Windows Service Pack 3 Files Are Removed When You Remove Windows 2000 Compatibility Update (March 2001)

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This article was previously published under Q326732

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SYMPTOMS

If you remove the March 2001 package of the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility Update from your Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3)-based computer, you may unintentionally remove all Windows 2000 SP3 files that are located in the %Windir%\AppPatch folder, except for the Shcmn.dll file.

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CAUSE

When you remove Windows 2000 Application Compatibility Update (March, 2001) from a computer on which Windows 2000 SP3 is installed, the removal process also removes Windows 2000 SP3 files from %Windir%\AppPatch folder, except for the Shcmn.dll file. Shcmn.dll is protected by Windows File Protection and cannot be deleted.

NOTE: The entry for the March 2001 package of the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility Update from the Currently installed programs list in the Add/Remove Programs tool of Control Panel may still remain after you apply Windows 2000 SP3. Also, when you install the March 2001 package of the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility Update on a computer on which Windows 2000 SP3 is installed, the entry for the Application Compatibility Update may not be blocked. It may be added to the Currently installed programs list in Add/Remove Programs.

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RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, reinstall Windows 2000 SP3 to restore the deleted files.

NOTE: If you are running Windows 2000 Professional, the March 2001 package of the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility Update is included in Windows 2000 SP3 and later. You do not have to install Windows 2000 Application Compatibility Update (March, 2001) with Windows 2000 SP3.

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about Windows 2000 SP3 and how to obtain it, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260910/EN-US/ ) How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

320853 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320853/EN-US/ ) List of Bugs Fixed in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3

For additional information about how to obtain Windows 2000 Application Compatibility Update (March, 2001), click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

319113 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319113/EN-US/ ) Windows 2000 Application Compatibility Update (March, 2001)

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