Exchange Server service pack update does not work with error message 0xc0020003 or 0xc0020002 (246086)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5
This article was previously published under Q246086

SYMPTOMS

If you apply a service pack to an Exchange Server computer, the update does not work and one of the following error messages is displayed:
The system cannot find the path specified.
Microsoft Windows NT
ID no:0xc0020003
The system cannot find the file specified.
Microsoft Windows NT
ID no:0xc0020002

CAUSE

An 0xc0020003 error message is displayed as a result of missing paths that are required in Exchange Server, and an 0xc0020002 error message is displayed as a result of missing files that are required in Exchange Server. This is usually the result of administrative maintenance, such as cleaning up files and folders that do not seem necessary.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem:
  1. Make sure that you have the CD that Exchange Server was originally installed from.
  2. Stop the system attendant and disable it.
  3. Start the Setup program. When an 0xc002042c error message is displayed, click OK.
  4. Click Reinstall. (This does not change the current databases, it only replaces missing folder trees and files.)
  5. The Setup program eventually stops and an 0xc0020422 error message is displayed (because of the disabled system attendant). Click OK.
  6. Enable the system attendant.
  7. Start an update from the service pack CD, for example, Service Pack 1, Service Pack 2, or Service Pack 3. The update finishes successfully.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/21/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB246086
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