Server Update Utility (SUU) v4.5 : ntvdm error, problem with invcol.exe

I've been unable to run SUU v4.5 on 2 different PowerEdge servers [1750, Win2003SP1; 2600 Win2003]. Conversely, v4.4 works on both - but, of course, has an out-of-date repository.

 

Problem:
Running either SUU.CMD or SUUGUI.CMD results in 2 (or more?) pop-up windows:
'ntvdm.exe - System error; NTVDM encountered a hard error [Close, Ignore]'
An alternative pop-up is:
'16bit MS-DOS Subsystem; Error while setting up environment for the application. Chose Close.  [Close, Ignore]'

Selecting either Close or Ignore makes little difference: SUU displays with the error message:
'The Software Update Utility was unable to collect inventory on this system.'

 

Fix:
Having waded thru heaps of Microsoft KB articles and newsgroup postings, I finally found the problem is with a single file. It maybe due to a corrupt ISO download, or the ISO itself?

The original I have is \bin\Windows\invcol.exe 5,221,654 bytes 27th Oct 2005 & seems to be a 16bit app (no version tab, icon type).

The newest one that works for me is v2.2.0.24 obtained from: http://ftp1.us.dell.com/cmsdk/invCol_R107214.exe
The ISO's BundleApp.exe also seems 'bad' - this can be obtained from the same ftp site.

Of course, you would have to re-burn an SUU v4.5 CD, containing these 2 amended .exes.

Cheers,
Pete.