Cannot Use Windows NT 3.51 Service Pack UPDATE.EXE Over Network

• All Microsoft Windows NT Service Packs

SYMPTOMS

If you attempt to install a Windows NT Service Pack over the network using the UPDATE.EXE program located on the DISK1 of the Service Pack floppy disk set, the installation fails with the following error:

   An error has occurred.
   Unable to open the file X:\disk1\BROWSER.DLL.

   You may continue (ignoring the error), retry the
   operation, or exit Setup.  If you choose to
   ignore the error, Setup may not be able to
   completely and/or correctly install the software.
   If you exit, you will have to repeat the Setup
   process from the beginning.

   Ignore   Retry   Exit Setup

CAUSE

UPDATE.EXE is not supposed to be used over the network. The UPDATE.EXE program uses an UPDATE.INF file which contains Source Media Descriptions to disk directory labels. When the program recognizes the install is not from floppy disks, it expects all files to be in the same directory. This is expected behavior.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, copy all files from the Disk X directories into a single directory on a local hard drive or network share. Then run the UPDATE.EXE program from that common directory.