Two identical machines: one offered SP1, the other not

I have a strange situation. I purchased two identical machines on the same
day 2 months ago for replacements in a small medical office. Both are
running Vista Home Premium. Every day during bootup, one machine is offered
SP1 via Windows update, while the other is not. Both machines have the same
software loaded, set up the same (except computer name and user names etc).

Can any one explain this? (Yes, I have looked through device manager to
ensure that the hardware is really the same).

Dick

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation
from Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343

Learn how to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/win...6f2021033.mspx

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Standalone (KB936330)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Free SP1 technical support from Microsoft:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...4&gprid=500921


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows System & Performance

---------------------------------------------------------------

"Dick" wrote:

I have a strange situation. I purchased two identical machines on the same
day 2 months ago for replacements in a small medical office. Both are
running Vista Home Premium. Every day during bootup, one machine is offered
SP1 via Windows update, while the other is not. Both machines have the same
software loaded, set up the same (except computer name and user names etc).

Can any one explain this? (Yes, I have looked through device manager to
ensure that the hardware is really the same).

Dick

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:

> Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation
> from Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates:
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343
>
> Learn how to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
>
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/win...6f2021033.mspx
>
> Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Standalone (KB936330)
>
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
>
> Free SP1 technical support from Microsoft:
>
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...4&gprid=500921
>
>
You didn't answer his question you dimwit. Why would 2 identical machines
behave this way?

Cheers.

--

A US president declared war on poverty. Poverty won.
Another US president declared a war on drugs. Drugs won.
This US president declared a war on terror. Terror won.
Next?

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:02ABF011-29B5-44EF-8192-...
> Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation
> from Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates:
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343
>
> Learn how to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/win...6f2021033.mspx
>
> Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Standalone (KB936330)
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
>
> Free SP1 technical support from Microsoft:
> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...4&gprid=500921
>
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Desktop Experience -
> Windows System & Performance
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "Dick" wrote:
>
> I have a strange situation. I purchased two identical machines on the
> same
> day 2 months ago for replacements in a small medical office. Both are
> running Vista Home Premium. Every day during bootup, one machine is
> offered
> SP1 via Windows update, while the other is not. Both machines have the
> same
> software loaded, set up the same (except computer name and user names
> etc).
>
> Can any one explain this? (Yes, I have looked through device manager to
> ensure that the hardware is really the same).
>
> Dick
>

Carey,

I respect the work that you do on this group. However, Windows Update IS
offering SP1 on some machines and for you to keep insisting that SP1 is not
available via WU is very annoying to me (and others as well, I would
expect).

None the less, I am still curious as to why it is offered on one machine and
not the other (both of which are identical).

Dick

"Dick" <> wrote in message
news:uu%...
>
> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:02ABF011-29B5-44EF-8192-...
>> Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation
>> from Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343
>>
>> Learn how to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/win...6f2021033.mspx
>>
>> Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Standalone (KB936330)
>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
>>
>> Free SP1 technical support from Microsoft:
>> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...4&gprid=500921
>>
>>
>> --
>> Carey Frisch
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Desktop Experience -
>> Windows System & Performance
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> "Dick" wrote:
>>
>> I have a strange situation. I purchased two identical machines on the
>> same
>> day 2 months ago for replacements in a small medical office. Both are
>> running Vista Home Premium. Every day during bootup, one machine is
>> offered
>> SP1 via Windows update, while the other is not. Both machines have the
>> same
>> software loaded, set up the same (except computer name and user names
>> etc).
>>
>> Can any one explain this? (Yes, I have looked through device manager to
>> ensure that the hardware is really the same).
>>
>> Dick
>>
>
> Carey,
>
> I respect the work that you do on this group. However, Windows Update IS
> offering SP1 on some machines and for you to keep insisting that SP1 is
> not available via WU is very annoying to me (and others as well, I would
> expect).
>
> None the less, I am still curious as to why it is offered on one machine
> and not the other (both of which are identical).

Dick-If you had clicked on the link Carey posted you will see that is the
title of the MS article. It describes WHY some computers will not download
SP1.

