Win2K3 SP2

Is browscap.ini file being replaced during upgrade?

[GaryK]

Has anyone noticed that after installing SP2 for Windows Server 2003 their browscap.ini file is replaced by an older and much smaller version of the file? Thanks in advance.

[bill]

I just finished my SP2 upgrade before reading your post, sorry. Maybe someone else could check the before and after of their

browscap.ini

when updating to SP2?

[GaryK]

Bill, was the new file 32KB and timestamped 2006-08-30 22:39?

[Ocean10000]

I did a check the file the the service pack uses is the same version installed with the base no service pack install of win2k3.

So its more likely a installation error that it doesn't check that the file is newer, before overwriting it.

[GaryK]

So its more likely a installation error that it doesn't check that the file is newer, before overwriting it.

That's what Joshua @ MSFT thinks too. Hopefully there will be some official word about this on Monday.

I haven't installed SP2 yet, but I have confirmed the browscap.ini file that it comes with is 32KB and only goes up to IE6 and Opera 4. Firefox isn't even mentioned. Neither is Safari. That's how old this file is.

So if you depend on browscap.ini please be sure you backup your existing copy before installing SP2 and then replacing it after the install. That's the semi-official workaround being suggested by my contact at MSFT. He blogged about it but I'm unsure if I can post a link to it.

[GaryK]

I got the official word on Saturday that this is a bug in SP2. It's too late to do anything about it now.

The workaround as suggested by a programmer at MSFT is to either backup your file first or use a backup that's placed in %SystemDrive%\WINNT\$NtServicePackUninstall$\browscap.ini during the install.

There will be a KB article about this. Customer support has been made aware of what to tell customers.

[bill]

Here's the Microsoft mention of the workaround: Windows Server 2003 SP2 deleting browscap.ini? [netcrucible.com]
(Joshua Allen [microsoft.com] is one of the first Microsoft employees to run a blog)

Thanks for the heads up Gary. Let us know if you hear about the KB article on this.