Readme for Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (Readmesp)

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 R2

Introduction to Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Components of SP1

Installation Options

Deploying SP1 to Multiple Servers

Release Notes

Before You Install SP1

Installing SP1 from the CD

Uninstalling SP1

Additional Resources

Copyright

Introduction to Service Pack 1 (SP1)

This document provides important information about Microsoft® Windows Server™ Service Pack 1 (SP1). SP1 contains updates that can help improve the security, reliability, and performance of your operating system. We recommend that you install SP1 because it includes updates that can improve how some programs run with Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

It is important to read this document before you install SP1. This document explains how to install SP1, and it provides specific information that might apply to your setup.

You can install SP1 to update the following versions of Windows Server 2003 operating systems:

  • Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition

  • Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition

  • Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition

  • Windows Server 2003, Web Edition

  • Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2003

Note

If you are running Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition, contact your OEM before you install SP1. OEMs are required to test Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition with service packs, such as SP1. If you subscribe to updates from your OEM, they should provide you with SP1 and provide or direct you to updated adapter drivers and utilities. They should also provide a custom HAL if your system requires such additional items. It is not possible to update the x64 versions of Windows Server 2003. For information about support for these products, contact your OEM, and see the Windows Server 2003 x64 Web site.

Components of SP1

SP1 contains updates and additional functionality for Windows Server 2003. You can read about these changes on the Microsoft TechCenter Web site. Help and Support Center has also been updated for SP1. For information about new functionality, see the updated version of Help and Support Center posted on the Microsoft TechCenter Web site. You can update Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2003 with SP1 only for English, German, Japanese, and French locales.

List of updates

For information about updates and fixes included in SP1, see the article 824721, "Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 List of Updates," in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

Installation Options

You can install SP1 from the CD, the Microsoft Download Center, or from the Windows Update Web site.

For 32-bit versions (x86) of Server 2003, the name of the SP1 installation file is WindowsServer2003-KB889101-SP1-x86-LLL.exe

The examples throughout this document use the 32-bit name for the SP1 installation file.

For Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2003, the name of the SP1 installation file is WindowsServer2003-KB889101-SP1-ia64-LLL.exe, where LLL is the language version of SP1. For example, ENU represents the English-language version.

You can update Itanium-based versions with SP1 for only English, German, Japanese, and French locales.

Using the CD to install SP1

You can use the CD to install SP1 onto a single server, or follow the instructions in the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Installation and Deployment Guide (on the Microsoft TechCenter Web site) to deploy SP1 to multiple servers on a network.

There are two SP1 CDs available to update Windows Server 2003 operating systems with SP1: one for 32-bit versions of the Windows Server 2003 operating system, and one for Itanium-based versions of the Windows Server 2003 operating system. The CD for Itanium-based operating systems is labeled as such.

Using the Web to install SP1

There are two options available for installing SP1 from the Web.

Important

During the download, check the URL of the Web site to ensure that you are downloading files from Microsoft.

Windows Update

You can use Windows Update to install SP1 on a single server running a 32-bit version of Windows Server 2003. You can update Itanium-based versions with SP1 only by using the CD or by downloading it from the Microsoft Download Center.

Download Center

You can update a single server or multiple servers by downloading SP1 from the Microsoft Download Center. You can choose to download SP1 for 32-bit (x86) versions or Itanium-based versions of the Windows 2003 operating system.

Because downloading the SP1 installation takes a substantial amount of time, we recommend that you save the SP1 installation file on your computer. This way, if you must restart the installation or reinstall SP1, you will not need to download the installation file again. Because the SP1 installation file is very large, if your computer has more than one hard disk, you should save WindowsServer2003-KB889101-SP1-x86-LLL.exe on a disk other than your system disk.

Deploying SP1 to Multiple Servers

You can obtain SP1 installation files from the SP1 CD or from the Download Center. Follow the instructions in the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Installation and Deployment Guide (on the Microsoft TechCenter Web site) and do one of the following:

  • Deploy SP1 to multiple servers on a network that are already running Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

  • Integrate a Windows Server 2003 operating system with SP1, and then install the operating system and SP1 together on multiple servers using one procedure. This type of procedure is also known as "slipstreaming."

Follow the instructions in the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Installing and Deploying Updates (on the Microsoft TechCenter Web site) to combine SP1 with an installation of Windows Server 2003, updates, or both the operating system and updates, and install them together using one procedure.

Release Notes

Before you install SP1, see article 889101, "Release Notes for Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1." The information in this section will also help you prepare for your installation of SP1.

Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1

The Microsoft .NET Framework is included in all of the 32-bit versions of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems. It is not included in 64-bit versions of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

The 32-bit version of .NET Framework 1.1 is supported by 64-bit versions of Windows Server operating systems and can be installed for 32-bit applications running on 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems (WOW64).

To install .NET Framework 1.1, see "Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1 Redistributable Package" at the Microsoft Download Center Web site. To install .NET Framework version 1.1 Service Pack 1, see "Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1" at the Microsoft Download Center Web site.

Important performance and scalability information

If a 32-bit version of the Microsoft .NET Framework is installed on the 64-bit Itanium-based systems, applications created for the 32-bit version of the .NET Framework will bind and run against it. Therefore, applications created with the .NET Framework version 1.1 run only in a 32-bit process within the WOW64 compatibility environment. Due to the design of x86 emulation for Itanium processors and the WOW64 subsystem, applications are restricted to execution on one processor.

