Article ID: 930056 - Last Review: March 11, 2010 - Revision: 7.0

Windows Server 2003 Administration tools do not install correctly on Windows 7 and Windows Vista clients

When you try to install the Windows Server 2003 SP1 Administration Tools Pack (adminpak.msi) on a Windows 7-based computer, you receive the following warning message:

This program has known compatibility issues
Check online to see if solutions are available from Microsoft website. If solutions are found, Windows will automatically display a website that lists steps you can take.

The message window is titled Program Compatibility Assistant.

The message window contains the following buttons:

Check Solutions Online
Run Program
Cancel

If you click Check Solutions Online, you receive the following second warning message:

No solutions found for Windows 2003 Administration Tools. Windows will notify you when solutions become available. For more information about this program, contact Microsoft.

On a Windows Vista-based computer, the installation of the Windows Server 2003 SP1 Administration Tools Pack seems to complete, and you do not receive a warning message.

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CAUSE

The Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack is supported only for installation and use on computers that are running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003.

The Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack installs incorrectly on Windows Vista-based and Windows 7-based computers. In addition, the tools that are included in the Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack are not tested to run on computers that are running Windows Vista or Windows 7. Therefore, the product is not supported for these installations.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, install the Microsoft Remote Server Administrative Tools (RSAT) package that is compatible with your operating system.

Note With the collection of command-line admin tools and graphical user interface (GUI) admin tools that are in RSAT, Windows Vista and Windows 7 clients can remotely manage server roles in Windows Server 2008, in Windows Server 2008 R2, and in some Windows Server 2003 target computers cases. RSAT is a replacement for AdminPack and Support Tools in the Windows 2000 operating system and in the Windows Server 2003 operating system.

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Operating system	Admin Tools installation steps
Windows Vista	Install the Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista from http://www.microsoft.com (http://www.microsoft.com) .

Windows Server 2008	Click to select the Remote Server Administration Tools check box in the Features node of Server Manager.

Windows 7	Install the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7.

	The Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 Release Candidate can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com (http://www.microsoft.com) .
	Note The beta version (or any previous non-RTM versions) of RSAT must be deleted before you install the RTM version of RSAT.

Windows Server 2008 R2	Click to select the Remote Server Administration Tools check box in the Features node of Server Manager.

If the RSAT version of the Administration Tools Pack is missing or is lacking the functionality that is found in an earlier version, install the tool on a supported operating system version, or administer the remote computer by using the Terminal Service / Remote Desktop feature.

Do not try to copy, install, or run an earlier version of the Administration Tools Pack on a computer that is running on an unsupported operating system. For example, do not try to copy or install the Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack on a Windows 7-based computer. Similarly, do not try to copy or install the Windows 7 Administration Tools Pack on a Windows XP-based computer or on a Windows Vista-based computer.

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