst\

  2. Type **Spuninst.exe /**option. Replace option with any of the following options:

Option Description

/U

Removes the update in unattended mode. If you use this option, only critical error prompts appear while you uninstall the update.

/Q

Removes the update in quiet mode, which is the same as unattended mode except that the user interface is hidden. If you use this option, no prompts appear while you uninstall the update.

/Z

Does not restart the computer after the process of uninstalling the update is complete.

/F

Forces other applications to close when the computer restarts after uninstalling the update.

To remove an update for Windows Server 2003 by using Add or Remove Programs

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Click Add or Remove Programs.

  3. Select the Show updates check box.

  4. Click the update that you want to remove, and then click Change or Remove.

  5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen

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