Can I install final XP SP-2 over XP SP-2 RC-1?

[Bruce White]

Several months ago, I read an article at Microsoft about Windows XP SP-2
being available. I downloaded and installed it. Only later did I learn
that I had installed Release Candidate 1 (build 2096) and not the final
version. (What can I say, sometimes I'm an idiot.)

I now have the official final version of SP-2 on CD from Microsoft. Do
I need to uninstall RC-1 before installing the final version?

My Add/Remove programs list includes the following in the order shown:

Windows SR 2.0
Windows XP - Software Updates:
Prerequisite Minor Beta Test Update (1)
Prerequisite EULA Supersede Beta Test Update (2)
Prerequisite Minor Beta Test Update (4)
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Installed On 5/11/2004
Windows XP Hotfix - KB838909 Installed On 5/12/2004
Windows XP Hotfix - KB838907 Installed On 5/12/2004
Windows XP Hotfix - KB838904 Installed On 5/12/2004
Beta Test Critical Update (Q000181) Installed On 6/10/2004
Beta Test Update (Q000182) Installed On 6/10/2004

Which, if any of these do I need to uninstall.

To make matters possibly more complicated, I no longer have my original
Windows XP CDs (wife threw them out by mistake). My computer is a
Gateway desktop, 2.53GHz P4, 256MB RAM, plenty big hard drive, XP Pro.
Neither Gateway nor MS were willing to replace my lost CDs.

Here is my assumption for the steps I should do. Let me know where I'm
right and wrong.

1) back up important information
2) run Ad-Aware, CWShredder, and my virus scanner
3) uninstall, in reverse order, all the items listed under Windows XP -
Software Update shown above
4) reboot
5) install XP SP-2 from the CD

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Bruce

 

[Colin Nash [MVP]]

Several months ago, I read an article at Microsoft about Windows XP SP-2
being available. I downloaded and installed it. Only later did I learn
that I had installed Release Candidate 1 (build 2096) and not the final
version. (What can I say, sometimes I'm an idiot.)

I now have the official final version of SP-2 on CD from Microsoft. Do
I need to uninstall RC-1 before installing the final version?

My Add/Remove programs list includes the following in the order shown:

Windows SR 2.0
Windows XP - Software Updates:
Prerequisite Minor Beta Test Update (1)
Prerequisite EULA Supersede Beta Test Update (2)
Prerequisite Minor Beta Test Update (4)
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Installed On 5/11/2004
Windows XP Hotfix - KB838909 Installed On 5/12/2004
Windows XP Hotfix - KB838907 Installed On 5/12/2004
Windows XP Hotfix - KB838904 Installed On 5/12/2004
Beta Test Critical Update (Q000181) Installed On 6/10/2004
Beta Test Update (Q000182) Installed On 6/10/2004

Which, if any of these do I need to uninstall.

To make matters possibly more complicated, I no longer have my original
Windows XP CDs (wife threw them out by mistake). My computer is a
Gateway desktop, 2.53GHz P4, 256MB RAM, plenty big hard drive, XP Pro.
Neither Gateway nor MS were willing to replace my lost CDs.

Here is my assumption for the steps I should do. Let me know where I'm
right and wrong.

1) back up important information
2) run Ad-Aware, CWShredder, and my virus scanner
3) uninstall, in reverse order, all the items listed under Windows XP -
Software Update shown above
4) reboot
5) install XP SP-2 from the CD

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Bruce

Yes, that should work fine. I don't think Step 3 is necessary. I installed
SP2 RTM (final version) over my SP2 RC2 and there weren't any problems-- it
is a supported upgrade path. RC1 to RTM should also be ok although I never
tried it.

 

[Louis]

-----Original Message-----
Several months ago, I read an article at Microsoft about Windows XP SP-2
being available. I downloaded and installed it. Only later did I learn
that I had installed Release Candidate 1 (build 2096) and not the final
version. (What can I say, sometimes I'm an idiot.)

I now have the official final version of SP-2 on CD from Microsoft. Do
I need to uninstall RC-1 before installing the final version?

My Add/Remove programs list includes the following in the order shown:

Windows SR 2.0
Windows XP - Software Updates:
Prerequisite Minor Beta Test Update (1)
Prerequisite EULA Supersede Beta Test Update (2)
Prerequisite Minor Beta Test Update (4)
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Installed On 5/11/2004
Windows XP Hotfix - KB838909 Installed On 5/12/2004
Windows XP Hotfix - KB838907 Installed On 5/12/2004
Windows XP Hotfix - KB838904 Installed On 5/12/2004
Beta Test Critical Update (Q000181) Installed On 6/10/2004
Beta Test Update (Q000182) Installed On 6/10/2004

Which, if any of these do I need to uninstall.

To make matters possibly more complicated, I no longer have my original
Windows XP CDs (wife threw them out by mistake). My computer is a
Gateway desktop, 2.53GHz P4, 256MB RAM, plenty big hard drive, XP Pro.
Neither Gateway nor MS were willing to replace my lost CDs.

Here is my assumption for the steps I should do. Let me know where I'm
right and wrong.

1) back up important information
2) run Ad-Aware, CWShredder, and my virus scanner
3) uninstall, in reverse order, all the items listed under Windows XP -
Software Update shown above
4) reboot
5) install XP SP-2 from the CD

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Bruce
.

Yes, that should work fine. I don't think Step 3 is
necessary. I installed
SP2 RTM (final version) over my SP2 RC2 and there weren't
any problems-- it
is a supported upgrade path. RC1 to RTM should also be
ok although I never
tried it.

 

[Colin Nash [MVP]]

Yes, that should work fine. I don't think Step 3 is
necessary. I installed
SP2 RTM (final version) over my SP2 RC2 and there weren't
any problems-- it
is a supported upgrade path. RC1 to RTM should also be
ok although I never
tried it.

I agree completely.....