Auto on. XP2 notification rec'd. Clicked "yes." CRASH! Chance blow

PROBLEM: Feeling exceptionally foolhardy, I decided to take Microsoft's
advice regarding XP2 and turned auto-update on. Then yesterday I received
notification that there was an update available. (XP2? Had to be.) Summoning
all my courage, I gave permission to download and install. A millisecond
later my computer crashed. Since then I have received no more notifications.

QUESTIONS: Did that CRASH!/BOOM! caused by Microsoft's own product(s) and
advice blow my current chance to receive the update? Am I now queued at the
back of the line? If so, how long will I have to wait to again receive
notification and re-attempt an update with XP2?

(And yes, I know what you're thinking--why in the world would I want to
attempt another XP2 update when the first try failed so miserably? Answer: I
haven't taken my medications lately and must be a tad loony. But after
waiting 24+ hours, I have turned auto-update back *off*. My shrink will be
happy.)

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm - Check List

Microsoft is limiting the daily number of SP-2 downloads. You may get SP-2 soon
or you can wait days. For more information, see FAQ #7:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...s/default.mspx
Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
Windows XP Service Pack 2

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/s...hattoknow.mspx
What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2


"ZenWarrior" <> wrote in message
news6AFACFF-0FDF-4314-87F6-...
> PROBLEM: Feeling exceptionally foolhardy, I decided to take Microsoft's
> advice regarding XP2 and turned auto-update on. Then yesterday I received
> notification that there was an update available. (XP2? Had to be.) Summoning
> all my courage, I gave permission to download and install. A millisecond
> later my computer crashed. Since then I have received no more notifications.
>
> QUESTIONS: Did that CRASH!/BOOM! caused by Microsoft's own product(s) and
> advice blow my current chance to receive the update? Am I now queued at the
> back of the line? If so, how long will I have to wait to again receive
> notification and re-attempt an update with XP2?
>
> (And yes, I know what you're thinking--why in the world would I want to
> attempt another XP2 update when the first try failed so miserably? Answer: I
> haven't taken my medications lately and must be a tad loony. But after
> waiting 24+ hours, I have turned auto-update back *off*. My shrink will be
> happy.)

Hey. Do a web search for "download windows SP2". I found a downloadable
copy on a beta test site marked as "final release". Download worked fine,
not sure it (SP2) did me any good though. Seems llike I'm running around
flipping switches back to where they were. I didn't have to wait for windows
update to get around to me. I think they are only beginning to deliver to
regular users this coming week- and last week it was given to the beta
testers. wooosh

"ZenWarrior" wrote:

> PROBLEM: Feeling exceptionally foolhardy, I decided to take Microsoft's
> advice regarding XP2 and turned auto-update on. Then yesterday I received
> notification that there was an update available. (XP2? Had to be.) Summoning
> all my courage, I gave permission to download and install. A millisecond
> later my computer crashed. Since then I have received no more notifications.
>
> QUESTIONS: Did that CRASH!/BOOM! caused by Microsoft's own product(s) and
> advice blow my current chance to receive the update? Am I now queued at the
> back of the line? If so, how long will I have to wait to again receive
> notification and re-attempt an update with XP2?
>
> (And yes, I know what you're thinking--why in the world would I want to
> attempt another XP2 update when the first try failed so miserably? Answer: I
> haven't taken my medications lately and must be a tad loony. But after
> waiting 24+ hours, I have turned auto-update back *off*. My shrink will be
> happy.)

Thanks, Kaylene and wooosh. However, I will now wait no less [and likely
more] than 2-3 months before subjecting my perfectly good and working
computer to Microsoft's current ineptitude. Right now, I might even choose a
virus infestation over this update. At least I would not have to wait a
Microsoft millennium for a fix--and the root problem would be much more
easily identified.

(Microsoft's attempt at beefing up security may well end up dreadfully
backfiring. Unless tortured with burning coals placed in my eyes, I won't
even think about the XPSP2 update for quite a while. And as I look around the
net, I see I am not alone.)


"wooosh" wrote:
> Hey. Do a web search for "download windows SP2". I found a downloadable
> copy on a beta test site marked as "final release". Download worked fine,
> not sure it (SP2) did me any good though. Seems llike I'm running around
> flipping switches back to where they were. I didn't have to wait for windows
> update to get around to me. I think they are only beginning to deliver to
> regular users this coming week- and last week it was given to the beta
> testers. wooosh
>
> "ZenWarrior" wrote:
> > PROBLEM: Feeling exceptionally foolhardy, I decided to take Microsoft's
> > advice regarding XP2 and turned auto-update on. Then yesterday I received
> > notification that there was an update available. (XP2? Had to be.) Summoning
> > all my courage, I gave permission to download and install. A millisecond
> > later my computer crashed. Since then I have received no more notifications.
> > QUESTIONS: Did that CRASH!/BOOM! caused by Microsoft's own product(s) and
> > advice blow my current chance to receive the update? Am I now queued at the
> > back of the line? If so, how long will I have to wait to again receive
> > notification and re-attempt an update with XP2?
> > (And yes, I know what you're thinking--why in the world would I want to
> > attempt another XP2 update when the first try failed so miserably? Answer: I
> > haven't taken my medications lately and must be a tad loony. But after
> > waiting 24+ hours, I have turned auto-update back *off*. My shrink will be
> > happy.)

