Problem with SP4 installation

[tviman]

I've reloaded my W2K OS (SP2) and have been downloading the updates. I've just finished downloading SP4 (for the 2nd time) and during the installation process, I get an error message that says it can't copy cliconfg.exe. This is the second time this has happened. After multiple retries, I cancelled the operation. (This is the 2nd time this has happened and at the same file.)

The file is in the specified directory and the archive bit is on. I've tried copyuing the file to another location but no luck. Is there any way around this issue or am I basically screwed as far as getting Sp4 installed?

There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!

 

[Eguy]

tviman;

This is going to be tricky. cliconfg.exe is the Client Configuration Utility for MS SQL Server. It has also been associated with opaserv.t which is one nasty worm.
More info here:

http://www.tasklist.org/task_CLICONFG_EXE_541.html

HTH
Ed

Please let me know if the suggestion(s) I provide are helpful to you.
Sometimes you're the windshield... Sometimes you're the bug.

 

[bcastner]

It seems unlikely that a worm has damaged his SP4 download.

You should have the option to ignore. The file can be extracted later from the MDAC 2.8 distributable from Microsoft.

Most file reading errors during installation have rather modest explanations. The #1 reason is marginal system RAM.

 

[tviman]

bcastner,

There is no option to ignore when it stalls. It tells me to indicate where the file is or to insert the SP4 disk into the CD drive. Well, the file is exactly where the installation program says it is, and I don't have an SP4 disk since I did the update via the internet. I even copied the file to another directory and pointed the install program to it but got the same "can't copy cficonfg.exe" message.

As far as available ram, well, I've got a GIG of ram and the only thing that's running is the basic OS programs, IE, the modem, and the installation program.

No, there are no worms or other viruses, unless there is one on the reinstalltion disk provided by Dell, which I highly doubt. I cleaned the system thoroughly before reinstalling the OS and applying the updates.

There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!

 

[bcastner]

By marginal I meant its reliability, not its quantity.

I was thinking of this by Microsoft (Edited):

You receive a file copy error while the Setup program is running

When you try to install, you may receive one of the following error messages:
Setup cannot copy the file file_name. Press X to retry, Y to abort
where file_name is the file that Setup cannot copy, or:

This behavior may occur if any one of the following conditions is true:

• Your computer is over-clocked. Because over-clocking is very memory-intensive, decoding errors may occur when you extract files.

• Try to use the default clock timings for your motherboard and processor. For more information about how to do this, see your hardware documentation or contact the motherboard manufacturer.

• Your computer has damaged or mismatched random access memory (RAM) or cache memory. For example, you might be using a combination of extended data out (EDO) and non-EDO RAM, or different RAM speeds.

Decoding errors may occur even if Windows appears to be running correctly. These errors occur because of the additional stress that is put on your computer when Windows tries to extract files and to access the hard disk.

To determine how to make your computer cache memory unavailable while you are running the Setup program, see your hardware documentation or contact your hardware manufacturer.
• Ultra direct memory access (DMA) is turned on in your computer's CMOS settings, and the data is moving too quickly.
• Change from DMA mode to Processor Input/Output (PIO) mode to lower your data transfer rate. If this does not resolve the problem, lower your PIO mode settings. The higher your PIO mode settings are, the faster your data transfer is.
• You are using a third-party memory manager.
• There is a virus on your computer.

My instinct would be to use the "-x" switch on the service pack and extract its entire contents to a folder on your hard disk drive. Then point there. I understand you tried a variation of this, but versioning issues may be important.

My second instinct would be to slipstream the service pack, and do an in-place upgrade with the slipstream.

thread779-900263

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;292175

 

[tviman]

Unless Dell ships out over-clocked PC's then this one is definately not over-clocked. When we first started having problems with this machine, I tested for faulty ram and hard drive after doing a complete virus/spyware/adware/malware scan. Found nothing amiss. Up till about a month ago, the machine has been running without any problems.

I read your link regarding in-place upgrade with slipstream. I'm not sure how you can do both when SP4 is being installed from a website. I also read this on Microsoft's article 306952:

An in-place upgrade:
Does not change the installed components and programs.
Does not change any passwords.
Does not change third-party registry entries.

The last statement is definately NOT TRUE! I did an in-place repair using the disk supplied by Dell. It didn't just refresh the registry, it wrote a brand new one! I've had to reinstall every piece of software all over again.

Unless you've got any other ideas, the only thing I can do is to download the network version of SP4 (132+ megabytes) and do an in-place install of SP4.

There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!

 

[bcastner]

The Dell OEM CD method is a system recovery, not an in-place upgrade/reinstallation. I agree with you the two are quite different things.

 

[tviman]

Not to belabor the point but according to the article, it says to do choose R for recover... Are we not talking about the same things?

There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!

 

[bcastner]

To perform an in-place upgrade of Windows 2000:

1. Insert the Windows 2000 Setup CD into the CD-ROM drive, start the computer, and then press a key to start from the CD-ROM.
2. On the Windows 2000 Setup screen, press ENTER to run the To set up Windows 2000 now, press Enter command.
3. Click Accept to accept the License Agreement.
4. Setup should now detect your installation. NOTE: If the Setup program does not detect a previous installation but just continues to the partitioning screen, there is a problem. An in-place upgrade may not be possible.
5. When you are prompted to repair the existing Windows 2000 installation, press R. Windows 2000 Setup performs an in-place upgrade of the existing installation. Note that you might lose some of your customized settings for the system files.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;292175

You want the 'R' after you agree to setup Win2k, not the first 'R'.

I have had to do this several times, hence my enthusiasm for a slipstream. You can download SP4 rather than interactively deal with it, or perhaps the best idea is to order it on CD for free from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp4/default.asp

I have never lost user data or installed applications. Depending on the age of the slipstream used, I might lose some Hotfixes. Head to Windows Update when done.