FULL, OEM and UPDATE versions of Windows XP SP2

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Of course. Clearly understood, Ken.

Good, glad you understood, and my apologies for unnecessarily telling
you what you already know.

Understood.

My current PC includes a 2.8 GHz Pentium D 915 with 2 GB 667 MHz RAM.
At minimum, I'd buy a a 2.2 GHz Pentium dual-core with 2 GB 800MHz RAM.
I suspect that either would handle VISTA. Since I prefer system
performance,
and ease of troubleshooting and maintenance, I think that its far simpler to
stay
with Windows XP SP2 at this time

I don't agree at all, but again, it's your choice, not mine. I won't
try to talk you out of it.

and someday, I shall update to SP3 once
all of the problems are resolved with it.

Let me make two points about that clear:

1. There are no problems with SP3 that I'm aware of. My laptop, which
runs XP, runs SP3 without any problems.

2. SP3 is released, and therefore fixed regarding what's in it.
Whether you install it today or multiple years from now, it will be
the same.

 

[Daave]

But your Win95 OS CD may very well work as a "qualifier".

According to this page

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292607

there are "[n]o supported upgrade paths" from Windows 95 to Windows
XP.
What exactly does that mean? I know that it is possible to do so. I
don't have any Upgrade CDs, so I can't read the EULA.

You can *not* upgrade from 95 to XP. However you can use a Windows 95
CD as proof of ownership of a previous qualifying version when doing a
clean installation with an XP Upgrade CD.

It depends on how the word upgrade is used. Unfortunately, that always
causes a lot of confusion!

If I have Windows 98SE on a PC that can handle XP, I can use a Windows
XP Upgrade CD, even if I decide to perform a clean install and use the
98 CD as proof of a qualifying version. But many people would still
consider the net effect an upgrade, and that term *is* often used to
describe the situation. Then there is the in-place upgrade where the
programs and data stay intact. I'm talking about the former rather than
the latter (I am aware you can't perform an in-plcae upgrade from 95 to
XP). That page I cited mentions paths, which to me implies what
constitutes a previous qualifying version of Windows. Granted, my
inference may be incorrect; I just wanted to know if there was anything
definitive on this. Do you have a link or snippet of text from an EULA?

 

[Tinkers]

Good, glad you understood, and my apologies for unnecessarily telling

you what you already know.

No apology required, Ken. Its easy for us non-MVPs to get tunnel vision
whenever we are looking to do something out of the norm, or try and
understand valuable insight. ;o)

I don't agree at all, but again, it's your choice, not mine. I won't
try to talk you out of it.
)

Let me make two points about that clear:

1. There are no problems with SP3 that I'm aware of. My laptop, which
runs XP, runs SP3 without any problems.

2. SP3 is released, and therefore fixed regarding what's in it.
Whether you install it today or multiple years from now, it will be
the same.

Well, I do not have any experience with SP3 and have only been biased by
what I have read including . . .

Windows XP: SP3 Compatibility Issues
http://windowstipoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/06/windows-xp-sp3-compatibility-issues.html
where it reads

Windows XP SP3 blame game begins
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/12/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_amd/

I have several others, but I prefer not to exacerbate the issue. However, I
do recall that MS retracted SP3 after its initial release for a period of
time unknown to me. In addition, if SP3 was harmless, it seems reasonable
to conclude that when we visit Windows Update at
www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us and select
the CUSTOM option, MS would not give us the choice to avoid an SP3 update,
it would be automatic.

Course, that is just the opinion of an average PC user.

Thanks again, Ken!!

Best regards,

Tinkers

 

[Tinkers]

Have to add . . .

Windows XP SP3 sends PCs into endless reboot
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/

Tinkers

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Anna wrote:

But your Win95 OS CD may very well work as a "qualifier".

According to this page

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292607

there are "[n]o supported upgrade paths" from Windows 95 to Windows
XP.
What exactly does that mean? I know that it is possible to do so. I
don't have any Upgrade CDs, so I can't read the EULA.

You can *not* upgrade from 95 to XP. However you can use a Windows 95
CD as proof of ownership of a previous qualifying version when doing a
clean installation with an XP Upgrade CD.

It depends on how the word upgrade is used. Unfortunately, that always
causes a lot of confusion!

If I have Windows 98SE on a PC that can handle XP, I can use a Windows
XP Upgrade CD, even if I decide to perform a clean install and use the
98 CD as proof of a qualifying version.

Certainly.


