Sevice pack 1 differences?

[Sunny]

I have downloaded both of these, for someone who has an original XP CD and
needs to re-install.
Why the vast difference in size?

Windows XP Service Pack 1a Network Install (32-Bit) for IT Professionals
(xpsp1a_en_x86.exe) Size 128,097KB
Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a) provides security and reliability
updates to the Windows XP family of operating systems.

Windows XP Service Pack 1a Express Install (32-Bit) for End Users
(sp1aexpress_usa.exe) Size 1,982KB
Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a) provides security and reliability
updates to the Windows XP family of operating systems.

 

[RJK]

The smaller one simply prepares for an online service pack upgrade, the
bigger one is the whole thing for offline installation.

regards, Richard

 

[Sunny]

Thank you He has a dial up account so an "online" install would be a
joke.

 

[Alex Nichol]

have downloaded both of these, for someone who has an original XP CD and
needs to re-install.
Why the vast difference in size?

Windows XP Service Pack 1a Network Install (32-Bit) for IT Professionals
(xpsp1a_en_x86.exe) Size 128,097KB
Windows XP Service Pack 1a (SP1a) provides security and reliability
updates to the Windows XP family of operating systems.

Windows XP Service Pack 1a Express Install (32-Bit) for End Users
(sp1aexpress_usa.exe) Size 1,982KB

The 'network' one is the full thing, including all the files that might
be needed. The express install is just a loader that assesses what
items the present machine apparently needs (some of the patches may
already be installed; others may be irrelevant) and gets a further
download of just those that are needed. This may be 30 to 50 MB quite
easily. That is uncomfortably large for doing it 'live' on a dial up
connection, and I think it much better to get the Network one on a broad
band connection, burn it to a CD and then use it on all machines around