Removing SP2 update before it installs

[zazzo]

Is it possible to remove the SP2 update through
Add/Remove Programs without having it start to install
instead?

I'm trying to help out at a computer game forum where several
people have not been able to play their games anymore
after installing SP2. A few others have had SP2 download
to their computers automatically and it is waiting to install
The download keeps nagging at them and they keep dismissing
it. The SP2 update is listed in their Add/Remove Programs.

It seems to me that using Add/Remove Programs to remove
the SP2 update would get rid of it. But I really
don't know and don't want to tell them the wrong thing.

Anyone know for sure?

 

[Kelly]

Try it yourself, comes to mind! )

Windows SP2 Information and Guidelines:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#sp2

 

[Guest]

what ever you or anyone else does, once service pack 2 is
installed DO NOT UNINSTALL IT. by doing this the computer
will restart and u will not be able to start up.

best bet is to jsut install it iguess but never uninstall
sp2 without backing up all ur precious files first

 

[DRN]

zazzo
I have twice used the "Add/Remove Programs" to uninstall SP.2, no problems
were encountered.
However, its probably not possible if the HD has been cleaned up since
installing SP.2
(i.e. removing the uninstall files located under
C:\Windows\$NtServicePackUninstalls$, $NtUninstallKB810217 etc.)

 

[DRN]

Sorry zazzo,
I misread your post. I understood you wished to uninstall an installed
SP.2.

 

[Ken Blake]

In (e-mail address removed)

what ever you or anyone else does, once service pack 2 is
installed DO NOT UNINSTALL IT. by doing this the computer
will restart and u will not be able to start up.

Nonsense. that might have been *your* experience, but it's far
from everyone's. I know several people who have uninstalled it
without a problem.

best bet is to jsut install it iguess but never uninstall
sp2 without backing up all ur precious files first

Better, do the backup before you install it in the first place.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

 

[zazzo]

Try it yourself, comes to mind! )

I assume that means it is safe.

Windows SP2 Information and Guidelines:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#sp2

I didn't see my question there, but thanks for the link.

 

[zazzo]

Sorry zazzo,
I misread your post. I understood you wished to uninstall an installed
SP.2.

Just the installer.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Is it possible to remove the SP2 update through
Add/Remove Programs without having it start to install
instead?

I'm trying to help out at a computer game forum where several
people have not been able to play their games anymore
after installing SP2. A few others have had SP2 download
to their computers automatically and it is waiting to install
The download keeps nagging at them and they keep dismissing
it. The SP2 update is listed in their Add/Remove Programs.

It seems to me that using Add/Remove Programs to remove
the SP2 update would get rid of it. But I really
don't know and don't want to tell them the wrong thing.

Anyone know for sure?

Hi

Note that many of the updates to SP1 have the text SP2 as part of
entry name in Add/Remove Programs, so if SP2 is not installed
(that removes those entries), you can be fooled by that.


The SP2 removal entry in ARP is this:

"Windows XP Service Pack 2"

If you don't see that exact text, SP2 isn't installed through
Windows Updates/Automatic Updates (yet).



If SP2 is downloaded and ready to install, and you want to get
rid of the files without installing SP2, clean out the Download
folder (WU5's temporary download folder) located here:

%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\

(%windir% is typically C:\Windows)



To avoid that Windows Updates/Automatic Updates tries to install
SP2 at all (up to 12. April 2005):

Toolkit to Temporarily Block Delivery of Windows XP SP2 to a PC
Through Automatic Updates and Windows Update
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BA-EA5D-4425-89C1-C1CB1CCD463C&displaylang=en

Run the XPSP2BlockerTools.exe in the link above. It will extract
several files to the folder you specify.

Then run XPSP2Blocker.exe to activate the blockage (it will create
the registry value described in the link above).