Carey-Maybe you should preface the message with something like: Take a look
at this page...so that folks don't misunderstand the meaning of the "Windows
Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation" part of your post.

"Dick" <> wrote in message
news:uu%...
>
> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:02ABF011-29B5-44EF-8192-...
>> Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation
>> from Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343
>>
>> Learn how to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/win...6f2021033.mspx
>>
>> Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Standalone (KB936330)
>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
>>
>> Free SP1 technical support from Microsoft:
>> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...4&gprid=500921
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> "Dick" wrote:
>>
>> I have a strange situation. I purchased two identical machines on the
>> same
>> day 2 months ago for replacements in a small medical office. Both are
>> running Vista Home Premium. Every day during bootup, one machine is
>> offered
>> SP1 via Windows update, while the other is not. Both machines have the
>> same
>> software loaded, set up the same (except computer name and user names
>> etc).
>>
>> Can any one explain this? (Yes, I have looked through device manager to
>> ensure that the hardware is really the same).
>
> Carey,
>
> I respect the work that you do on this group. However, Windows Update IS
> offering SP1 on some machines and for you to keep insisting that SP1 is
> not available via WU is very annoying to me (and others as well, I would
> expect).
>
> None the less, I am still curious as to why it is offered on one machine
> and not the other (both of which are identical).


It is not available at WU for some machines and the first article Carey
listed gives some reasons. The machines may have different drivers among
other possibilities.

--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not reply with email

Your original post is a little vague. Are the "machines" desktops
or laptops? What is the make and model numbers? Did you install
the latest available driver and BIOS updates? Did you try going
directly to the Windows Update web site and click on "Check for Updates"?
Did Windows Update offer any driver updates?

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows System & Performance

---------------------------------------------------------------

"Dick" wrote:

Carey,

I respect the work that you do on this group. However, Windows Update IS
offering SP1 on some machines and for you to keep insisting that SP1 is not
available via WU is very annoying to me (and others as well, I would
expect).

None the less, I am still curious as to why it is offered on one machine and
not the other (both of which are identical).

Dick

Do you have Automatic Updates turned OFF on one machine?

PS
By reading the newsgroup, it occurs to me that SP1 is not very desireable.



"Dick" <> wrote in message
news:%...
>I have a strange situation. I purchased two identical machines on the same
>day 2 months ago for replacements in a small medical office. Both are
>running Vista Home Premium. Every day during bootup, one machine is
>offered SP1 via Windows update, while the other is not. Both machines have
>the same software loaded, set up the same (except computer name and user
>names etc).
>
> Can any one explain this? (Yes, I have looked through device manager to
> ensure that the hardware is really the same).
>
> Dick
>

In article <uu#>,
Dick <> wrote:
>
>None the less, I am still curious as to why it is offered on one machine and
>not the other (both of which are identical).
>

Because they're NOT identical. It's one of the more painful quirks
of the Windows world that two machines with the same software and hardware
installed are nevertheless NOT identical. If nothing else all those
random registry keys are different, and this could be as simple as a bug
that doesn't offer the service pack if some certain key contains BF as the
6th byte...

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:73A8B0AD-E6EF-42FA-8A58-...
> Your original post is a little vague. Are the "machines" desktops
> or laptops? What is the make and model numbers? Did you install
> the latest available driver and BIOS updates? Did you try going
> directly to the Windows Update web site and click on "Check for Updates"?
> Did Windows Update offer any driver updates?
>

The OP needs more help. He said he bought two identical machines on the same
day, it would seem they are (minimally) the same make and model, but are
built differently for whatever reason. The reason for the different builds
is apparently at the root of the differences in getting SP1.

It is safe to assume he did not do any driver or BIOS upgrades because the
two machines were bought on the same day, and hej would logically assume
they are identical when it turns out they are only identical in make and
model.

I am not an MVP, so I can only guess that while the machines are the same
make and model (HP Pavilion a9990n, to pull a make and model out of my ass),
and both run Vista Home, what makes them identical is really different. He
needs these differences explained ...