sp2 update icon in taskbar nuisance

[Danny Kewl]

Hi, I have a used system with XP pro that won't let me install service
packs. I do take the patches, etc. when I heard about them or are offered.
Lately I have an icon in my taskbar and a balloon that pops up that tells me
I have updates ready to install, which of course is SP2 which my PC won't
take. How do I disable the annoying icon and balloon for this everytime I
boot up, and get rid of the pending update? I tried configuring Automatic
Updates in Control Panel to "Notify but don't automatically download or
install". I think "Automatic" was checked prior. But as I said, the SP2
update icon/balloon pops up every reboot. I don't want to disable all
balloon popups. Thanks much,

Dan

 

[Phil]

Buy a legal version of xp, install it, then install sp2. Most likely, the
reason you can't install sp2 is because your used computer has a pirate copy
of xp.

 

[Danny Kewl]

I don't know if what they put on there was pirate or legit, I have heard of
people having problems with legit copies also. I did buy my PC from a used
computer store. If I bought a used PC this way, I had no way of knowing and
is not my fault. I don't have the $200 at this moment to buy a new XP Pro
copy right now, and what I'll probably do is buy a new PC in the future so
there are no questions. And also "legit" or not, there are people who may
not want to install the service packs(s) for other reasons. So, I'd just
really appreciate an answer to my original question for the time being. I
shut off automatic downloads. I assume the downloaded SP2 is in some kind of
system file that asks me every time I boot if I want to install it, it a
real pain. I just would like to know what files(s) to look for so I can
delete them, and if there is a start-up item I should disable. Thanks much.


--

 

[Phil]

If SP2 have started to download (or are 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).


This will not block you from installing SP2 from e.g. the SP2 CD
later on...

 

[Danny Kewl]

Thanks much Phil, much appreciated, it "did the trick". I looked everywhere
before this and never really noticed that folder. It let me delete
everything but the ReportingEvents.Log. However now I see it replaced
deleted folders after reboot, but most are empty. I downloaded the blocker
exe file, and I clicked on the XPSP2Blocker.exe file that was extracted out
of there and the DOS screen came on and said "Action Completed". I don't
know what the cmd and adm files do, so I didn't click them. Thanks again.

--

If SP2 have started to download (or are 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/details.aspx?FamilyId=8BCE6BBA-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).


This will not block you from installing SP2 from e.g. the SP2 CD
later on...

 

[jeffrey]

Hi,

You don`t need to worry about the other files, just the one to activate the
XP2 blocker. You will be good till I think mid April though. Plenty of
time for you to properly prepare your computer then for SP2.

Jeff

Thanks much Phil, much appreciated, it "did the trick". I looked everywhere
before this and never really noticed that folder. It let me delete
everything but the ReportingEvents.Log. However now I see it replaced
deleted folders after reboot, but most are empty. I downloaded the blocker
exe file, and I clicked on the XPSP2Blocker.exe file that was extracted out
of there and the DOS screen came on and said "Action Completed". I don't
know what the cmd and adm files do, so I didn't click them. Thanks again.

--

If SP2 have started to download (or are 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/details.aspx?FamilyId=8BCE6BBA-EA5D-4425-

 

[Phil]

You're welcome.

If SP2 have started to download (or are 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).


This will not block you from installing SP2 from e.g. the SP2 CD
later on...

 

[Danny Kewl]

Wow, I boot up my PC today, and I seen "Updates are ready to install" again.
I thought "Oh no, all that didn't work!". However upon clicking the upgrade
icon, to my surprise were 6 security updates, some from as far back as
February, and one was for IE6, and no mention of SP2. I installed the
updates. I did get an icon for Microsoft XML 4.0 Parser SDK on my desktop
which I slid into My Documents for the time being. Something I probably
don't need to bother with right now. Wonder why I wasn't offered those
patched before, just SP2, or are those part of SP2? I know I blocked
automatic updates in Control Panel, but as long as it sends me critical
patches, fine. Thanks again Phil and Jeffery.

Dan


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