An unexpected error has occurred and a Watson dump is being generated: Access t

Problem: When doing an Unattended setup for Microsoft Exchange 2007 using the setup.com command and switches you receive the following error message:

An unexpected error has occurred and a Watson dump is being generated: Access t
o the path 'X:\Setup\ServerRoles\Common\64' is denied.I had same problems as some of you indicated, where X is the drive letter for your DVD ROM drive.

I was installing Exchange 2007 from Production Copy DVD of Exchange 2007 Standard. Here is the strategy that I took after receiving the errors on multiple occassions.

Background:

We have 1 Win2K SP4 DC and 1 Win2k3 R2 DC, so installing Exchange 2007 from GUI is a NONO, atleast according to all the readings that I have done. So the only option is to install from command line using the Unattended setup (Setup.com) with various different switches. You can not use Setup.exe with switches.

When I was receiving the error message of:
"An unexpected error has occurred and a Watson dump is being generated: Access to the path 'X:\Setup\ServerRoles\Common\64' is denied.", I was installing all the roles at one time using the following command line:

setup.com /mode:install /r:h,c,m,t /t:"d:\program files\Microsoft\Exchange S
erver" /DomainController:DCNAME /EnableLegacyOutlook /LegacyRoutingServer:LegacyExchangeName /EnableErrorReporting

and I would receive the error message.

I then tried to install all the roles seperately using the following command lines one at a time and every thing was successful.

Solution:

PS: Please replace DCNAME with the name of your Win2k3 SP1 DC and LegacyExchangeName with your E2k or E2k3 Exchange Server.

1. Client Access

setup.com /mode:Install /r:c /t:"d:\program files\microsoft\exchange server"
/domaincontroller:DCNAME

Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

Preparing Exchange Setup

The following server roles will be installed
Management Tools
Client Access Role

Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

Client Access Role Checks ......................... COMPLETED

Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

Copying Exchange files ......................... COMPLETED
Client Access server role ......................... COMPLETED

2. Hub Transport Role

setup.com /mode:Install /r:h /domaincontroller:DCNAME /LegacyRoutingServe
r:LegacyExchangeName

Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

Preparing Exchange Setup

The following server roles will be installed
Hub Transport Role

Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

Hub Transport Role Checks ......................... COMPLETED

Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

Copying Exchange files ......................... COMPLETED
Hub Transport Server Role ......................... COMPLETED

3. setup.com /mode:Install /r:m /domaincontroller:DCNAME /EnableLegacyOutloo
k

Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup

Preparing Exchange Setup

The following server roles will be installed
Mailbox Role

Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

Mailbox Role Checks ......................... COMPLETED
If Outlook Web Access is in use, you should replicate the free/busy folder on t
his server to every other free/busy server in the organization. This step should
be performed once Setup completes.

Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

Copying Exchange files ......................... COMPLETED
Mailbox Server Role ......................... COMPLETED

The Microsoft Exchange Server setup operation completed successfully.

Hope this helps someone out.