Err Msg: "File Is Open or in Use" Installing SBS and Windows NT

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This article was previously published under Q217997

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SYMPTOMS

When you install Small Business Server 4.5 with Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4, the following error message may be displayed:

Service Pack Setup Error: The file "FILENAME" is open or in use by another application. Close all other applications and then click Retry.

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CAUSE

This behavior occurs because there is a file open in one or more programs during the service pack installation process.

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To resolve this issue, close all programs that may have a file open, and click Retry. If you are still unable to overwrite the file:

NOTE: Use this procedure only if you have closed all other problems and the file is still in use.

Find the location of the original file you want to overwrite (for example, C:\Winnt.sbs\System32\Ntdll.dll).
Rename this file to Ntdll.old.
Click Retry.

This procedure allows you to overwrite the file. When you rename a file in Windows NT, the file handle remains in memory and you can overwrite a file to the old name.

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