Using GP to deploy service packs

From: jglenn (jglenn_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 01/03/05


Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 11:35:01 -0800

Greetings -

I am new to using AD and GP so I hope this is just a simple oversite on my
part, as my frustration level is mounting.

I have about 30 workstations that I'd like to update to SP4 using GP. I have
followed the directions accouding to a tutorial that I read online. The steps
that I followed are spelled out below.

I have also verified that my share point has read and write access to all
users. I've also tried to set my deployment using "basic" interaction to
minimize the interuption to the users.

When I apply the GP then login to a workstation, I'm not getting the action
that I'm expecting. I am expecting to see the SP install start or at least
acknowledge that it's started and run in the background. Is that correct?

Is there something I'm just missing or something more I should look at?

Thanks much for the assist!
Jason

Steps I've followed thus far...

Assigning Service Pack 4 to Computers
This procedure explains how to assign the service pack to computers managed
by a GPO. For your installation, you might want to associate the GPO with a
different Active Directory container. To assign the service pack to computers
by using Group Policy, you must do the following:

Create a shared network distribution folder.

Create a group policy for SP4 deployments.

Apply the policy to assign the service pack to the computers.

Each of these procedures is explained in detail in the remainder of this
section.

If you used Add/Remove Programs to remove a service pack that was deployed
by using the Update.msi program, you cannot automatically deploy it again by
using Group Policy.

For the following procedure, "E:\" represents the drive of the network or
computer where your distribution folder is located.

To create a shared network distribution folder:

Connect to the network or computer on which you want to create the
distribution folder.

In the shared folder on the network, create a distribution folder for the
service pack.

For example, to create a distribution folder named SP4, type the following:

mkdir E:\SP4

You must set the appropriate permissions to share your distribution folder
so that users have read and execute access only and administrators have
full-control access to the folder.

Copy the service pack files and folders to the source files folder that you
created in step 2.

At the command prompt, type E:\SP3\W2ksp4.exe -x, and then press ENTER.

When prompted, provide the path for the folder (for example, the source
files folder) to which you want to extract W2ksp4.exe.

To create a group policy for SP4 deployments:

For an SP4 deployment, you can either create a new group policy or use an
existing GPO. In the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) console, open the
Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. The Active Directory Users and
Computers snap-in includes tools for Group Policy and software installation
and maintenance. You can use these snap-ins to assign the service pack to
computers in an organizational unit.

In the console tree, double-click Active Directory Users and Computers to
expand the tree, double-click the name of the domain where the organizational
unit that is receiving the service pack resides, and then double-click the
applicable organizational unit name.

Right-click the Active Directory object that the MSI package will be applied
to, and then click Properties.

On the Group Policy tab, click New, type Desktop SP4 Upgrade, and then press
ENTER.

To apply the group policy and deploy the service pack to the client computers:

On the Organizational Unit Properties page, click the Group Policy tab and
then double-click the GPO you want to edit.

In the Group Policy snap-in, double-click Software Settings under the
Computer Configuration node.

Right-click Software installation, click New, and then click Package.

In the Open dialog box, browse to the i386\Update folder and then open the
Update.msi file.

In the Deploy Software dialog box, verify that the Assigned option is
selected, and then click OK.

Close the Group Policy snap-in, the Group Policy page, and the Console menu.



Relevant Pages

  • Using GP to deploy Service Packs
    ... Assigning Service Pack 4 to Computers ... Create a shared network distribution folder. ... Create a group policy for SP4 deployments. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)
  • office sp1
    ... I have office 2003 installed on a bunch of computers I would like to install ... service pack 1 for office 2003 using group policy. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.group_policy)
  • RE: Deploy SP2 with Active Directory and GPOs?
    ... In a Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 based domain, ... Group Policy is stored as part of Active ... publish programs to users or computers in the Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 ... After the installation files have been prepared, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Installing Service Packs
    ... NTFS permissions and - in this particular case - Domain Computers Read on ... account objects that need to have SP4 installed into this OU. ... an OU to which a GPO that installs software is linked, ... So, right click the OU, select Properties and go to the Group Policy tab. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.group_policy)
  • Re: This operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. When Logging i
    ... Check out http://www.gpoguy.com -- The Windows Group Policy Information Hub: ... >have administrator privileges. ... >> happening on a few computers, other computers get no error messages ... >> fine but I can't figure out why it is trying to startup. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.group_policy)