A few days back, I noticed that I was unable to access websites as I had lost connectivity to my DNS server. When I checked the console, I found that my server had failed to install an update… Windows Server 2003 SP2 as it happens, which Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) had pushed out via the automatic updates mechanism. I restarted the machine and waited as it restored the prior configuration, running the software update removal wizard (at least it recovered cleanly), then waited as WSUS tried to push SP2 again. As the repeat update ran interactively, I found the problem – for some reason, towards the end of the installation, the following message was displayed:
Administrative Privileges Required
You must be an administrator of this computer to run this utility.
Log off, and then log on using an administrator account.
(even though I was logged on as the domain Administrator). After clicking OK, the installation continued before reporting:
Automatic Updates
You have successfully updated your computer.
You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect.
I’ve not seen any issues since the restart and the service pack seems to have applied successfully but checking the system event log reveals two entries describing the original problem:
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Windows Update Agent
Event Category: Installation
Event ID: 20
Date: 16/03/2007
Time: 06:00:19
User: N/A
Computer: servername
Description:
Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80242007: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (32-bit x86).
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 57 69 6e 33 32 48 52 65 Win32HRe
0008: 73 75 6c 74 3d 30 78 38 sult=0x8
0010: 30 32 34 32 30 30 37 20 0242007
0018: 55 70 64 61 74 65 49 44 UpdateID
0020: 3d 7b 39 34 35 32 35 30 ={945250
0028: 33 43 2d 30 35 42 45 2d 3C-05BE-
0030: 34 41 36 34 2d 39 39 45 4A64-99E
0038: 44 2d 39 41 35 39 46 37 D-9A59F7
0040: 44 36 35 33 39 38 7d 20 D65398}
0048: 52 65 76 69 73 69 6f 6e Revision
0050: 4e 75 6d 62 65 72 3d 31 Number=1
0058: 30 34 20 00 04 .
Event Type: Error
Event Source: NtServicePack
Event Category: None
Event ID: 4374
Date: 17/03/2007
Time: 15:16:38
User: N/A
Computer: servername
Description:
Windows Server 2003 installation failed, leaving Windows Server 2003 partially updated.
The installation of the Service Pack did not complete, and a rollback to the pre-installation state has been initiated. A rollback is a two-step process. Step one is complete; to complete step two, click OK. To be reminded at next login to complete step two, click Cancel. After you complete the rollback, your system will reboot and you may retry the installation of the Service Pack.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
My other Windows servers seem to have updated without any problems; however this illustrates the risk of having WSUS automatically approve updates.
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