Question : stsadm.exe not found with WSS 3.0 installation

I have installed sql 2008, WSS 3.0, and Search Server Express on a new windows installation of Server 2008 x64.
I have backed up a site with stsadm on the old server, and then when trying to restore it on the new server, ran into this issue.   " 'stsadm' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file." stsadm.exe is nowhere to be found on the system.
I've not found alot online to assist in the installation of this util. I've re-installed wss, and I've tried to just downloaded stsadm.exe and place it in the : E:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\bin  I've added the environment variable, and then tried running it, but get a "Microsoft Windows" error dialog box " stsadm.exe has stopped working  Windows can check for a solution to the problem" with the options to check online and close, or just close.  In the problem details I get this:  
  Problem Event Name:      APPCRASH
  Application Name:      STSADM.EXE
  Application Version:      11.0.5510.0
  Application Timestamp:      3f0fde60
  Fault Module Name:      KERNEL32.dll
  Fault Module Version:      6.0.6002.18005
  Fault Module Timestamp:      49e038c0
  Exception Code:      e0434f4d
  Exception Offset:      0001e124
  OS Version:      6.0.6002.2.2.0.272.36
  Locale ID:      1033

Is there a solution to installing stsadm properly? Since it doesn't seem wss 3.0 is installing it?
Is this a compatibility issue with server 2008 x64? I'm at a loss, and need to get this project moving.

Answer : stsadm.exe not found with WSS 3.0 installation

if stsadm is not present in your new wss 3.0 installation, something is wrong.

it should be in Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\BIN

is this a standalone installation?  if not, please explain how you did your install.

if this is a new wss 3.0 installation and it's not some kind of unique install scenario, it may be best to just uninstall and reinstall the binaries.  because if stsadm is missing, who knows what else is wrong.