"Windows Server 2003 Can Only Be Installed" Error Message When You Try to Install Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack (AdminPak.msi) Before You Install Exchange System Management Tools (826966)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack (AdminPak.msi), you receive the following error message:

Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack can only be installed on Windows XP Professional with QFE Q329357 applied, or on Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 or later, or on computers running Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

This problem occurs when you try to install AdminPak.msi on a computer that is running Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 3 (SP3) to comply with a prerequisite for installing Exchange System Management Tools on the computer.

CAUSE

AdminPak.msi is not a required service for Windows 2000 Server SP3. When you install the Exchange Management System Tools, you do not have to install AdminPak.msi on a Windows 2000 Server SP3-based computer before you install Exchange System Management Tools on the computer.

The Install Exchange System Management Tools Only section of the Exchange Server Deployment Tools contains a documentation error. It incorrectly states that AdminPak.msi is one of the required services that you must install on a Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 3 (SP3)-based computer before you can install the Exchange System Management Tools on the computer. When you start the Exchange Server Deployment Tools, and then click Install Exchange System Management Tools Only, the following is documented in step 3 of the steps that are listed in the To install Exchange System Management Tools section:

Windows Version	Required Services
Windows 2000 Server SP3	Internet Information Services Snap-In component Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack (AdminPak.msi) SMTP Service component NNTP Service component

RESOLUTION

Do not install AdminPak.msi on a Windows 2000 Server SP3-based computer before you install Exchange System Management Tools on the computer.

The following is the correct documentation that applies to Windows Server 2000 SP3 in the table in step 3 under To install Exchange System Management Tools in the Exchange Server Deployment Tools:

Windows Version	Required Services
Windows 2000 Server SP3	Internet Information Services snap-in component SMTP Service component NNTP Service component

Note Although AdminPak.msi is not a required service for installing the Exchange System Management Tools on a computer that is running Windows 2000 Server SP3, Windows 2000 AdminPak.msi is a required service for installing the Exchange System Management Tools on a computer that is running Windows 2000 Professional SP3. The IIS Microsoft Management Console snap-in is also required.

MORE INFORMATION

The Exchange Server Deployment Tools provide the recommended steps, the diagnostic tools, and the setup links to help you successfully deploy and install Exchange Server 2003. To start the Exchange Server Deployment tools, do any one of the following:

Double-click the Setup.exe file that is located in the root folder of the Exchange Server 2003 CD, and then click Exchange Deployment Tools.
Double-click the Exdeploy.hta file that is located in the Support\ExDeploy folder of the Exchange Server 2003 CD.
Download the latest version of the Exchange Server Deployment Tools from the Exchange Server 2003 Tools and Updates Web site. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/tools/2003.asp