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Q252367: Service Pack May Not Install When Run from Remote Console Client

Article: Q252367
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0 SP5,4.0 SP6,4.0 SP6a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kbsetup
Last Modified: 10-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, 4.0 SP6a 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, 4.0 SP6a 
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SYMPTOMS
========

If you run an unattended Setup of Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5 (or
Service Pack 6) from a Remote Console client, Update.exe runs but it may not
actually update anything. In addition, a "Service Pack Setup Error" error
message is displayed in Task Manager. Because graphical user interface (GUI)
programs that are started from a Remote Console client run in an invisible
desktop, you cannot view the service pack window.

CAUSE
=====

This behavior occurs because the Remote Console server loads the client?s
registry hive (Ntuser.dat) and sets all environment variables except
%USERPROFILE%. The service pack update is unsuccessful if the %USERPROFILE%
variable does not exist.


WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this behavior, add the %USERPROFILE% environment variable before
you run an unattended service pack update.

NOTE: It does not matter if the variable points to the wrong folder. You can set
the path by typing the following commands and running the service pack Setup:

  set userprofile=%systemroot%\profiles\default user

  update.exe /u /q

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

Remote Console is included in the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit. This
tool enables a client to start a remote shell running on the server. For more
information about Remote Console, refer to the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Resource
Kit tools documentation.

Additional query words: fail fails

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Keywords          : kbenv kbsetup 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp5 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400sp6 kbWinNTS400sp5 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTW400sp6 kbWinNTW400SP6a
Version           : winnt:4.0 SP5,4.0 SP6,4.0 SP6a
Issue type        : kbprb

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