Single processor execution and x86 emulation reduce the performance and scalability of 32-bit .NET Framework applications running on Itanium-based systems. We recommend that applications using the .NET Framework version 1.1 be used for interactive, client applications. With .NET Framework applications that demand high performance and scalability, such as high-load ASP.NET applications, we do not recommend this environment. We suggest that application developers instead evaluate the .NET Framework version 2.0, which includes 64-bit support for Itanium-based systems, for increased performance and scalability.

Dell OpenManage support for Windows Server 2003 SP1

In order to support the new enhancements and features in Windows Server 2003 SP1, Dell plans to release Dell OpenManage version 4.4, including Dell Server Assistant version 8.6, to fully support SP1. For current customers who are running Dell OpenManage version 4.3 or earlier, go to the Dell Web site for Dell OpenManage and Service Pack 1 upgrade and deployment information.

Note

Web addresses can change, so you might be unable to connect to the Web site mentioned here.

Before You Install SP1

You can install SP1 only on a computer that is running a Windows Server 2003 operating system.

Before you install SP1, review the following information about Windows Server 2003 SP1.

  1. Review the planning and deployment information for Windows Server 2003 SP1, available on the Microsoft TechCenter Web site.

    Because SP1 includes enhanced security, increased reliability, and a simplified administration, we recommend that you review these functionality changes and how they can affect your server setup before you deploy SP1. For example, SP1 includes the Security Configuration Wizard (SCW) that you can use to create security templates for servers based on their roles. Before you deploy SP1, you should determine how to incorporate SCW into your deployment process. An overview of this and other information you should know before you deploy SP1 is included in "Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1" on the Microsoft TechCenter Web site.

  2. Check the system requirements for installing SP1 in the article, 892807, "Hard Disk Space Requirements for Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1" in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

  3. Review article 824721, “Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 List of Updates” in the Microsoft Knowledge Base to find out about updates and fixes included in SP1.

  4. Unless you have a supplemental support agreement with Microsoft, you must uninstall any prerelease versions of SP1 before you proceed. Microsoft does not support the installation of this version over the release candidate or beta versions of SP1.

  5. Fully back up your servers. Your backup should include all data and configuration information that is necessary for that computer to function. It is important to perform a backup of configuration information for servers, especially those that provide network infrastructure, such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). When you perform the backup, be sure to include the boot and system partitions and the System State. Another way to back up configuration information is to create a backup set for Automated System Recovery.

  6. If you are not connected to a network or the Internet, and you want to minimize the installation time for the SP1 update, you can choose to disable your antivirus software. You can usually do this by right-clicking your antivirus-software icon (which typically appears in the bottom right-hand corner of the computer screen), and clicking Disable. Be sure to enable the antivirus software again after you install SP1. Do this only if you are installing from the CD.

Important

Antivirus software is a critical part of keeping a computer secure, but the time that it takes for the software to scan files on your system can add significantly to the time required to install the service pack—as much as an hour or more on slower systems. Disabling your antivirus software before you install the service pack eliminates this extra installation time. If you disable your antivirus software before you install the service pack, be sure that you are aware of the risks involved, and be sure to enable it after the service pack is installed.

Installing SP1 from the CD

The SP1 CD contains the program, WindowsServer2003-KB889101-SP1-x86-LLL.exe, which is a self-extracting executable file that contains the source files for SP1. The CD also includes tools for advanced users, technical support staff, and administrators.

To install SP1 from the CD

  1. To install SP1, you must be logged on to the computer as an administrator.

  2. Insert the SP1 CD into your CD-ROM drive. It might take a few moments for the installation document to display. This document is titled, "Installing Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1."

    If this document does not automatically open when you insert the CD, open it using the following steps:

    1. Click Start, and then click Run.

    2. Type the following, and then press ENTER:

      D:Srsp1.cmd

      D is the drive letter associated with your CD-ROM drive.

  3. To complete a default installation (recommended), in "Installing Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1," look for the link to install SP1 and click that link to begin. Otherwise, to customize your installation, use the command line. To view command-line options for a customized installation, type:

    WindowsServer2003-KB889101-SP1-x86-LLL**.exe /?**

  4. If the Setup Wizard prompts you to run WindowsServer2003-KB889101-SP1-x86-LLL.exe or to save it to disk, click Run this program from its current location, and then click OK.

  5. Follow the instructions in the Setup Wizard.

  6. During the installation, backup files are created by default so you can remove SP1 later if you want to. If you install from the command line, you can choose not to back up files by using the option /N. We do not recommend this option. If you install from the user interface, the Setup wizard allows you to choose where you want to create backup files.

  7. After the installation is complete, restart your computer, and then turn on the antivirus software if you disabled it for the installation.

    Important

    If you choose not to create backup files, you will be unable to remove SP1.

Uninstalling SP1

If you chose to create backup files when you installed SP1, you can use Add or Remove Programs or the command prompt to remove SP1 at any time and restore your computer to its previous state.

It is only possible to uninstall SP1 if it was installed as an update to an existing operating system. It is not possible to remove SP1 if you installed it as part of an integrated installation. In this case, you can only uninstall the entire operating system together with SP1.

To remove SP1 using a command prompt

  1. Open a command prompt and type:

    %systemroot%\$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst\

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

  3. Press ENTER to continue, and then follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Option Description

/U

Removes the service pack in unattended mode. If you use this option, only critical error prompts appear while you uninstall SP1.

/Q

Removes SP1 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 SP1.

/Z

Does not restart the computer after the process of uninstalling SP1 is complete.

/F

Forces other applications to close when the computer restarts after uninstalling SP1.

Important

If you choose to remove SP1, a dialog box displays a list of the applications that you installed after you installed SP1. If you continue to remove SP1, these applications might not work correctly. Multiple descriptions of some applications might appear instead of a single generic description. You should ignore these additional descriptions.

Additional Resources

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