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You receive a �The specified option does not exist� error message when you use the Netsh.exe tool to configure the DHCP scope options after you install the DHCP service on a Windows Server 2003-based computer

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Symptoms

When you use the Netsh.exe tool to configure the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) scope options after you install the DHCP service on a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer, you may receive the following error message:

The specified option does not exist.

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Cause

This behavior may occur if you do not open the DHCP Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and then connect to one or more DHCP servers before you use the Netsh.exe tool to configure the DHCP scope options.

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Workaround

To work around this behavior, use the following method that correlates to how you installed the DHCP service.

Method 1: Remote install or unattended install

Copy the Dhcp.mdb database file from another DHCP server. To do this, you can use the following batch file:
net stop dhcpserver
del %systemroot%\system32\dhcp\dhcp.mdb
copy location of source Dhcp.mdb file on a functional DHCP server C:\WINDOWS\system32\dhcp
net start dhcpserver
netsh dhcp server IP address set optionvalue Value dword Value
When you copy the Dhcp.mdb database file from another DHCP server, make sure that the following conditions are true:
  • The DHCP server service is stopped before you copy the Dhcp.mdb database file.
  • The source DHCP server is functional.
  • Only the DHCP MMC is open, and the DHCP server is connected for the option definitions to be created.

Method 2: Manual install

Open the DHCP MMC and then connect to one or more DHCP servers before you use the Netsh.exe tool to configure scope options.

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More information

In Windows Server 2003, option definitions are created in the Dhcp.mdb database file when you connect to one or more DHCP servers for the first time after you install the DHCP service.

Note In Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, the DHCP option definitions are stored under the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DhcpServer\Configuration\OptionInfo

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Keywords: KB867465, kbprb, kberrmsg, kbtshoot, kbdhcp, kbnetwork, kbwinservnetwork

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Article Info
Article ID : 867465
Revision : 4
Created on : 2/6/2007
Published on : 2/6/2007
Exists online : False
Views : 223