Microsoft has confirmed that the upgrade it is currently pushing automatically via Windows Update for the search infrastructure in the Windows operating systems has problems integrating with some copies of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. However, according to a member of the Microsoft Update team, the fault lies with neither Windows Search 4.0, nor with XP or Windows Server 2003. Still, there are scenarios when the search update served via WU will fail to integrate in the Windows client and server platforms mentioned above, producing the 0x643 error code.

"We've done some investigation and found out that the installation failure in this case may actually be caused by the computer configuration, which in most cases can be easily changed to allow for successful installation and functionality of Windows Search 4.0," the MU team member explained. According to Microsoft, for the precursors of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, in order for Windows Search 4.0 to install Terminal Services needs to be fully functional.

"In this case, when WS4.0 runs under Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP, it requires Terminal Services to be running. By default, Terminal Services are set to start automatically in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003; however, system administrator or third-party software may have chosen to disable them. In order to enable installation and subsequent functionality of Windows Search 4.0 on your machine, you need to have Terminal Services running first," the MU team representative added.

In this context, all that end users need to do in order to make sure that Windows Search 4.0 will integrate into XP and Windows Server 2008 is to ensure that Terminal Services is running, or to "jump start it" if it isn't. The services.msc command entered into a Run dialog box will permit access to all the services in Windows ordered alphabetically. The status of terminal Services needs to be Started. Otherwise, users need to right click the service, select Properties and then Automatic from the Startup type drop down menu.

Windows Search 4.0 is available for download via this link.