Server 2000 SP 4 gives msg "cmd.exe is open or in use ..."

[Felonise]

Problem Description: I attempted to install SP 4 on a
Windows 2000 server running Windows 2000 server SP 1. I
did the following
1. Deactivated the virus scanner and closed all other
programs except Internet Explorer.
2. Exited the firewall shutting it down but leaving DSL
and the Internet open and active.
3. Went to v4.updatewindows.microsoft.com and chose the
Windows 2000 Server SP 4 selection
4. Completed the download and watched the install begin
5. Selected the archive file option
6. Started the install and 1/8 way through the
installation the progress bar began to flicker and
eventually the message "Cmd.exe is open or in use by
another application" appeared and the installation stopped.
7. Replied "retry" to the dialogue option box, and when
the response did not work I cancelled the installation.

This is the fourth or fifth failed attempt to install a
SP. I also tried to install SP 3 and in all cases the same
thing occurred. The Norton anti-virus package is updated
to yesterday's date and a scan of the computer says there
are no viri within the machine. Using Task Manager to
check the machine after a update failure shows no other
programs are running.

The server is also having problems with the search command
in the start bar and so possibly the only way to update it
to start from scratch (rebuilding the server from the
original CD). If you have encountered and conquered this
problem, please contact me. To reach me, take the
letters "domainis" out of my email address listed above
and you will have the correct address.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

(snip)
6. Started the install and 1/8 way through the
installation the progress bar began to flicker and
eventually the message "Cmd.exe is open or in use by
another application" appeared and the installation stopped.
7. Replied "retry" to the dialogue option box, and when
the response did not work I cancelled the installation.

This is the fourth or fifth failed attempt to install a
SP. I also tried to install SP 3 and in all cases the same
thing occurred.

Hi

The permission/rights on the file/folder can be corrupt, missing or revoked.
Verify that e.g. Administrator and SYSTEM have full control over the
file.

Several other people have had this problem for Win2k SP3 upgrades as well as
WinXP SP1 , on other files, with the same error message. After they fixed the
access rights, the service pack install succeeded:

http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=eys33rPWCHA.2136@tkmsftngp08
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3ba901c27e89$7fce6fd0$35ef2ecf@TKMSFTNGXA11


In a command prompt (run e.g. cmd.exe from Start/Run to open one):

Run the following command:

cacls.exe <path to the troublesome file>

and verify that e.g. Administrator and SYSTEM have full control
over the file.

If you get an error saying "Data error (cyclic redundancy check)",
the hard disk most likely has a fault (e.g. some bad sectors).