SP2 No Longer Available, but Reason Unclear

[Bruce]

Hi,

I've asked this question on microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin. I
should've cross posted the first time around. My apologies.

This is about three of my machines. Each of them runs WinXP Home, SP1.
They are a Dell Inspiron 8600 Pentium M (Centrino) laptop (5/04), which is
away at college with my daughter, a Dell 4550 P4 (3/03), and a Gateway P2,
350 Mhz (9/03, yes, I'm pushing it, but it runs XP fine, and that's all I
ask).

When SP2 was deployed to the public, it was available on all three machines
through Windows Update and Automatic Update, but I never installed it
because I'm a little leery about it. I've kept up with all other updates,
though. I do have SP2 on CD, and I'd now like to install it, but don't
want to proceed until I've figured this out.

As of December 1, SP2 is no longer available on any of these three
machines, through either method. I went to the Microsoft site and found:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=885627

None of the four issues listed there applies to any of these three
machines:

1) They all run XP SP1
2) No SP2 lockout tool has been installed
3) The third party program, T.V. Media, is not installed (I'm careful
about this sort of thing, and perform almost daily AdAware and Spybot
scans)
4) None of the machines runs the Prescott C-0 stepping processor.

All machines run real-time virus scanners, and AdAware and Spybot.

I've asked this question on microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Sincerely,
Bruce

 

[WTC]

You probably have a prescott CPU and in your bios has a microcode for the
CPU that is not supported by SP2, so it will not let you download till dell
has updated their bios. If yuo do update, you will have some major problems.

Check will Dell.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

You probably have a prescott CPU and in your bios has a microcode for the
CPU that is not supported by SP2, so it will not let you download till dell
has updated their bios. If yuo do update, you will have some major problems.

Did you see this line in his post:

"4) None of the machines runs the Prescott C-0 stepping processor."

Check will Dell.

Note that Dell have never delivered computers with this problem.

 

[Bruce]

You probably have a prescott CPU and in your bios has a microcode for
the CPU that is not supported by SP2, so it will not let you download
till dell has updated their bios. If yuo do update, you will have some
major problems.

Check will Dell.

I wish it were that simple. A start, run, msinfo32 reveals that none are
running the Prescott.

Bruce

 

[Tom J]

I wish it were that simple. A start, run, msinfo32 reveals that none are
running the Prescott.

Bruce

Bruce, have you actually entered your computer into the data base at the
manufacturer to find out what needs to be done before a SP2 upgrade to your
computer - not computers in general? Also, have you already checked all your
other hardware at the manufacturers website to see if they need driver
updates? The reason I ask is, my Dell needed the bios flashed, plus I had 3
pieces of add on hardware that needed updated drivers. My computer then
showed it was ready for the SP2 update at MS. After doing all the updates
suggested, I installed SP2 without a snag. Just read the newsgroups to see
what happens if you don't get everything updated before the install!!

Tom J

 

[John [MSFT]]

Bruce, is Windows Update site showing other updates? Have you installed all
updates WU wants you to install?

 

[Bruce]

Bruce, have you actually entered your computer into the data base at
the manufacturer to find out what needs to be done before a SP2
upgrade to your computer - not computers in general? Also, have you
already checked all your other hardware at the manufacturers website
to see if they need driver updates? The reason I ask is, my Dell
needed the bios flashed, plus I had 3 pieces of add on hardware that
needed updated drivers. My computer then showed it was ready for the
SP2 update at MS. After doing all the updates suggested, I installed
SP2 without a snag. Just read the newsgroups to see what happens if
you don't get everything updated before the install!!

Tom J

Hi, Tom,

That's very interesting. I don't doubt your experience, but that makes
it sound as if Microsoft does an online hardware/software compatibility
test on each machine in order to determine if SP2 should be delivered or
not.

I've been to the Dell site and read the generic pre-SP2 install
information, but didn't see any place to enter my specific machine for
feedback. I will do that, and I'm going to read the Dell forums.

Sincerely,
Bruce

 

[Bruce]

Bruce, is Windows Update site showing other updates? Have you
installed all updates WU wants you to install?

John,

You may be on to something. As of November 31, all three machines showed
SP2 as the only update needed. On December 1, SP2 disappeared, and seven
others appeared. I'm going to install these and see if SP2 reappears.

Thanks,
Bruce

 

[Ross Durie]

The same has happened to me. Installing individual updates now.

 

[StringFellow Hawk]

I don't even have access to the machines, but I'll just blow your theory all
to @#*( and back - How would a P2 machine have a "Prescott - P4" CPU?
Explain it to us.

 

[Bruce]

Bruce, is Windows Update site showing other updates? Have you
installed all updates WU wants you to install?

big snip

Bingo! On all three machines, I installed the updates that were showing,
and SP2 is available again. So simple. Thanks, John.

Sincerely,
Bruce

 

[Alex Nichol]

This is about three of my machines. Each of them runs WinXP Home, SP1.
They are a Dell Inspiron 8600 Pentium M (Centrino) laptop (5/04), which is
away at college with my daughter, a Dell 4550 P4 (3/03), and a Gateway P2,
350 Mhz (9/03, yes, I'm pushing it, but it runs XP fine, and that's all I
ask).

When SP2 was deployed to the public, it was available on all three machines
through Windows Update and Automatic Update, but I never installed it
because I'm a little leery about it. I've kept up with all other updates,
though. I do have SP2 on CD, and I'd now like to install it, but don't
want to proceed until I've figured this out.

As of December 1, SP2 is no longer available on any of these three
machines, through either method.

I would avoid using the Windows Update method anyway, and certainly as
you have three machines to deal with. Either order a free CD -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx
or download the same thing (266 MB download) at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2predl.mspx
following 'Download and deploy to Multiple computers'

Then you have a solid installation program to run on any of the
machines, and available for use in the future (or to slipstream in with
an existing CD to give a one-shot installation to SP2 level)

 

[Bruce]

snip

I would avoid using the Windows Update method anyway, and certainly as
you have three machines to deal with. Either order a free CD -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/
default.mspx or download the same thing (266 MB download) at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2predl
.mspx following 'Download and deploy to Multiple computers'

Then you have a solid installation program to run on any of the
machines, and available for use in the future (or to slipstream in
with an existing CD to give a one-shot installation to SP2 level)

Yes indeed. As mentioned, I do have the SP2 CD, and I'll use on all
machines.

Bruce