Reinstalling Win2k: service packs?

I've got a 3~4yo PIII-850 laptop I haven't used in a long time that I
want to wipe and reinstall Windows 2000 on. It came with Win2k Pro SP1
preinstalled, and iirc, it was upgraded to SP2 at some point. I have
the (re)install/recover CD set from Dell, but I do not have the SP2
install file(s).

My questions are:

What is the current service pack for Win2k?

Can I download and install the most recent only, or do I need to
download and install each one in order?

From the MS download pages, it is obvious that the "express install"
files require a network connection to run, because they're not big
enough to contain everything. But the larger files are labeled as
"network installs"... do I need to be connected to run them, or are
they self-contained and can they be run entirely from the local
machine?

I can connect the laptop to my home LAN, but its primary use, assuming
the wipe/reinstall fixes the various problems, will be as a
disconnected machine, most file transfers will be done via removable
media.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

"You think it'll always be like this, Michael? Little powers at the
mercy of bigger powers, politics before morality, expediency before
justice?" "Seems to work for everybody...except you. Maybe that's why
I like you." (Cmdr. Sinclair and Mr. Garibaldi, B5 "Deathwalker")

Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:

> I've got a 3~4yo PIII-850 laptop I haven't used in a long time that I
> want to wipe and reinstall Windows 2000 on. It came with Win2k Pro SP1
> preinstalled, and iirc, it was upgraded to SP2 at some point. I have
> the (re)install/recover CD set from Dell, but I do not have the SP2
> install file(s).
>
> My questions are:
>
> What is the current service pack for Win2k?

SP4 (and SP4 is the only version new security updates will be
released on).


> Can I download and install the most recent only, or do I need to
> download and install each one in order?

You need only the most recent, it includes everything that
were released in previous versions.


> From the MS download pages, it is obvious that the "express install"
> files require a network connection to run, because they're not big
> enough to contain everything. But the larger files are labeled as
> "network installs"... do I need to be connected to run them,

No.

> or are
> they self-contained and can they be run entirely from the local
> machine?

They are self-contained.


>
> I can connect the laptop to my home LAN, but its primary use, assuming
> the wipe/reinstall fixes the various problems, will be as a
> disconnected machine, most file transfers will be done via removable
> media.
>


--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx

It is alleged that Torgeir Bakken (MVP) claimed:

> > What is the current service pack for Win2k?
> SP4 (and SP4 is the only version new security updates will be
> released on).

Thank you.

> > Can I download and install the most recent only, or do I need to
> > download and install each one in order?
> You need only the most recent, it includes everything that
> were released in previous versions.

Thank you.

> > enough to contain everything. But the larger files are labeled as
> > "network installs"... do I need to be connected to run them,
> No.

Thank you.

> > or are
> > they self-contained and can they be run entirely from the local
> > machine?
> They are self-contained.

And again, thank you.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

Peter's Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord, #188.
I will funnel some of my ill-gotten gains into urban renewal projects.
Although slums add a quaint and picturesque quality to any city, they
too often contain unexpected allies for heroes.