Sysdiff Changes Dates on Files It Applies to Windows NT

ID: Q158548

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

When the sysdiff package is used to apply software to computers running Windows NT Server or Workstation, the dates on files that are applied via the package are changed from their original date to the current date. This happens whether you are doing a sysdiff /apply or a sysdiff /inf.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

Please note that you must rebuild any packages that were built using the previous Sysdiff.exe.

This hotfix has been posted to the following Internet location:

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/utilities/Sysdiff-fix

NOTE: This version of Sysdiff replaces the version that ships with Service Pack 3.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q157576
TITLE : How to Troubleshoot the Sysdiff Tool in Windows NT

Additional query words: prodnt automated

Keywords : kbfile kbnetwork NT4SP4Fix kbbug4.00 ntsetup kbfix4.00.sp4 NTSrvWkst ntutil
Version : 4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug