Windows XP Pro and SP2

[MilesOhToole]

Hey fellas,

I received my new computer (ref to this thread) and have XP Pro installed.

After OS installation, I did a Windows update and got all critical updates.  For some reason, SP2 didn't display as a critical update.  So, I searched microsoft for SP2 and downloaded it.

When it gets to the point of installing the update, I get an installation error: "C:/windows/system32/ftp.exe is open or in use by another application."

Should I reinstall XP and go for the SP2 update immediately before any other critical updates?  Do I need SP1 before SP2?

Thanks again for your help in the previous thread, guys.

[Josh]

Are you sure SP2 didnt come installed on your computer? Almost every new computer I've seen comes with SP2 pre-installed.

[MilesOhToole]

I don't think so...hmm...

When I go to My Computer and then Help and About Windows, it's showing Version 5.1 Build 2600.  If SP2 was installed would it show it there?

[Josh]

Can you give me a print screen of that about screen?

[MilesOhToole]

Sure.  Here ya go:

Windows XP Pro and SP2

[Josh]

ok, first things now, did you download the full 200 or so MB install of SP2?

[Carol Haynes]

Click Start  and then right click on My Computer > Properties (or Control Panel > System > Properties) and the General Tab tells you which services pack is installed.

[Josh]

That screenshot does to, if he did it would say xpsp_sp2*

[MilesOhToole]

Click Start  and then right click on My Computer > Properties (or Control Panel > System > Properties) and the General Tab tells you which services pack is installed.

-Carol Haynes (October 27, 2006, 02:51 PM)

Oh, OK.  Here it is...

Windows XP Pro and SP2

Josh, IIRC it was around 75MB.  I'm going through Microsoft's Windows update.  When I try to continue the installation, it's showing the file has been downloaded and just awaiting install.  

[Josh]

Try this link

http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/5/165b076b-aaa9-443d-84f0-73cf11fdcdf8/WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe

[MilesOhToole]

Downloading now.  Appreciate all your help, Josh.  I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[logic7]

Downloading now.  Appreciate all your help, Josh.  I'll let you know how it goes.

 

-MilesOhToole (October 27, 2006, 03:41 PM)

You don't need to install SP1 and then SP2, you just need to install SP2, and after SP2, you need to continue updating Windows until you see nothing left.


To make things easier, you can always download and use Microsoft's Security updates that are on ISOs, which you can burn to CDs and install from there, without waiting for the udpates to download, especially when you have a slow connection.

Get the latest one from here.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913086

Also, the reason that you got a different size in SP2 is that it was the "express" installation which is the basic collection that installs itself after downloading the rest from Microsoft, but the larger one is the "redistributable" one which you don't even need an Internet access to install.

[AdIyhc]

You can use AutoPatcher after installing SP2.

Link: http://www.neowin.ne...dex.php?showforum=89

It contains all the Windows updates after SP2 except for Office updates.

[Josh]

One question, why use AutoPatcher when you could just use windows update? I mean, I dont want any updates my system DOESNT NEED. Mass installing all updates, plus ones that are meant for only a small portion of users, is a bad practice. I would trust that the software maker knows which patches you need.

[AdIyhc]

Well I use it to update my offline image. I'm using FD-ISR so if I need to create a new fully updated image, I can just copy from the offline image.

The description of the patches seem relevant to me so I select/deselect some.

[f0dder]

Josh: doesn't windows install generally install any and all patches that are available?

I personally use a combination of http://www.nliteos.com and http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/ for my base install, so I don't have to download the hundreds of megabytes of updates since SP2 every time I reinstall - pretty nice stuff. I also use nLite to cut some of the crap out of XP. After install, though, I use windows update, I don't reinstall monthly

[Josh]

f0dder: no, certain patches are meant only for a select audience. Check the list that are included in the POST SP2 packs of AP and RyanVM, I guarantee there are some that arent installed on your machine. Microsoft releases certain fixes that apply only to certain hardware and certain configurations which is why they dont show up to the general public. Heck, some of them you have to call microsoft and they will provide you a link for because they dont want the general public obtaining it since it can cause issues on platforms its not designed to be installed on.

[Carol Haynes]

Heck, some of them you have to call microsoft and they will provide you a link for because they dont want the general public obtaining it since it can cause issues on platforms its not designed to be installed on.

-Josh (October 31, 2006, 09:10 AM)

That can be true but usually they aren't available because they aren't fully tested for general release - at least that is what an MS tech told me when I phoned in for one such 'hotfix'. The same hotfix was updated and later included in a service pack.