Windows Server 2008 SP2 installation fails due to missing SP1

** This is a manual translation into English of my original post to assist more Admins in that matter as we see lots of posts regading similar installation issues **

Today I tried to install Service Pack 2 on a Windows Server 2008 Enterprise x64 (with IE7) box but it stopped with the error message:

You need to install Windows Server Service Pack 1 before continuing.W2k8SP2 Error

Ok, we all know that there’s no such thing like a Service Pack 1 for a Windows Server 2008 which could be installed.

Tried to install SP2 both from Microsoft Update and from the downlaodable file to no avail.

Found a lot of posts in different Forums and Mailing Lists describing similar issues. Did some extensive research and it turned out that actually the following steps solved my issue:

  1. running System Update Readiness Tool for x64-based Systems (KB947821) [April 2009]
  2. Query and analyzing of C:WindowsLogsCBSCBS.log and C:WindowsLogsCBSCheckSUR.log
  3. CheckSUR.log brought the essential hint:

    =================================
    Checking System Update Readiness.
    Binary Version 6.0.6001.22375
    Package Version 5.0
    2009-08-08 22:33

    Checking Deployment Packages

    Checking Package Manifests and catalogs.

    Checking package watchlist.

    Checking component watchlist.

    Checking packages.
    (f)    CBS MUM Missing    0x00000002    servicingpackagesPackage_for_KB961260_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.3.mum       
    (f)    CBS MUM Missing    0x00000002    servicingpackagesPackage_for_KB961260_server~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.3.mum       
    (f)    CBS MUM Missing    0x00000002    servicingpackagesPackage_for_KB961260~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.3.mum       

    Checking component store
    Summary:
    Seconds executed: 277
    Found 3 errors
      CBS MUM Missing Total Count: 3

  4. According to the log 3 files from KB961260 are missing in the directory of  c:windowsservicingpackages. But this hotfix has already been installed on this specific box.
  5. I copied all missing 6 files (packages and catalog files) from another box already running SP2. Because a local admin does not have rights to write into c:windowsservicing* structure it was first necessary to take over ownership and grant writ permission to the local admin account manually.
  6. started Service Pack 2 installation again with success.

IMPORTANT! In my case it was missing KB961260 packages. In other cases it could be different packages which needs to be replaced.

Please use extreme caution during troubleshooting and while performing those manual steps.

This solution may not necessary solve your issues but it could help determining it.

Other articles which helped me:

There’s another interesting KB available and mentioned in some threads. But it looked somewhat too oversized to me performing so many deep dive steps.

Best regards,
Dieter

—
Dieter Rauscher
MVP Forefront