Windowsupdate won't let me have XP SP2.

I just reinstalled XP Pro on a PC with Athlon XP 1500+ CPU.
(So it's not the intel CPU problem!)

The CD I used was a custom one I made with SP1 slipstreamed
in so I wouldn't have to bother with installing it after XP.

The reason for reinstalling was a hard drive failure.
(Hitachi's replacing of dead under warranty IBM drives with
who knows how abused "Serviceable used part" IBM drives is
a subject for a whole 'nother topic.)

Other than the drive, this PC's hardware configuration has not
changed. When I first setup this PC, I used the exact same
custom install CD and hardware drivers, so the software
configuration has not changed. Same CD Key too!

The last few times prior to the hard drive going *foom*,
when I went to Windowsupdate, it would practically pester
me to install SP2. I was waiting for the first few batches
of post SP2 Hotfixes to be released before installing SP2.

So just my luck, on the very day I was going to install SP2,
the @#%@#%#@ hard drive dies, XP is kaput and won't boot.
(Fortunately the damage was confined to spots occupied by
Windows' files and one old game that never worked rignt anyway.)

Now when I go to Windowsupdate I get the message about ending
support for XP RTM.

Why is it thinking I _don't_ have SP1 already installed when I
_DO_ have it installed?

How do I force it to let me have SP2? I've spent two or three
hours searching and found others with this problem. The replies
are usually variations on "Order the CD." (And wait several
days/weeks to get it!) or "Download the gigantic all in one super
duper mega version.".

IMHO, neither option is good enough. This is a BUG in Windowsupdate
that needs fixed. I'd also like to see Microsoft release XP version
specific SP2 standalone installers so people with just one type
of XP aren't forced into waiting 13-24+ hours to suck the whole
thing down on dialup or wait even longer for a CD by mail.

Or how about a return of the standalone web installer? Download
a small setup.exe that then goes and gets just the files needed
for the specific XP version?

I'm on dialup here, so downloading the 266 meg full SP2 install
is not an enticing option. (But I'm doing it anyway on another
PC, using GetRight, just so I'll have the mucking thing on hand
for future use.)

I really need to get this XP box back in action ASAP. I'd much
rather have the system fully updated as possible _before_ I
reinstall any of the applications.

What's possibly happened is that some of the patches that were previously
installed by SP1 have been superceded, and are no longer correct - and
giving faults with WU. (BTW - was it SP1, or SP1a?)
Try checking out the patch status with Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com and see
if that comes up with anything useful.

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"GAlan" <> wrote in message
news:Xns95B51401EC8gregg1valintnet@216.168.3.44...
>I just reinstalled XP Pro on a PC with Athlon XP 1500+ CPU.
> (So it's not the intel CPU problem!)
>
> The CD I used was a custom one I made with SP1 slipstreamed
> in so I wouldn't have to bother with installing it after XP.
>
> The reason for reinstalling was a hard drive failure.
> (Hitachi's replacing of dead under warranty IBM drives with
> who knows how abused "Serviceable used part" IBM drives is
> a subject for a whole 'nother topic.)
>
> Other than the drive, this PC's hardware configuration has not
> changed. When I first setup this PC, I used the exact same
> custom install CD and hardware drivers, so the software
> configuration has not changed. Same CD Key too!
>
> The last few times prior to the hard drive going *foom*,
> when I went to Windowsupdate, it would practically pester
> me to install SP2. I was waiting for the first few batches
> of post SP2 Hotfixes to be released before installing SP2.
>
> So just my luck, on the very day I was going to install SP2,
> the @#%@#%#@ hard drive dies, XP is kaput and won't boot.
> (Fortunately the damage was confined to spots occupied by
> Windows' files and one old game that never worked rignt anyway.)
>
> Now when I go to Windowsupdate I get the message about ending
> support for XP RTM.
>
> Why is it thinking I _don't_ have SP1 already installed when I
> _DO_ have it installed?
>
> How do I force it to let me have SP2? I've spent two or three
> hours searching and found others with this problem. The replies
> are usually variations on "Order the CD." (And wait several
> days/weeks to get it!) or "Download the gigantic all in one super
> duper mega version.".
>
> IMHO, neither option is good enough. This is a BUG in Windowsupdate
> that needs fixed. I'd also like to see Microsoft release XP version
> specific SP2 standalone installers so people with just one type
> of XP aren't forced into waiting 13-24+ hours to suck the whole
> thing down on dialup or wait even longer for a CD by mail.
>
> Or how about a return of the standalone web installer? Download
> a small setup.exe that then goes and gets just the files needed
> for the specific XP version?
>
> I'm on dialup here, so downloading the 266 meg full SP2 install
> is not an enticing option. (But I'm doing it anyway on another
> PC, using GetRight, just so I'll have the mucking thing on hand
> for future use.)
>
> I really need to get this XP box back in action ASAP. I'd much
> rather have the system fully updated as possible _before_ I
> reinstall any of the applications.

