pubscout wrote:
> Inordinately long download and installation times, error messages,
> computer lockups..that's all I seem to read about this update. It's
> not what I'm used to on my Mac, for sure. Who can blame anyone for
> backing off this new update until the kinks are worked out?
Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Personally - and in my business where I have pushed Office XP SP3,
> Office 2003 SP3 and Windows XP SP3 out to a few hundred (thousands
> in the case of the former two) machines so far - no issues.
>
> Here - in the newsgroup where people come for help with Windows
> Update issues - I have helped some people solve their issues with
> Windows XP SP3, Office XP SP3 and Office 2003 SP3 for some time
> now...
>
> No one has been *forced* to get SP3 by anyone in these newsgroups
> nor the makers of said service pack. They may have been encouraged
> - but just because someone encourages you to do something, doesn't
> mean it will be done. So those who have taken the leap
> ill-prepared for an update that contains 1174 (+?) patches all
> rolled into one with a few minor OS enhancements thrown in for good
> measure - well - leaped without looking. That's not to say there
> are not those who have had issues who thought they were well
> prepared - there is always some - after all - millions upon
> millions of hardware/software combinations means there is *no way*
> to guarantee 100% compatibility.
>
> I have/support Macintosh computers as well. Not all of their
> updates have gone 'smoothly' and ones that are equivalent to SP1a,
> SP2 and SP3 usually cost $100 or so to get - and then the problems
> start being exposed and there are many posts about them in various
> places and then all is well after the kinks have been worked out
> for the unthought of issues that ended up inevitably happening.
>
> No one is blaming anyone if they do not choose to get Windows XP
> SP3 right now. In fact - if they aren't a little nervous and a
> little careful because of that twinge of nervousness (if for no
> other reason) - then leaping before you look gets you whatever it
> gets you. ;-)
>
> As for the download times... 4 minutes? That may be pushing it.
> I think someplace it took 20 minutes - but I personally just
> downloaded the EXE and ISO for the CD and carry those around with
> me now. The slowest speed (dial-ups) if they get the actual EXE -
> likely will have a 24+ hour download on their hands. I recommend
> HIGHLY that they either get a friend with high-speed Internet to
> get them the CD (get the ISO and burn a CD from it) or they use
> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and let it scan and determine
> what 50-80MB of the 300+ MB they need and reduce it to 8 or so
> hours - with the CD ISO being their best option.
>
> Instead of griping - how about posting some of the facts and
> solutions that have been tried and tested true? After all - this
> is the newsgroup to ask for and obtain help with Windows Updates -
> not the newsgroup to grip and complain just to gripe and complain.
> ;-)
>
> WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx
>
> Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717
>
> Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
> http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...1/relnotes.htm
>
> Key things to note:
>
> Internet Explorer:
> "If you have installed Windows Internet Explorer® 7 or a beta
> version of Internet Explorer 8, and then install Windows XP SP3,
> you cannot uninstall Internet Explorer. To avoid this, ensure
> Internet Explorer 7 or a beta version of Internet Explorer 8 is not
> installed before installing Windows XP SP3. If you have already
> encountered this issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3, uninstall
> Internet Explorer, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."
>
> Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002:
> "If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP
> Media Center Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition
> may malfunction. To avoid this, install Windows XP SP2 before you
> install Windows XP SP3. If this issue has already occurred,
> uninstall Windows XP SP3, install Windows XP SP2, and then
> reinstall Windows XP SP3."
>
> It seems some people are unable to get further updates after
> installing SP3... Seems some have experienced a symptom similar to
> doing a repair installation on Windows XP - and the same fix seems
> to work for them for that...
>
> Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from
> Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a
> Windows XP installation
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
>
> Some people experience an "endless reboot" issue...
>
> From PA Bear [MS MVP]:
> Workarounds:
>
> http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesp...ng-xp-sp3.aspx
> [NB: The above has been updated many times and now includes "a
> small tool that will detect the IntelPPM problem and mitigate it
> before installing [WinXP SP3]."
