SMS: Client Installation with Smsman.exe Generates Cliex32.dll Error 126 Error Message in Wnmanual.log File (224197)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install a client by using the Systems Management Installation Wizard (Smsman.exe) in Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0, you may receive the following error message (or one similar to it) in the Wnmanual.log file:

Begin CliEx processing.~
ERROR: Load of DLL CliEx32.dll failed: (C:\WINNT\MS\SMS\CORE\BIN\cliex32.dll),126
ERROR: Initializing CliEx failed error code 126~
Unable to continue; exiting~

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because of one of the following:

If you run the Systems Management Installation Wizard from a location other than the \x86.bin\00000409 folder within the SMSLOGON share of an SMS logon point, and then use the Automatically select installation location feature.
The %TEMP% or %TMP% environment variables do not exist for the target system.
The %TEMP% or %TMP% environment variables point to a folder which does not exist in the file system.NOTE: In the case of number 3, a temporary (.TMP) file is created in the root of C:\ (in the root of the system/boot partition), causing the sequence of errors listed under the symptoms section.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, run the Systems Management Installation Wizard from the \x86.bin\00000409 folder within the SMSLOGON share of an SMS logon point.