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Q173073: SMS: Package Is Currently Being Installed in the Background

Article: Q173073
Product(s): Microsoft Systems Management Server
Version(s): 1.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbnetwork kbsms120 kbsms120bug kbPCM smspcm
Last Modified: 30-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.2 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Under various circumstances, you may see a message box titled Package Command
Manager Service that contains the following text:

  A package is currently being installed in the background. This is routine,
  however please wait until it has completed before starting any new packages.

CAUSE
=====

This message appears when PCMWIN32 fails to get control of the semaphore from
PCMSVC32. This message usually appears when PCMSVC32 is processing a job and
PCMWIN32 tries to go through its normal polling cycle. This message may also
appear if a user tries to start PCMWIN32 manually while PCMSVC32 is processing a
job. Note that there are reports of this message appearing when PCMSVC32 was not
processing a job. Many of these reports seem to indicate that underlying
networking problems or unavailable Systems Management Server logon servers cause
this message to appear.

The message could also be caused when PCMWIN32 reaches its polling cycle and
PCMSVC32 is also querying the instruction file on the logon server. In this
case, even though no software is being installed, as the message states, the
background task has control of the semaphore; because PCMWIN32 is blocked from
access, it displays the message.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server
version 1.2. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. service pack for
Systems Management Server version 1.2. For information on obtaining the service
pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the
spaces):

  S E R V P A C K

MORE INFORMATION
================

Many people have requested that the message referenced in the SYMPTOMS section
of this article be completely removed or that the ability to turn the message
off and on by using a registry switch be included. The message serves a very
useful purpose and should not be removed without carefully considering the
ramifications. Changes were made to Pcmsvc32.exe, so that the semaphore is only
used when necessary. Pcmsvc32.exe only takes ownership of the mutex after a
Systems Management Server logon server has been validated. This change should
prevent the message from displaying when underlying networking problems occur or
the Systems Management Server logon servers are unavailable.


Additional query words: prodsms smspcm launch pcm prompt

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Keywords          : kbnetwork kbsms120 kbsms120bug kbPCM smspcm 
Technology        : kbSMSSearch kbSMS120
Version           : :1.2
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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