Problems with SP4 and W2K Pro

[Dragonsi]

I recently tried installing SP4 for W2K pro but got the error "unable to contact metabase" plus a load more errors, the install then stopped but did not uninstall the files.

Has anyone else got this error and what should I do to correct it?

[mikmik]

I have had probs with installs from windows update before.
I just go and start over with a new connection - scan for updates - etc. It then quickly should pick up were it left off.
I have, however, had to reinstall my OS one time to get around the problem.

[Dragonsi]

Thanks for that but maybe I should of explained better, I'm trying to upgrade via an original Microsoft CD - the latest SP4 Cd from the Us.

I have had few people mention about turning off the IIS Admin before doing the install, I tried this but got the same error. The actual error is longer, I can quote the full error if needed...

[mikmik]

This was the only thing that came up with your error message used as a search term at MS knowledgebase.
http://support.microsoft.com/default...roduct=win2000

When you try to access the metabase by using Adsutil.vbs or Mdutil.exe, you may receive the following error message:

ErrNumber: -2146893792 (0x80090020)
Error Trying To ENUM the Object (GetObject Failed): w3svc

It is for SP1 and SP2, but it might be an idea to turn of the crytography service etc.
Man, SP install issues can be a serious pain, eh?

http://aumha.org/win5/index.htm
Alright, I found it. This is just about the most incredible site I have ever seen for troubleshooting error messages. If you surf around, you will begin to see what I mean. I have given the URI for the main Win2K/XP page..
If I get some time, I will look in this site also for you. It is big, and inclusive.

Another option might be to try the update in safe-mode, but you would probably have to copy the CD to your hard drive first, as Windows will prob. not load CD drivers in safe mode (Maybe, I haven't done it for a while!)
I couldn't find anything specific on the site above, but one feature of it is the links it provides to Microsoft MVPers support and personal sites.
If you give us the error code, maybe I can help more!

[Dragonsi]

The error I got was something like this:

The SP4 setup program display the following messages near
the end of installation:
1. Unable to connect to metabase.
2. Setup failed to remove ism.dll script mappings.
Service
Pack Setup will abort.
3. An error in updating your system has occurred.

I just found this on the Microsoft BBS - a MS engineer replied:

Stop and disable the IIS Admin World Wide Web Publishing service and FTP
Publishing services. Then try the Service Pack install.

I might try this again when i have a little more time (in case things go wrong).. Meanwhile, any other advise is still more than welcome.. :)

[Dragonsi]

I tried the above last night, I stopped and disabled IIS, FTP pub & WWW pub. I also stopped all systray apps and made sure Nortan AV and firewall were stopped. Guess what - I got the same error as before...

I am having problems viewing ASP and PHP database websites, the data is displayed all over the place. So an abrupt but polite email was sent to Microsoft.

Why can't they get things to work first time..... :(

[southplatte]

Hello,

You might try what mikmik said about installing under safe mode. With Win2kPro, make sure and use your task manager to verify what exactly is running on the system as well. I believe the IIS process will show up as inetinfo.exe (might be w3svc as well haven't used Win2k for a while), so if you stop the services and bring up the task manager and see this, they are still memory resident. It is best to end task (or close manually if possible) any task that is not system critical (or use safe mode) not just the systray icons as many resident programs do not necessarily put something there.

Another option (as mikmik pointed out in safe mode comments) is to copy the cd to the hd of the system and try it from there. Sometimes a cd read error could hose the update, without necessarily giving a cd read error -- and sometimes cds are just bad, so copying it first should give a better indication of the quality of the cd.

A few other thoughts: download the service pack, request a new cd, back-up, re-install win2k, update w/sp4

ASP/PHP errors - if after trying the update, you are now getting these errors it points to the w3svc/inetinfo maybe being memory resident during the update - if the sp is trying to update this (most likely for "security concerns" according to MS) it will not only fail the update, but it is going to mess up the IIS installation. ASP is native for IIS, PHP is an add-on....you may need to re-install IIS under windows components to get ASP back, and then reinstall PHP. (re-installing IIS components will most likely require you to setup PHP and all your ftp/www sites again, though the physical data should not be harmed)

Hope you get it figured out soon! Best of luck!

[Dragonsi]

Thanks southplatte, I still haven't tried installing SP4 under safe mode, I am going to call the MS tech helpdesk this week to see what they say. At present, reformating and reinstalling W2K is not an option, it has taken me months of playing with settings to get this unit the way it is (which could be half the prob) and since I'm on a dial-up connection, I don't won't to go through hours of downloading updates and patches again.

If I reboot into safe made, are all the IIS components and security protocols active? In other words, if I reboot, can I just try installing SP4 from the HDD straight away or do I still need to stop stuff first?

[southplatte]

If you reboot into safe mode it should kill all of the IIS and anything else except any startup programs (starup folder/registry run stuff) that you can close manually and that is not at a system level such as the networking components.

There should be two options for safe mode -- safe mode and safe mode with networking support -- choose the first, if you choose with networking it will load all network services which may include some, if not all, of the IIS components.

[Dragonsi]

Thanks again southplatte, I called MS today and they wouldn't help me unless I paid them $60 - what planet do they live on, cos it ain't Earth...

When I have a little more time, I'll back up my data and the IIS log/data and try installing SP4 in safe mode, I'll keep you posted as to whether it worked...