Sharepoint - Restore problem with different versions of SPS or WSS

Error Message: "The backup is a different version of Windows SharePoint Services impossible to restore in a server with current version"

One of the problems we found when deploying a Sharepoint Portal on a client's environment that was not setup by us is a difference of versions either on SPS or WSS. The first step is to ensure the both environments (development and production) have the same versions and/or the same Service Packs.

We can check the products versions in two different ways:

1. Control Panel --> Add or Remove programs

• select the item and click on the "Click here for support information"

Or

1. Start --> Search --> files and folders --> file name of the aplication as listed below, and click Search

• Resulting list, right-click the file, and click Properties. On the Version tab, check the version.

The versions of WSS and SPS:

Windows SharePoint Services - Stsadm.exe
Release version 11.0.5510.0
SP1 11.0.6361.0

Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 - Spsbackup.exe
Release version 11.0.5704.0
SP1 11.0.6715.0
SP2 11.0.8126.0


For reference we can also check other Programs:

Microsoft Office Project Professional/Standard 2003 - WinProj.exe
Release version 11.0.2003.816
SP1 11.1.2004.1707
SP2 11.2.2005.1801

Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 - Pjintl.dll
Release version 11.0.2003.816
SP1 11.1.2004.1707
SP2 11.2.2005.1801

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 - Sqlservr.exe
Release version 2000.80.194.0
SP1 2000.80.384.0
SP2 2000.80.534.0
SP3 2000.80.760.0
SP3a 2000.80.760.0
SP4 2000.80.2039.0

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services - msmdsrv.exe
Release version 8.0.1.94
SP1 8.0.384.0
SP2 8.0.534.0
SP3 & SP3a 8.0.760.0
SP4 8.0.2039.0