Installing SP3 on Windows XP SP2 on an Intel Mac

Colin Barnhorst · Apr 26, 2008

My experience updating Windows in preparation for SP3 on my MacBook Pro
suggests that you will have an interesting time of it if you need to do the
same.

The really fun part is preparing Windows XP SP2 for the upgrade to SP3.

You must update the Apple Boot Camp software to Boot Camp 2.1 before
installing XP SP3. This is a Windows update, not OS/X. Don't even think
about downloading the update file on the Mac side. It is strictly for the
Windows side.

Do not attempt to install SP3 without having first done this Apple update.

================

The update package is nearly as large as SP3 itself, about 213mb.

Now the fun.

The only thing I have ever seen that is slower than this update is
constipation. It took longer to initialize on my system than it did to
install XP in the first place. No exaggeration! Your experience, of
course, may vary.

Download the file where you will be sure to find it and when done
doubleclick on it. You will see about a two second indication of life and
then...nothing.

After a few minutes I decided something wasn't working so I tried again.
Same thing. And again. Then I tried "Run As..." from the context menu for
both my Admin user account and then the Administrator account and still
nothing. I had called up IE and was already browsing the Apple forum when
the digital ExLax took and suddenly a row of five installer buttons appeared
in the taskbar. One (so I thought) "Preparing to Install" notice appeared
in the middle of my screen. I dragged it and discovered four more stacked
up behind it. By this time the system was running at a crawl. I finally
got four of the Installers closed and waited. I fixed my coffee. I had a
cigar. Finally, to my great relief, the Installation Wizard appeared.

==================

At this point step through the wizard and be sure to select Repair when that
option appears. Otherwise all you will do is uninstall all those Mac
drivers for Windows...and...guess what you will have to do all over again?

Thankfully at this stage the process speeds up to about normal installation
speed for this size update and in a few minutes the wizard will complete and
you can restart Windows.

The package updates everything, Boot Camp software and Mac drivers for XP.

Now, at last, SP3 can be installed.

==============

Whew.

The Apple Boot Camp forum is a busy place right now over this and there are
a lot of conflicting impressions being shared. I'm sure Apple will get this
all cleaned up and clarified Real Soon Now.

Colin Barnhorst

PA Bear [MS MVP] · Apr 26, 2008

[You must be a masochist, Colin! <eg>]

Colin Barnhorst · Apr 26, 2008

I go for leatherbound laptops, Dude!

PA Bear said:
[You must be a masochist, Colin! <eg>]

Colin said:

My experience updating Windows in preparation for SP3 on my MacBook Pro
suggests that you will have an interesting time of it if you need to do
the
same.

The really fun part is preparing Windows XP SP2 for the upgrade to SP3.

You must update the Apple Boot Camp software to Boot Camp 2.1 before
installing XP SP3. This is a Windows update, not OS/X. Don't even think
about downloading the update file on the Mac side. It is strictly for
the
Windows side.

Do not attempt to install SP3 without having first done this Apple
update.

================

The update package is nearly as large as SP3 itself, about 213mb.

Now the fun.

The only thing I have ever seen that is slower than this update is
constipation. It took longer to initialize on my system than it did to
install XP in the first place. No exaggeration! Your experience, of
course, may vary.

Download the file where you will be sure to find it and when done
doubleclick on it. You will see about a two second indication of life
and
then...nothing.

After a few minutes I decided something wasn't working so I tried again.
Same thing. And again. Then I tried "Run As..." from the context menu
for
both my Admin user account and then the Administrator account and still
nothing. I had called up IE and was already browsing the Apple forum
when
the digital ExLax took and suddenly a row of five installer buttons
appeared
in the taskbar. One (so I thought) "Preparing to Install" notice
appeared
in the middle of my screen. I dragged it and discovered four more
stacked
up behind it. By this time the system was running at a crawl. I finally
got four of the Installers closed and waited. I fixed my coffee. I had
a
cigar. Finally, to my great relief, the Installation Wizard appeared.

