New XP update options?

[Jeff]

I clicked on my "Windows Update" to see if there were any XP Home critical
updates available other than SP2, and this time the screen I got was
different: I was given 2 options, one express and recommended and one
non-express. I was not willing to select either one because the
descriptions were unclear to me. The recommended one seemed to imply that
it would install the updates without giving me the option to select which
ones I want to install or not. Is that correct? How do I get back to the
old update screen that listed all available options and I would select which
ones I want? I do not want to install SP2 now.

Also, if I do not install SP2 for a while, will I be able to install future
critical updates or is SP2 a pre-requisite for future updates?

--

Jeff McPherson
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(e-mail address removed)
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free by AVG

 

[Dick Kistler]

I clicked on my "Windows Update" to see if there were any XP Home critical
updates available other than SP2, and this time the screen I got was
different: I was given 2 options, one express and recommended and one
non-express. I was not willing to select either one because the
descriptions were unclear to me. The recommended one seemed to imply that
it would install the updates without giving me the option to select which
ones I want to install or not. Is that correct? How do I get back to the
old update screen that listed all available options and I would select
which
ones I want? I do not want to install SP2 now.

You don't. This is version 5 of Windows update. It is now the default
Windows update for XP.
If you are concerned, try custom. It gives you the same sort of options that
version 4 had.
You should have read the description for both options more closely.

Also, if I do not install SP2 for a while, will I be able to install
future
critical updates or is SP2 a pre-requisite for future updates?

Microsoft appears not to have said anything about this. But clearly if the
new update
needs the SP2 version of some file to update, you won't be able to download
the
update. My guess is also that we won't be seeing any other updates for
awhile
anyhow, because such updates would take bandwidth from the SP2 rollout, and
that SP2 is a monster update anyway.

Dick Kistler

 

[zag]

Jeff -
Dick is right, select Custom and you'll have the same
options as before but with a different looking interface.

Dick -
I am a former English teacher and think Microsoft's
wording was terribly unclear. Jeff's caution was OK.
z ----------------------------------------------------

 

[The Prophecy]

I clicked on my "Windows Update" to see if there were any XP Home
critical updates available other than SP2, and this time the screen I
got was different: I was given 2 options, one express and
recommended and one non-express. I was not willing to select either
one because the descriptions were unclear to me. The recommended one
seemed to imply that it would install the updates without giving me
the option to select which ones I want to install or not. Is that
correct? How do I get back to the old update screen that listed all
available options and I would select which ones I want? I do not
want to install SP2 now.

Also, if I do not install SP2 for a while, will I be able to install
future critical updates or is SP2 a pre-requisite for future updates?

Express Install when selected, displays updates you need for your computer
which are deemed by Microsoft to "Critical". Choosing Custom Install when
selected displays updates which are Critical, Optional, and Driver updates.

 

[Jeff]

Thank you both.

--

Jeff McPherson
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(e-mail address removed)
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free by AVG

 

[Dick Kistler]

Jeff -
Dick is right, select Custom and you'll have the same
options as before but with a different looking interface.

Dick -
I am a former English teacher and think Microsoft's
wording was terribly unclear. Jeff's caution was OK.
z ----------------------------------------------------

Oh, sorry, I didn't realize Microsoft was using English.

Express Install(Recommended) High Priority Updates for your computer
Choose this for the fastest updating. Quickly scan for, download, and
install only the critical and security updates your computer needs.

Custom Install High Priority and Optional Updates for your computer
Choose this to scan for optional, critical, and security updates your
computer needs, choose from all the updates on the site, and review updates
before downloading.

How is this not clear.

Dick Kistler