XGEN: Exchange SP3 May Install on Servers Without SP2 (158448)

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0 Service Pack 3 (SP3) may not correctly detect whether or not the server it is being applied to has already had Service Pack 2 (SP2) applied to it. The SP3 Update.exe proceeds with the installation, without issuing a warning message that SP2 has not been correctly applied.

CAUSE

If SP2 is removed from a Microsoft Exchange Server computer by clicking Remove All from within the Microsoft Exchange Server Setup program, not all registry keys associated with this installation are removed. Specifically, the key that stores the currently installed server and SP version information remains. If a fresh copy of Microsoft Exchange Server is then installed on this Windows NT Server, the SP3 Update.exe will not detect that this server has not had SP2 correctly applied to it, and the SP3 Update.exe proceeds without warning.

WORKAROUND

If the server you are upgrading had an SP2 installation removed, make sure you re-apply SP2 before applying SP3.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.