Running Window's Update on server

[Guest Tomg]

We recently had an issue with a .dll file being locked on the server

(Win2003) and we are trying to track down the cause.

 

Will a Windows Update that is ran on a server scan all the directories and

lock any .dll file?

 

If so, is there a specific type of update that will lock .dll files?

 

Example:

Was there items in the March 2008 update that would have locked a .dll file

and not in the February 2008 update?

 

Thanks,

Tom Greenway

[Guest Andrew Davis]

Re: Running Window's Update on server

 

On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:52:18 -0400, Tomg wrote:

> We recently had an issue with a .dll file being locked on the server

> (Win2003) and we are trying to track down the cause.

>

> Will a Windows Update that is ran on a server scan all the directories

> and lock any .dll file?

>

> If so, is there a specific type of update that will lock .dll files?

>

> Example:

> Was there items in the March 2008 update that would have locked a .dll

> file and not in the February 2008 update?

>

> Thanks,

> Tom Greenway

 

I'm pretty sure windows update will only update your system with new

patches and the like.

 

I know on XP there's a program called sfc which checks for protected

files and makes sure they haven't been changed.

 

Run this command to try and fix it: sfc /scannow

 

--

----------------

Andrew Davis

IT Administrator

WestGate Church

[Guest Tomg]

Re: Running Window's Update on server

 

Clarification...

 

Will the Windows update lock .dll files that are in our own application's

software directory?

It would seem odd that Microsoft would go through every directory on the

server and lock .dll files.

Maybe in the \Windows directory, but not the entire server.

 

We are not having a Windows update problem, but a problem with files being

locked during the

software update process of our application software.

 

 

 

"Andrew Davis" <Andrew.T.Davis@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message

news:eZFtKiQiIHA.5956@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:52:18 -0400, Tomg wrote:

>

>> We recently had an issue with a .dll file being locked on the server

>> (Win2003) and we are trying to track down the cause.

>>

>> Will a Windows Update that is ran on a server scan all the directories

>> and lock any .dll file?

>>

>> If so, is there a specific type of update that will lock .dll files?

>>

>> Example:

>> Was there items in the March 2008 update that would have locked a .dll

>> file and not in the February 2008 update?

>>

>> Thanks,

>> Tom Greenway

>

> I'm pretty sure windows update will only update your system with new

> patches and the like.

>

> I know on XP there's a program called sfc which checks for protected

> files and makes sure they haven't been changed.

>

> Run this command to try and fix it: sfc /scannow

>

> --

> ----------------

> Andrew Davis

> IT Administrator

> WestGate Church

[Guest Andrew Davis]

Re: Running Window's Update on server

 

On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:17:59 -0400, Tomg wrote:

> Clarification...

>

> Will the Windows update lock .dll files that are in our own

> application's software directory?

> It would seem odd that Microsoft would go through every directory on the

> server and lock .dll files.

> Maybe in the \Windows directory, but not the entire server.

>

> We are not having a Windows update problem, but a problem with files

> being locked during the

> software update process of our application software.

 

 

 

That sounds like it's a specific application issue then. Windows doesn't

arbitrarily lock files unless they are in use.

 

--

----------------

Andrew Davis

IT Administrator

WestGate Church

[Guest Tomg]

Re: Running Window's Update on server

 

Not following what you mean by:

"Windows doesn't arbitrarily lock files unless they are in use."

 

Are you saying that the Windows updates do NOT lock any .dlls?

Only operating system (in one of the c:\windows.. directories) .dll files?

Thanks,

 

"Andrew Davis" <Andrew.T.Davis@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message

news:%23G0Mt4RiIHA.2540@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:17:59 -0400, Tomg wrote:

>

>> Clarification...

>>

>> Will the Windows update lock .dll files that are in our own

>> application's software directory?

>> It would seem odd that Microsoft would go through every directory on the

>> server and lock .dll files.

>> Maybe in the \Windows directory, but not the entire server.

>>

>> We are not having a Windows update problem, but a problem with files

>> being locked during the

>> software update process of our application software.

>

>

>

> That sounds like it's a specific application issue then. Windows doesn't

> arbitrarily lock files unless they are in use.

>

> --

> ----------------

> Andrew Davis

> IT Administrator

> WestGate Church

[Guest Andrew Davis]

Re: Running Window's Update on server

 

On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:16:51 -0400, Tomg wrote:

> Not following what you mean by:

> "Windows doesn't arbitrarily lock files unless they are in use."

>

> Are you saying that the Windows updates do NOT lock any .dlls? Only

> operating system (in one of the c:\windows.. directories) .dll files?

> Thanks,

>

 

Windows wouldn't just lock a DLL that your not using out of the blue.

Considering that the DLL in question is being locked, it sounds as if

either the program is running somehow (maybe a background applet) or the

updater is doing something funky

 

 

--

Andrew Davis

IT Administrator

WestGate Church

[Guest Tomg]

Re: Running Window's Update on server

 

So you are saying that when a Microsoft Windows update runs that it DOES go

thru the entire server and lock .dll files whether they

are in the \windows directory or in our application's software directory

(e.g. \myownsoftwarecompany\tomg\software)?

or

If the .dll is running during the Microsoft Windows update, then it locks

the file?

Again, whether in the \windows directory or in our application software

directory.

 

Our application's software update procedure posts an event to the database

that causes ALL connected users to exit the application.

Then the application's 'exe' is renamed to keep users from getting back in

the system. Since the 'exe' is not running, the .dll (in the same directory

as the 'exe')

can not be in use.

There are a total of 5 .dlls used by the application, but only ONE of them

gets a lock message during our software update.

This .dll is NOT one that we wrote, just included in our software to control

opening a cash drawer on a cash register connected to the workstation (USB).

 

Right clicking on the .dll (file name USBCR.dll), reports that the file:

Description: USB Monitor

Product name: Microsft Windows USB Monitor

Copyright: Microsoft Corp. 1998

 

The unusual thing is this is a product made by a private company in

Illinois, not Microsoft.

 

The locked .dll has happened on multiple customer installations servers, but

is not consistent. One time the .dll is locked, next time it isn't.

 

I have checked the open files while the application is running, then 'end

task' the application. After a few seconds, the .dlls dissppear from the

open file list.

 

Since the .dlls seldom (if ever) change, the only solution is to modify our

software update procedure to NOT update the .dll unless the date/time is

greater then

the current installed file.

 

Sorry for the long post, but it is very frustrating trying to track down the

cause of the .dll being locked.

 

Thanks,

Tom Greenway

 

"Andrew Davis" <Andrew.T.Davis@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message

news:udbQqOaiIHA.4744@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:16:51 -0400, Tomg wrote:

>

>> Not following what you mean by:

>> "Windows doesn't arbitrarily lock files unless they are in use."

>>

>> Are you saying that the Windows updates do NOT lock any .dlls? Only

>> operating system (in one of the c:\windows.. directories) .dll files?

>> Thanks,

>>

>

> Windows wouldn't just lock a DLL that your not using out of the blue.

> Considering that the DLL in question is being locked, it sounds as if

> either the program is running somehow (maybe a background applet) or the

> updater is doing something funky

>

>

> --

> Andrew Davis

> IT Administrator

> WestGate Church