But many people would still
consider the net effect an upgrade, and that term *is* often used to
describe the situation.

As far as I'm concerned, that is *not* an upgrade, it's a clean
installation. If anybody uses the word "upgrade" to describe doing
that, he is simply misusing the word.

Then there is the in-place upgrade where the
programs and data stay intact.

And that, of course, *is* an Upgrade.

We are essentially saying the same thing, except that we have
different views on how the word "upgrade" can be correctly used.

 

[Alias]

Interesting suggestion, Alias.

At this time, I'm not certain that I want to spend time getting to know
another O/S. However, I have hear nothing but good things about LINUX and
someday I will give it a whirl.

Thanks again!

Tinkers

You can order the CD and they will pay the postage. You can then run the
Live CD without putting anything on your hard disk to take it for a
spin. If you like it, you might want to try using WUBI which installs
Ubuntu in WinXP as a program that you can uninstall if you don't like it
like you would any other program. The only drawbacks are that you can't
run most video games and specialized Windows programs like AutoCad or
Photoshop, although there are comparable programs available for free
with Ubuntu.

Alias

 

[Alias]

Have to add . . .

Windows XP SP3 sends PCs into endless reboot
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/

Tinkers

If you install it right after installing XP, it won't cause any
problems. Just be sure to reboot three times after installing it. Yes,
three times, not the recommended two.

Alias

 

[Tinkers]

GREAT things to know, Alias!

Many, many thanks!!

Tinkers

 

[Tinkers]

Understood, Alias.

Thanks for the "three times" tip - I will add this to my catalog of files
for future SP3 installation info.

Unfortunately, given your suggestion, it appears that installing SP3 over an
existing SP2 O/S may have problems. Perhaps the articles that I cited
previously . . .

Windows XP: SP3 Compatibility Issues
http://windowstipoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/06/windows-xp-sp3-compatibility-issues.html

Windows XP SP3 blame game begins
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/12/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_amd/

Windows XP SP3 sends PCs into endless reboot
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/

.. . . are still somewhat accurate. Then again, perhaps not - don't know
since I have never allowed Windows Update to install any SP3 related
update(s).

Thanks again, Alias!!

Best regards,

Tinkers

= = =

 

[Alias]

GREAT things to know, Alias!

Many, many thanks!!

Tinkers

You're most welcome.

Alias

 

[Alias]

Unfortunately, given your suggestion, it appears that installing SP3 over an
existing SP2 O/S may have problems.

I've only done it once and it was on my machine that I know is clean. I
also made sure that my anti virus did not load with Windows and disabled
everything in my anti malware programs and that was months ago and it
works fine. If you are clean installing XP, so you shouldn't have any
problems. Just do it right after you install XP SP2 with the SP3 CD.

Alias

 

[Daave]

Unfortunately, given your suggestion, it appears that installing SP3
over an existing SP2 O/S may have problems.

Two major problems with SP3 have been reported. However, with
preparation on your part, though, you won't (more than likley)
experince *any* problems whatsoever. Still, it is always wise to
image your hard drive before undertaking any major change like a
Service Pack upgrade.

Problem #1: On certain PCs that come with a factory-imaged hard
drive erroneously assuming the CPU is Intel rather than AMD (e.g.,
HPs), upgrading to SP3 without applying a particular patch first is
problematic. See this page for more information and for the fix:

http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx

(or http://tinyurl.com/6zs52d )

Problem #2: It is best to disconnect all perpipheral devices (e.g., USB
external hard drives, printers, etc.) and configure a Clean Boot
environment (because certain anti-malware programs that run in the
background can interfere with the upgrade). See:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

Personally, I have had best results *not* using Automatic Updates.
Instead, I recommend that people download the entire .iso file of SP3
from Microsoft and burn an SP3 CD:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&displaylang=en

(or http://tinyurl.com/5h8cw6 )

More reading material regarding the Best Practices method of upgrading
to SP3:

http://www.iaps.com/windows-xp-sp3-installation-guidelines.html

http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

(or http://tinyurl.com/6nf4k4 )

Currently, there is free support specifically for issues related to
upgrading
to SP3:

"Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3). This support for SP3 is
valid until April 14, 2009."

The above is from:

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

(or http://tinyurl.com/6cw2xk )

 

[Tinkers]

Hi ya, Daave!

That would be nice. )

However, the box clearly says 98/98SE and ME.

But hey, when I finally get my order, I'm tryin' both my MS full 95 disc and
OEM Dell 98SE!!!

Tinkers