Applies To
Express Software Manager version 6.0 and higher

Summary
Express Software Manager is able to track applications by version number, which allows you to separately track multiple versions of the same application. By default Express looks at the main version number of an application, ignoring minor versions. While this behavior is preferable in most cases, it does not result in Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 Server appearing as separate applications. This Technical Note explains how to configure Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 Server so that they show up as separate application versions.

Important: If you have both parent and child libraries, always configure applications in the parent library. For more information, see your Express Software Manager documentation.

How Express Tracks Application Versions
Express Software Manager defaults to tracking configured applications by their major build or version number. For example, Microsoft Word 2000 has version numbers of 9.*. This means that, by default, Express considers any version of Word with a build number of 9.* to be Word 2000. The result is that later releases of Word 2000 that might include service patches are still considered Word 2000. The Word 2002 version numbers begin at 10.* and so by default it is treated as a different application than Word 2000.

This default approach works well in most cases, but not when you are configuring Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 Server.

Configuring Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 Server
The original release of Windows 2000 and subsequent releases have version numbers of 5.0.*. When Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server were released, Microsoft did not increment the most significant digit of the version, so Windows XP uses build numbers that begin with 5.1.* and Windows 2003 Server uses build numbers that begin with 5.2.*.

The result is that Express Software Manager treats Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server as versions of Windows 2000 by default, rather than as separate applications.

To correct this default behavior, configure Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 Server as separate applications, and include the second most significant digit in the version number.

Note: The instructions assume that you have already configured high-confidence applications.

Delete the already-configured operating systems.

1. In Administrative Console, in the left pane, open the Applications folder and then the Configured folder.

2. Scroll down in the display of configured applications until you find one or more listings for Microsoft Windows Operating System. Select any entries for Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 2003 Server by holding down the shift key and clicking with your mouse.

3. Delete the selected entries by right-clicking and choosing Delete. If prompted, click Yes to All when told that the usage logs will be deleted. Note: The delete process may take several seconds.

4. Update the database: From the Tools menu, choose Library, and Update Database.

5. Select the Files folder. If prompted to update inventory, click Yes.

6. In the files listing, scroll down to “ntoskrnl.exe”, and select all the entries.

7. Add the files to the Auto-added files list by right-clicking with your mouse and choosing Add to Auto-Added Files List.

8. Select the Auto-added folder, scroll down to “ntoskrnl.exe”, and select all the entries.

9. Configure these files by right-clicking with your mouse and choosing Application Wizard (Selected Apps).

10. Click Next on the Application Wizard: Introduction dialog box.

11. The Application Wizard: Configure Applications Recognized by the Express Knowledgebase dialog box lists all the ntoskrnl.exe files you had selected,

12. If you have at least one file listed as “Microsoft Windows Operating System 2000”, select one of these files. Choose the Add as application tab. The name in the Name field should be “Microsoft Windows Operating System 2000”, or some variation of this. Click the Accept button to configure the file as Windows 2000.

13. With the same file selected, click the Advanced button to open the Application Properties dialog box. Choose the Versions tab, select the radio button labeled Track each version separately, and enter 5.0.* in the Version box. Click OK to close the dialog box.

14. If any other versions of Windows 2000 are listed (for example, “Microsoft Windows Operating System 2000 sp3”), select these files. Choose the Add as version tab, verify that the application you are adding these to is Windows 2000, and click the Accept button.

15. If you have at least one file listed as “Microsoft Windows Operating System XP”, select one of these files. Choose the Add as application tab, and click the Accept button. This configures the file as Windows XP.

Important: If you have already configured Windows 2000 as described in Step 12, the default tab will be Add as version.

16. With the same file selected, click the Advanced button to open the Application Properties dialog box. Choose the Versions tab, select the radio button labeled Track each version separately, and enter 5.1.* in the Version box. Click OK to close the dialog box.

17. If you have at least one file listed as “Microsoft Windows Operating System 2003 Server”, select one of these files. Choose the Add as application tab, and click the Accept button. This configures the file as Windows 2003 Server.

Important: If you have already configured Windows 2000 as described in Step 12, or if you have already configured Windows XP as described in step 15, the default tab will be Add as version.

18. With the same file selected, click the Advanced button to open the Application Properties dialog box. Choose the Versions tab, select the radio button labeled Track each version separately, and enter 5.2.* in the Version box. Click OK to close the dialog box.

19. Click Next to continue.

20. Click Finish on the Application Wizard: Finish dialog box to close the Application Wizard.

Related Technical Notes

1558	Using Application Wizard: Strategies for Configuring Applications in Express 6.x
9989	Express Software Manager 6.x Technical Notes