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You may be unable to apply more updates at a certain point on a Windows Small Business Server 2003-based computer

Article ID: 940276 - View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS

On a Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 (Windows SBS)-based computer, you may be unable to use Windows Update or Microsoft Update to apply more updates at a certain point. When you try to install an update or a service pack, you may receive an error message that resembles one of the following:

Name of Update Package Setup could not verify the integrity of the file Update.inf. Make sure the Cryptographic service is running on this computer.
Failed to install catalog files.

If you check the Svcpack.log file when you install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2), you may see an error message that resembles the following:

960.484: InstallSingleCatalogFile: MyInstallCatalog failed for Tmp.0.ntprint.cat; error=0xfffffbfe.

If you check the KB nnnnnn.log update installation log, you may see an error message that resembles the following:

708.797: InstallSingleCatalogFile: MyInstallCatalog failed for KB917734.cat; error=0xfffffbfe.

Notes

The nnnnnn placeholder represents the number of the Microsoft Knowledge Base article that refers to an update.
The update installation log is available at %windir%.
The "error=0xfffffbfe" entry represents the JET_errRecordTooBig column value.

Typically, this problem occurs on a computer that has many QFEs together with General Distribution Releases (GDRs). QFEs are hotfixes that are only available from Microsoft Customer Service and Support (CSS). GDRs are available on a public Microsoft Web site.

Note There may be other issues that cause automatic updates to fail. If you do not see the "error=0xfffffbfe" entry, another issue is responsible for the symptoms that you see.

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CAUSE

This problem occurs because the number of update packages reaches an architectural limitation in the Windows security database.

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Update information

How to obtain this update

To obtain this update, visit the following Windows Update Web site:

http://update.microsoft.com

(http://update.microsoft.com)

Install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 for Windows Small Business Server 2003 (KB940276).

This update includes Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (KB914961) and also corrects the problem that prevents you from installing additional updates or service packs on a computer that is running Windows Small Business Server 2003.

Note This update is a large package that contains approximately 400 MB. Expect an extended download and installation period for this update.

Before you install this update

Make sure that the Cryptographic service is running on this computer. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
2. Locate Cryptographic Service, and make sure that Status is set to Started.
If the update cannot be installed, it may be because catalog files are being used. Close all applications and programs, restart the computer, and then restart the installation.

How to uninstall this update

Click Start, point to Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
Select the Show Updates check box at the top of the page.
Select Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 in the list of programs, click Remove, and then follow the instructions to uninstall the service pack.
After uninstalling Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, click Update for Windows Small Business Server 2003 (KB940276), and then click Remove.
Click Next, and then follow the instructions in the Software Update Removal Wizard.

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MORE INFORMATION

Before you install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 on a Windows Small Business Server 2003-based computer, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

939421

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939421/ )

Best practices and known issues when you install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 on a Windows Small Business Server 2003-based computer

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

925931

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925931/ )

You may be unable to apply more updates at a certain point on a Windows Server 2003-based computer

822798

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822798/ )

You cannot install some updates or programs

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