>
> 1. Boot into Safe Mode and rename INTELPMM.SYS to INTELPMM.OLD.
> 2. After booting into Safe Mode:
> Start --> Run --> (copy/paste)
> sc config intelppm start= disabled
> --> OK --> Reboot into normal (Windows) mode.
>
> Other references include:
> . http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?p=187790#p187790
> .
> http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesp...ng-xp-sp3.aspx
> . http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05...boots_crashes/
> .
> http://www.computerworld.com/action/...leId=9084 418
> . You receive a "Stop 0x0000007E" error message after you upgrade
> to Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a
> non-Intel-processor-based computer (Revised 06 May-08)
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372
>
>
> A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from
> Microsoft*...
> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
pubscout wrote:
> I'm not griping or complaining, Shenan. Just pointing out that this
> new update seems fraught with trouble for the unsuspecting user who
> just wants to download and install something Microsoft recommends
> they do.
>
> A 24-hour download by dialup? Are you kidding me? That's insane.
> Not to mention the "little" IE7 issue...yeah, after a 24 hour
> download, what I'd want to do is UNinstall SP3 to get IE7 back.
The dial-up-user would have the same problem downloading some online videos,
some online audio files, some online trial versions of software. The world
at large does not (and is unlikely to start again) cater to the dial-up
Internet user. Fact of life. They can - as they have with SP2, SP1, etc -
wait for the CD, get a friend to burn them a CD, etc.
There is no IE7 issue other than *if* you upgraded to IE7 _before_ you
installed SP3 <-- if you did that (and this is documented) you will be
unable to uninstall IE7. If - instead - you have not upgraded to IE7 yet
and are still IE6 - your IE6 will remain IE6 until such time as you upgrade
to IE7 (or 8, or whatever) and then you can uninstall and revert back to the
previous version anytime you want...
>> "So those who have taken the leap ill-prepared for an update that
>> contains 1174 (+?) patches all rolled into one with a few minor OS
>> enhancements thrown in for good measure - well - leaped without
>> looking. That's not to say there are not those who have had issues
>> who thought they were well prepared - there is always some - after
>> all - millions upon millions of hardware/software combinations
>> means there is *no way* to guarantee 100% compatibility."
>
> Again, are you kidding me? What kind of update requires the kind of
> off-the-charts preparation you suggest? That's a poorly planned and
> engineered update, and there has NEVER been a Mac update that
> required that kind of ridiculous prep. It's just this kind of
> activity that allows Mac to make accurate fun of PC's on an
> increasingly frequent basis.
Really? No Macintosh update that would have gone smoother with some prep
work? I did not say the prep work was required - but WISE. The amount of
problems with the last OSX 'update' that is equivalent to SP3 still pop up
quite often. Now that the don't as tightly control the hardware
components - they also have problems with some third party devices. People
write about things like this with Macintoshes as well as PCs.
http://www.index-site.com/upgradefaq.html
http://db.tidbits.com/article/6973
http://blogs.oreilly.com/digitalmedi...cause-wir.html
I love Macs - but they are far from perfect and things can and do go bad.
;-)
Where you seem to think 'well prepared' is me asking the end user to do
something unreasonable - I see it as asking them to change the oil in their
car, clean the floor of food crumbs in their kitchen, wash their dishes,
take out their trash, etc. The normal maintenance necessary to keep
anything clean and tidy. As far as making a backup first - and whether or
not that is unreasonable - I know that if I could make a backup in some real
life physical situations, I certainly would. It would make the journey that
much less stressful and fun.
> As for your helping other folks with problems, that's commendable.
> I hope you're still in a helping mood when--and if-- I decide to
> download this apparent hydra.
I seldom take anything on these newsgroups personal - and if I do - it
passes quickly. I know hardly anyone here, I am unlikely to meet the lot of
them and what they say about/to me has little bearing on my daily life. I
am here because I enjoy it somewhat - so... ;-)
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html