Service Packs and installing OS's?

[Brian V]

Hi. I was wondering if someone downloaded and saved a Service Pack, installed
an OS, then installed that Service Pack: Would it save them from downloading
the prior service packs and updates?

Eg: A person installs Windows XP with Service Pack 1. But beforehand they
got a copy of Service Pack 3. They then install Service PAck 3 ontop of
Service Pack 1. Hence erasing the need to get Service Pack 2.

Or do you need to start from the first update and get the rest no matter what?

Windows update messages told me Service packs have all the previous updates
and service packs with the newer one. So Service Pack 3 has everything before
is (including Service Pack 2 and 1).

 

[David Webb]

Hi. I was wondering if someone downloaded and saved a Service Pack, installed
an OS, then installed that Service Pack: Would it save them from downloading
the prior service packs and updates?

Eg: A person installs Windows XP with Service Pack 1. But beforehand they
got a copy of Service Pack 3. They then install Service PAck 3 ontop of
Service Pack 1. Hence erasing the need to get Service Pack 2.

Or do you need to start from the first update and get the rest no matter what?

Windows update messages told me Service packs have all the previous updates
and service packs with the newer one. So Service Pack 3 has everything before
is (including Service Pack 2 and 1).

What you heard from Windows Update is true in theory, but the devil is in the
details and here it is:

"To install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), either Windows XP Service Pack 1a
(SP1a) or Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) must already be installed."

Read all about it here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/

Google is your friend.

 

[Barry Schwarz]

Hi. I was wondering if someone downloaded and saved a Service Pack, installed
an OS, then installed that Service Pack: Would it save them from downloading
the prior service packs and updates?

Eg: A person installs Windows XP with Service Pack 1. But beforehand they
got a copy of Service Pack 3. They then install Service PAck 3 ontop of
Service Pack 1. Hence erasing the need to get Service Pack 2.

Or do you need to start from the first update and get the rest no matter what?

Windows update messages told me Service packs have all the previous updates
and service packs with the newer one. So Service Pack 3 has everything before
is (including Service Pack 2 and 1).

Regardless of what the service pack contains, the system must be at a
level that meets the requirements documented for the service pack.