==================

At this point step through the wizard and be sure to select Repair when
that
option appears. Otherwise all you will do is uninstall all those Mac
drivers for Windows...and...guess what you will have to do all over
again?

Thankfully at this stage the process speeds up to about normal
installation
speed for this size update and in a few minutes the wizard will complete
and
you can restart Windows.

The package updates everything, Boot Camp software and Mac drivers for
XP.

Now, at last, SP3 can be installed.

==============

Whew.

The Apple Boot Camp forum is a busy place right now over this and there
are
a lot of conflicting impressions being shared. I'm sure Apple will get
this
all cleaned up and clarified Real Soon Now.

Colin Barnhorst

Click to expand...

PA Bear [MS MVP] · Apr 26, 2008

kinky, too

Colin said:
I go for leatherbound laptops, Dude!

PA Bear said:

[You must be a masochist, Colin! <eg>]

Colin said:

My experience updating Windows in preparation for SP3 on my MacBook Pro
suggests that you will have an interesting time of it if you need to do
the
same.

The really fun part is preparing Windows XP SP2 for the upgrade to SP3.

You must update the Apple Boot Camp software to Boot Camp 2.1 before
installing XP SP3. This is a Windows update, not OS/X. Don't even
think
about downloading the update file on the Mac side. It is strictly for
the
Windows side.

Do not attempt to install SP3 without having first done this Apple
update.

================

The update package is nearly as large as SP3 itself, about 213mb.

Now the fun.

The only thing I have ever seen that is slower than this update is
constipation. It took longer to initialize on my system than it did to
install XP in the first place. No exaggeration! Your experience, of
course, may vary.

Download the file where you will be sure to find it and when done
doubleclick on it. You will see about a two second indication of life
and
then...nothing.

After a few minutes I decided something wasn't working so I tried again.
Same thing. And again. Then I tried "Run As..." from the context menu
for
both my Admin user account and then the Administrator account and still
nothing. I had called up IE and was already browsing the Apple forum
when
the digital ExLax took and suddenly a row of five installer buttons
appeared
in the taskbar. One (so I thought) "Preparing to Install" notice
appeared
in the middle of my screen. I dragged it and discovered four more
stacked
up behind it. By this time the system was running at a crawl. I
finally
got four of the Installers closed and waited. I fixed my coffee. I had
a
cigar. Finally, to my great relief, the Installation Wizard appeared.

==================

At this point step through the wizard and be sure to select Repair when
that
option appears. Otherwise all you will do is uninstall all those Mac
drivers for Windows...and...guess what you will have to do all over
again?

Thankfully at this stage the process speeds up to about normal
installation
speed for this size update and in a few minutes the wizard will complete
and
you can restart Windows.

The package updates everything, Boot Camp software and Mac drivers for
XP.

Now, at last, SP3 can be installed.

==============

Whew.

The Apple Boot Camp forum is a busy place right now over this and there
are
a lot of conflicting impressions being shared. I'm sure Apple will get
this
all cleaned up and clarified Real Soon Now.

Colin Barnhorst

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Malke · Apr 27, 2008

Colin said:
My experience updating Windows in preparation for SP3 on my MacBook Pro
suggests that you will have an interesting time of it if you need to do
the same.

(snippage)

Once again you are full of useful information, Colin! Thanks for this very
comprehensive guide. I don't run Windows on my MacBook but I have quite a
few clients who do. I downloaded the updates the other day in preparation
for this (will burn them to DVD for client installs) but hadn't done an
update for anyone yet. I've saved your instructions for reference.

Thanks again!

Malke

Thee Chicago Wolf · Apr 27, 2008

My experience updating Windows in preparation for SP3 on my MacBook Pro

suggests that you will have an interesting time of it if you need to do the
same.

The really fun part is preparing Windows XP SP2 for the upgrade to SP3.

You must update the Apple Boot Camp software to Boot Camp 2.1 before
installing XP SP3. This is a Windows update, not OS/X. Don't even think
about downloading the update file on the Mac side. It is strictly for the
Windows side.

