I say oldie because I'm still on 8.1.7.

I am in the process of testing a new infrastructure in my environment,
and I need to replicate our Dev database onto a new server for testing.

We are running AIX, and the test server is W2K, SP4.

I have installed the 8.1.7.0.0 base install onto this test server, and
am TRYING to get 8.1.7.4 in there (p2376472). I then planned to follow
it up with the Jan 06 CPU (p4751570)

Problem is, when I fire off the installer for the 8.1.7.4 patch,
_nothing happens_. No splash screen, no error message, no nothing. I
even tried running it from the command line with a response file. All I
get is an hourglass for 5 seconds, and then nothing. Back to the
prompt.

I dropped all Oracle services as per the patch readme, and just to be
sure made a local Admin account on the box and used that to kick off
the installer a second time (I'd been using a Domain account which had
been granted Admin privs via group memberships). Again, no luck.

No 'setup.exe' in the Task Manager, either.

I'm _pretty_ sure I have the correct patch installer, and I only just
downloaded it 20 minutes ago.

It may not be relevant, but I am connecting to the server over RDP; the
install of the 8.1.7.0 base worked just fine with this method, so I
don't expect any different with subsequent updates.

Deeply confused. All I can think to do is download Filemon, and go
right down to the lowest level and see what files are being opened.

????