"Noel Paton" <> wrote in
news:#:

> What's possibly happened is that some of the patches that were
> previously installed by SP1 have been superceded, and are no longer
> correct - and giving faults with WU. (BTW - was it SP1, or SP1a?)
> Try checking out the patch status with Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com
> and see if that comes up with anything useful.

I gave up and waited the looooong time to download the entire
SP2 for all versions of XP. That installed OK.

Why did Microsoft discontinue the stand-alone "express" SP2
installer that didn't need Windowsupdate? (Like the IE5 and IE6
installers.) I found that on the web somewhere but it doesn't
work.

"GAlan" <> wrote in message
news:Xns95CE50D2ACEDgregg1valintnet@216.168.3.44.. .
> "Noel Paton" <> wrote in
> news:#:
>
>> What's possibly happened is that some of the patches that were
>> previously installed by SP1 have been superceded, and are no longer
>> correct - and giving faults with WU. (BTW - was it SP1, or SP1a?)
>> Try checking out the patch status with Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com
>> and see if that comes up with anything useful.
>
> I gave up and waited the looooong time to download the entire
> SP2 for all versions of XP. That installed OK.
>
> Why did Microsoft discontinue the stand-alone "express" SP2
> installer that didn't need Windowsupdate? (Like the IE5 and IE6
> installers.) I found that on the web somewhere but it doesn't
> work.

They still offer it as an option - but it is 266MB (IIRC), so takes even
longer to download than the 'Express Install' offered by Windows Update.

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
A Happy Xmas, and a Merry New Year to everyone!

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Noel Paton" <> wrote in
news::

>
> "GAlan" <> wrote in message
> news:Xns95CE50D2ACEDgregg1valintnet@216.168.3.44.. .
>> "Noel Paton" <> wrote in
>> news:#:
>>
>>> What's possibly happened is that some of the patches that were
>>> previously installed by SP1 have been superceded, and are no longer
>>> correct - and giving faults with WU. (BTW - was it SP1, or SP1a?)
>>> Try checking out the patch status with Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com
>>> and see if that comes up with anything useful.
>>
>> I gave up and waited the looooong time to download the entire
>> SP2 for all versions of XP. That installed OK.
>>
>> Why did Microsoft discontinue the stand-alone "express" SP2
>> installer that didn't need Windowsupdate? (Like the IE5 and IE6
>> installers.) I found that on the web somewhere but it doesn't
>> work.
>
> They still offer it as an option - but it is 266MB (IIRC), so takes even
> longer to download than the 'Express Install' offered by Windows Update.

That's what I downloaded. I'm talking about a SMALL exe file like
ie6setup.exe, but instead of downloading IE it gets the XP SP2 components
for your version of XP, without having to got to the WU site with IE.

I found that file on some other site, but it no longer works. To get
XP SP2 you either have to go through the WU site or if that fails, download
266 megs. :P

There's never been another way to get SP2, except for the CD. AFAIK

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
A Happy Xmas, and a Merry New Year to everyone!

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"GAlan" <> wrote in message
news:Xns95D0EB163C1Fgregg1valintnet@216.168.3.44.. .
> "Noel Paton" <> wrote in
> news::
>
>>
>> "GAlan" <> wrote in message
>> news:Xns95CE50D2ACEDgregg1valintnet@216.168.3.44.. .
>>> "Noel Paton" <> wrote in
>>> news:#:
>>>
>>>> What's possibly happened is that some of the patches that were
>>>> previously installed by SP1 have been superceded, and are no longer
>>>> correct - and giving faults with WU. (BTW - was it SP1, or SP1a?)
>>>> Try checking out the patch status with Belarc Advisor www.belarc.com
>>>> and see if that comes up with anything useful.
>>>
>>> I gave up and waited the looooong time to download the entire
>>> SP2 for all versions of XP. That installed OK.
>>>
>>> Why did Microsoft discontinue the stand-alone "express" SP2
>>> installer that didn't need Windowsupdate? (Like the IE5 and IE6
>>> installers.) I found that on the web somewhere but it doesn't
>>> work.
>>
>> They still offer it as an option - but it is 266MB (IIRC), so takes even
>> longer to download than the 'Express Install' offered by Windows Update.
>
> That's what I downloaded. I'm talking about a SMALL exe file like
> ie6setup.exe, but instead of downloading IE it gets the XP SP2 components
> for your version of XP, without having to got to the WU site with IE.
>
> I found that file on some other site, but it no longer works. To get
> XP SP2 you either have to go through the WU site or if that fails,
> download
> 266 megs. :P