Windows XP Pro Service Pack 2

[Tim58]

I recently upgraded the Operating System on my Notebook from Windows 2000 to XP Pro and everything works great.

I have automatic updates turned on but SP2 is not on list of updates for me. Is there something in my notebook that disqualifies it for SP2?

Please advise

 

[BobStubbs]

I don't know if this will help ...

I have three PCs at home, which were all running XP Home edition, with service pack 1.

When SP2 was released, two of the machines showed it as an update available from the Microsoft updates web site. The third did not, and I could not install SP2 on my third PC until I was able to obtain a copy on CD-ROM (given away with a computer magazine a few weeks later).

Maybe this is your problem as well - if you can find SP2 on a CD-ROM, try upgrading this way, which may fix your machine for you.


Bob Stubbs

 

[linney]

See if this SP2 update "block" has somehow been set on your machine.

For information about the temporary installation block or to see if the block applies to your system, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2aumng.mspx

Note This Web site also provides information about how to remove the block if you installed it manually.

 

[mikker]

when you go to windows update, instead of doing the express install, do the custom. that is what I had to do before I could find it to download. after you do the search, to the left of the screen you will see where it shows review high priority updates, select optional updates, and selct optional hardware updates. check in the hugh priority and software updates. it might be in there.

 

[bcastner]

If you do not see SP2 as an automatic update, you are likely missing a pre-requisite hotfix:

. SP1 or SP1a
. the newer Windows Update client
. the newer BITS service
. IE and OE clients are not Hotfixed to the right level
. Automatic Updates is not enabled

You can:

. Enable Automatic Updates, and run through all the pre-SP2 Hotfixes. Please remember to restart your computer when current with the Hotfixes available.

. Download and use the Network Installation version of SP2

. Order the SP2 CD (this is still widely available, call your local Computer Store or large Office Products retailer)

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.aspx?SD=gn&LN=en-us&gssnb=1

 

[BadBigBen]

Hi there,

@bcastner - SP2 does not have a prerequisite other than WinXP... it installed on my system (XP without SP1, one of the first releases) without any probs...

@Tim58 - what version of XP PRO do you use on the Laptop, is it OEM, Volume Licsence, Retail or perhaps even Corporate version? - as bcastner already stated, the Network version (around 265mb), will install on all of these...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...

 

[bcastner]

SP2 does not have prerequisites, but getting it presented by Automatic Updates does. You cannot get the upgrades for BITS and the Automatic Updates service itself unless you are at SP1 or SP1a.

So, SP1 or SP1a is consequently a prerequisite for the Automatic Updates delivery of SP2.

QED

 

[bcastner]

Now while some of the above I am not 100% sure of, there are some other issues that can block Automatic Updates presenting SP2 as an option:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;885627

 

[BadBigBen]

@bcastner - well, that I didn't know (new one on me)... as I had SP2 already on a CD... one never stops learning... thnx for the enlightenment...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...

 

[bcastner]

BadBigBen,

I ended up for various reasons using only the CD-based version to rollout installations.

The Microsoft site step-by-step will take a pre-SP2 XP workstation through several upgrades (depending on its base installation and currency) before presenting SP2 as an upgrade choice.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

Now, both you and I believe, and I think accurately, that SP2 if applied to an XP without SP1 will still work, and provide all of the upgrades of SP1 inclusvely with SP2.

There are at least two things that Automatic Updates will currently find that can cause real problems if you use the CD or Network installation method for SP2:

. The T.V. Media malware
. The Prescott and other CPU/BIOS issues

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;885627

My strong preference is to see a machine offer through Automatic Updates the availability of SP2, and then use the free CD or the Network Install image to do the actual upgrade.

It might be okay, but it bothers me for any machine that Automatic Updates did not find it a suitable candidate for SP2. It would bother me a lot. Two months ago the roll-out was being staged and restricted; currently it is pretty wide open. If a machine was not prompting for SP2, you would really benefit from invrestigating the known causes for this in the link I provided earlier.

 

[bcastner]

One last note: If I am going to use the CD or Network Install to do SP2, I always run this first:[/b}

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...27-B656-45CD-9668-73134A18231B&displaylang=en

 

[BadBigBen]

Thanx for the link... although I haven't had any probs installing SP2 on any of my PC's, including those of my friends, this nevertheless will give me a few more insights if and when it should not work....

In the meantime I have 'Slipstreamed' SP2 onto XP, making it a bit less of a hassle installing it once more or onto other PC's that I manage...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...

 

[bcastner]

BigBadBen,

A slipstream would avoid the issue, I think. The real pain in the bottom is if there is an issue, as getting the machine to boot again is not pleasant.

And the issue with the Slipstream is that you cannot revert the OS simply to a previous state.

My happy middle ground has been to use the CD image (or the Network Installation equivalent) and then remove all the junk when happy.

For new machines I just directly go to the CD image and get it over with.

Thanks again for your considerable support of this Forum,
Bill

 

[VRONQUILLO]

HOW TO INSTALL WIN XP PRO IN COMPAQ PRESARIO 7599 FORMAT WITH 000 OR LOW LEVEL FORMAT .I USED 6 DISKETT DOWNLOAD FROM MICROSOFT ALWAYS GIVE ME I/O ERROR EVEN A TEST MY DSKTTE DRIVER WITH WINDOWS ME SET UP DISK AND WIN 98 BOTH OF THEM WORKING VERY GOOD BUT I CAN BRING MY DVD DRIVER AND CD W/R AND FEW MORE DRIVERS MISSING

 

[BadBigBen]

@Bcastner - I agree, that it is a Pain, I decided to Slipstream the SP after having reinstalled everything (I had made a mistake and let Windows delete itself, the funny thing was it worked, by doing a clean drive sweep)... and yes you are correct that you can't revert back to a non-SP2 state...

@Vronquillo - first, do please use lowercase, uppercase is considered to be shouting and is by no means easy to read... second, please start your own thread, so that the answers do not get mixed and messed up... thirdly, do you have access to the BIOS Setup, there change the Drive recognition to either AUTO or CDROM for your DVD/CD-RW, then change Boot order to Drive A: or Floppy, then CD-ROM, and then HD0/IDE0, then try to boot with the CD-ROM version of XP...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...