I updated on Friday and so far so good. It's entirely up to you when you're
ready.
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm
Service Pack Installation Check List

"ZenWarrior" <> wrote in message
news:FB32358C-4185-4142-A05F-...
> Thanks, Kaylene and wooosh. However, I will now wait no less [and likely
> more] than 2-3 months before subjecting my perfectly good and working
> computer to Microsoft's current ineptitude. Right now, I might even choose a
> virus infestation over this update. At least I would not have to wait a
> Microsoft millennium for a fix--and the root problem would be much more
> easily identified.
>
> (Microsoft's attempt at beefing up security may well end up dreadfully
> backfiring. Unless tortured with burning coals placed in my eyes, I won't
> even think about the XPSP2 update for quite a while. And as I look around the
> net, I see I am not alone.)
>
>
> "wooosh" wrote:
>> Hey. Do a web search for "download windows SP2". I found a downloadable
>> copy on a beta test site marked as "final release". Download worked fine,
>> not sure it (SP2) did me any good though. Seems llike I'm running around
>> flipping switches back to where they were. I didn't have to wait for windows
>> update to get around to me. I think they are only beginning to deliver to
>> regular users this coming week- and last week it was given to the beta
>> testers. wooosh
>>
>> "ZenWarrior" wrote:
>> > PROBLEM: Feeling exceptionally foolhardy, I decided to take Microsoft's
>> > advice regarding XP2 and turned auto-update on. Then yesterday I received
>> > notification that there was an update available. (XP2? Had to be.)
>> > Summoning
>> > all my courage, I gave permission to download and install. A millisecond
>> > later my computer crashed. Since then I have received no more
>> > notifications.
>> > QUESTIONS: Did that CRASH!/BOOM! caused by Microsoft's own product(s) and
>> > advice blow my current chance to receive the update? Am I now queued at the
>> > back of the line? If so, how long will I have to wait to again receive
>> > notification and re-attempt an update with XP2?
>> > (And yes, I know what you're thinking--why in the world would I want to
>> > attempt another XP2 update when the first try failed so miserably? Answer:
>> > I
>> > haven't taken my medications lately and must be a tad loony. But after
>> > waiting 24+ hours, I have turned auto-update back *off*. My shrink will be
>> > happy.)

Before I bite into Microsoft again, I will credit Kaylene with an exceptional
corporate mentality and also endless personal patience. Were I her, I would
have told Microsoft to shove it days ago after having to constantly placate
poorly informed consumers and answer the same questions over and over and
over again. That said...

Gee, a superb passive-aggressive response to tell me I can update when I
feel ready. Again and most unfortunately, the *tremendous* respect and
admiration I long had for Microsoft MVPs has been blown to BITS (pun
intended) with their "circle the wagons" responses to consumers' XPSP2
problems, and Microsoft's update inadequacies and poor communications to
their user base.

Bill G. should pull a few of those billions of dollars out of his pocket and
fix his firm--including buying a few more update servers. And what happened
to all the beta testing I read about that kept telling me there would be few
and manageable problems? (I guess that's what they meant in using, but not
defining the term "behave differently" to describe some potential issues.)
Only now am I reading from sources other than the press about the real
problems to be expected. I guess providing the media a dollar or two and/or
free software buys lots of bogus press.

Admit it, Microsoft has blown this one. Otherwise, why are so many people
completely clueless as to how the update process is supposed to work? Why
didn't Microsoft tell consumers [after telling them to turn on auto-update]
to expect incremental downloads over days or even weeks? I reckon Microsoft
also promises wonderful baskets of candy to children, but then doles out only
one piece at a time. It is glaringly obvious better communications would have
saved Microsoft tons of ill-will, time addressing the same questions over and
over again, and users tons of worry and frustration. Again, Duh!

By the way, if statistics hold then only one out of nine consumers with
problems are voicing their dissatisfaction. But in this very different
scenario, that does not take into account consumers who really don't know
anything about computers other than to turn them on, or to come to these
forums seeking advice. Given that, I would multiply the number of complaints
seen here by no less than 1000 to *very conservatively* estimate the real
scope of this problem. (Hey, I'm an MVP, too--but one who has made a career
of understanding and improving service quality and customer satisfaction. I
will stake my Ph.D. on my numerical assessment.)

"Kaylene aka Taurarian" wrote:
> I updated on Friday and so far so good. It's entirely up to you when you're
> ready.
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm
> Service Pack Installation Check List
>
> "ZenWarrior" <> wrote in message
> news:FB32358C-4185-4142-A05F-...
> > Thanks, Kaylene and wooosh. However, I will now wait no less [and likely
> > more] than 2-3 months before subjecting my perfectly good and working
> > computer to Microsoft's current ineptitude. Right now, I might even choose a
> > virus infestation over this update. At least I would not have to wait a
> > Microsoft millennium for a fix--and the root problem would be much more
> > easily identified.
> >
> > (Microsoft's attempt at beefing up security may well end up dreadfully
> > backfiring. Unless tortured with burning coals placed in my eyes, I won't
> > even think about the XPSP2 update for quite a while. And as I look around the
> > net, I see I am not alone.)

Sorry you feel so angry. It is in the end your personal choice whether you
update or not.
I find the MVPs do a wonderful job on this NG and other NGs as well as many
others who contribute.
If you require professional assistance - send your email request (no charge
support for issues related to SP2)
http://support.microsoft.com/default...doffer80&sd=GN

Kaylene