Option Pack installation conflicts with Service Pack 4 (195015)

SYMPTOMS

When you install Windows NT Option Pack on a computer that already has Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 (or greater) installed, the following error message is displayed:

Setup detected that Windows NT 4.0 SP4 or greater is installed on your machine. We haven't tested this product on SP4. Do you wish to proceed?

Click OK to continue the installation. After the setup program has completed and the computer has restarted, you can reapply Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.

NOTE: The following error message may also be displayed:

This setup utility is designed to run on Windows NT server. Please click OK to exit.

During the unattended installation of Windows NT Option Pack, this pop-up notification message causes the installation to stop. The INF file for the unattended installation of Windows NT Option Pack does not contain any parameters for acknowledging this pop-up message, which causes the unattended installation to not be successful.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Windows NT Option Pack was released before the service pack and these messages indicate there may be a conflict among file versions between the two. When Windows NT Option Pack is installed, the setup program checks the OS to confirm that SP3 is installed. If SP3 is not installed, the installation stops. If the version check results in versions later than SP3, such as SP4, the pop-up notification message is displayed.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT 4.0 that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem and ensure your computer has the most updated files, perform one of the following:

Install Windows NT Option Pack before installing the service pack.
Reinstall the service pack after completing the Option Pack installation.

MORE INFORMATION

Copy the content from the Windows NT Option Pack CD to a network share location, and then replace the Iis.dll and Preload.exe files from the Windows NT Option Pack CD with the Iis.dll and Preload.exe files from the hotfix zip file.