Do not attempt to install SP3 without having first done this Apple update.

It was my understanding that you had to install the Mac BootCamp 2.1
update before SP3 could be installed. I was not aware that anything on
the Windows side had to be updated.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

Colin Barnhorst · Apr 27, 2008

You're welcome.

Malke said:
(snippage)

Once again you are full of useful information, Colin! Thanks for this very
comprehensive guide. I don't run Windows on my MacBook but I have quite a
few clients who do. I downloaded the updates the other day in preparation
for this (will burn them to DVD for client installs) but hadn't done an
update for anyone yet. I've saved your instructions for reference.

Thanks again!

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

Colin Barnhorst · Apr 27, 2008

The 2.1 update is not installed on OS/X. It is installed in Windows. It
upgrades the Windows Boot Camp software, especially all the Mac drivers for
Windows. The Boot Camp software on the OS/X side of the house involves the
Boot Camp Assistant which is used for configuring the Mac for the Windows
partition and managing the first stages of the intstallation of Windows.
This did not change.

Peter Foldes · Apr 27, 2008

Thx Colin. Glad I caught this post before I started upgrading 2 of our MacBooks here

Colin Barnhorst · Apr 27, 2008

You're welcome. Keep an eye on the Apple forums to see how they are
addressing these issues. I did notice that someone from Apple is collecting
data because of all the postings.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1499319&tstart=0

Thx Colin. Glad I caught this post before I started upgrading 2 of our
MacBooks here

Colin Barnhorst · Apr 28, 2008

Perform a clean boot of Windows and then try again. If that does not help
then completely uninstall any AV software (disabling alone usually does not
help when the AV is a problem) and repeat.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

Dear Colin, I am waiting three hours the appearance of the
Installation Wizard!!!!! How did you get it?

I got one window with the "Preparing to Install" message for a few
seconds three hours ago, and nothing else more...........

Colin Barnhorst said:
My experience updating Windows in preparation for SP3 on my MacBook Pro
suggests that you will have an interesting time of it if you need to do the
same.

The really fun part is preparing Windows XP SP2 for the upgrade to SP3.

You must update the Apple Boot Camp software to Boot Camp 2.1 before
installing XP SP3. This is a Windows update, not OS/X. Don't even think
about downloading the update file on the Mac side. It is strictly for the
Windows side.

Do not attempt to install SP3 without having first done this Apple update.

================

The update package is nearly as large as SP3 itself, about 213mb.

Now the fun.

The only thing I have ever seen that is slower than this update is
constipation. It took longer to initialize on my system than it did to
install XP in the first place. No exaggeration! Your experience, of
course, may vary.

Download the file where you will be sure to find it and when done
doubleclick on it. You will see about a two second indication of life and
then...nothing.

After a few minutes I decided something wasn't working so I tried again.
Same thing. And again. Then I tried "Run As..." from the context menu for
both my Admin user account and then the Administrator account and still
nothing. I had called up IE and was already browsing the Apple forum when
the digital ExLax took and suddenly a row of five installer buttons
appeared
in the taskbar. One (so I thought) "Preparing to Install" notice appeared
in the middle of my screen. I dragged it and discovered four more stacked
up behind it. By this time the system was running at a crawl. I finally
got four of the Installers closed and waited. I fixed my coffee. I had a
cigar. Finally, to my great relief, the Installation Wizard appeared.

==================

At this point step through the wizard and be sure to select Repair when
that
option appears. Otherwise all you will do is uninstall all those Mac
drivers for Windows...and...guess what you will have to do all over again?

Thankfully at this stage the process speeds up to about normal installation
speed for this size update and in a few minutes the wizard will complete
and
you can restart Windows.

The package updates everything, Boot Camp software and Mac drivers for XP.

Now, at last, SP3 can be installed.

==============

Whew.

The Apple Boot Camp forum is a busy place right now over this and there are
a lot of conflicting impressions being shared. I'm sure Apple will get
this
all cleaned up and clarified Real Soon Now.

Colin Barnhorst