How do I remove SP2 Download

[Bob Leilich]

My computer keeps telling me it has downloaded SP2 and
wants to install it. After hearing all the horror stories,
I want to wait for a few months in case Microsoft fixes
some of the "fixes." I have stopped "Automatic Updates,"
but now want to remove what is "waiting to be installed"
(i.e. the current version of SP2). I have found a bunch of
SP2 related stuff in folder
C;\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\6ca7b3a8efd5a9b6f8
7fff395a2eb989 and in a subfolder Updates. What folders
and or files can I safely delete so that when I
turn "Automatic Updates" back on it will get the newest
version of SP2?

Thanks. Bob Leilich

 

[Colin Nash [MVP]]

My computer keeps telling me it has downloaded SP2 and
wants to install it. After hearing all the horror stories,
I want to wait for a few months in case Microsoft fixes
some of the "fixes." I have stopped "Automatic Updates,"
but now want to remove what is "waiting to be installed"
(i.e. the current version of SP2). I have found a bunch of
SP2 related stuff in folder
C;\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\6ca7b3a8efd5a9b6f8
7fff395a2eb989 and in a subfolder Updates. What folders
and or files can I safely delete so that when I
turn "Automatic Updates" back on it will get the newest
version of SP2?

Thanks. Bob Leilich

There will not be a new version of SP2. There may one day be a SP2a or a
SP3, but those will always be considered new versions. It's likely that any
serious problems with SP2 would be fixed by separate hotfixes/patches which
go over top of it. From what I have seen, most if not all of the 'problems'
with SP2 actually relate to incompatible software (requiring an update by
the publisher, to work with the new security framework), spyware infections
(they mess with the registry and system files), and a particular BIOS issue
with certain Intel-based motherboards (manufacturers should be releasing
software updates soon if not already.) There hasn't been anything that
Microsoft needs to fix with SP2 itself... and if there is, they will release
a separate patch for it.

Sorry I can't really answer your question about what files to delete as I
tend not to tinker in those folders since I have a hard enough time filling
up my hard drive as it is

 

[Guest]

"From what I have seen, most if not all of the 'problems' with SP2 actually
relate to incompatible software (requiring an update by the publisher, to
work with the new security framework)"

That's kind of like saying... Oh, I don't know, like saying people need to
add a finger to use a new handle, isn't it?

Keith Mailloux

 

[Colin Nash [MVP]]

"From what I have seen, most if not all of the 'problems' with SP2
actually
relate to incompatible software (requiring an update by the publisher, to
work with the new security framework)"

That's kind of like saying... Oh, I don't know, like saying people need to
add a finger to use a new handle, isn't it?

Keith Mailloux

Yep. Many developers (and this includes Microsoft with some of their other
software) didn't follow the standards and wrote code that liked to play all
over the place. And some of the standards changed because they had security
holes. Microsoft said all along that some apps would be broken by SP2 and
would need to be fixed by the publishers. It's by design, not by neglect.
They couldn't accomplish their goal of tightening security while also
keeping compatibility.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

My computer keeps telling me it has downloaded SP2 and
wants to install it. After hearing all the horror stories,
I want to wait for a few months in case Microsoft fixes
some of the "fixes." I have stopped "Automatic Updates,"
but now want to remove what is "waiting to be installed"
(i.e. the current version of SP2). I have found a bunch of
SP2 related stuff in folder
C;\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\6ca7b3a8efd5a9b6f8
7fff395a2eb989 and in a subfolder Updates. What folders
and or files can I safely delete so that when I
turn "Automatic Updates" back on it will get the newest
version of SP2?

Hi

It is very, very unlikely that there will be a new SP2 in a few months.

It takes a *very* serious and wide spread problem to make Microsoft
change a service pack (or a court order as with WinXP SP1a).

The only time Microsoft has updated a OS Service Pack because of a
bug is SP6 for NT 4.0, where a bug in the Winsock interface was
fixed (and SP6 re-released as SP6a).


Anyway, to reset the pending download you now have, clean out the
Download folder (WU5's temporary download folder) located here:

%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\

(%windir% is typically C:\Windows)

You can use the procedure described here:

http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/showarticle.aspx?articleid=11&ln=en

You might need to delete the DataStore folder mentioned in the link
above, as well as the Download folder.

Note that a side effect of deleting the DataStore folder is that you
lose your WU v5 History listing (not critical).

 

[Bob Leilich]

Many thanks to all who responded. It was helpful. I'll be
checking the program incompatibility list in Microsoft
Knowledge Base 842242 and 884130, backup my computer, mix
a stiff drink, and install SP2.