service pack 2 question..

sethpa · Post by **sethpa** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 6:29 pm

hi ya'll.. been a while, hope everybody is doing ok..

Anyway, here's the story.. guy has a couple year old Dell, on dial up with service pack one. Can I use a different copy of XP with service pack 2 to upgrade his box and use his 'old' license number? Or is there a simple way to find a copy of service pack 2 that I can use.

thanks,
sethpa

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 6:34 pm

You can just manually download SP2 and install it from a CD..

eGo

sethpa · Post by **sethpa** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 7:51 pm

got a link I can get it from?

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 7:57 pm

It's hard to find a direct link for download, but you can go through MS website and download it manually. I did it myself and then just put it on a CD.

But, I think this will work for you..

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

eGo

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 9:14 pm

Hey Seth !!!!

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 9:32 pm

FAIR WARNING: SP2 upgrades can go VERY badly unless you take some precautions. SP2 is more of an OS upgrade than just a normal service pack.

Some tips that will make things go smoother:

- If this is a mission critical system, make a Ghost image of the entire drive before installing SP2. There are definately scenarios where installing SP2 may render the OS unbootable - even into safe mode.

- BACKUP YOUR DATA!!!!

- Update all your drivers (mobo, video, sound, printers, scanners) to the latest version BEFORE installing SP2. Some drivers are not SP2 compliant.

- Remove all cards except the video card and disconnect all external (USB, serial, parallel, firewire) devices before installing SP2.

- Your system MUST be clean of all spyware or SP2 will render your system unbootable due to the security features added in SP2. Do a thorough spyware scan and virus scan IN SAFE MODE before installing SP2.

Hope this helps...

sethpa · Post by **sethpa** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 5:25 am

thanks guys, got it now... How you doing John? I'll try to stop by more often..

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 6:20 am

doing good.....btw what FP said about finicky is true - sp2 will not install on my main rig....probably had to do with a tv card i had installed - and it's a real pain when it will only boot in safe mode - the rest of the ysstems i've put it on (about 15 at work and home) went fine...go figure...I am just too lazy to reinstall the os

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:34 am

SP2 is very fussy about drivers. Only takes one obscure non SP2 compliant driver (maybe even one for a device that's not even installed anymore) to blow the install.

I have a rule that I don not install SP2 on client's systems unless I Ghost the drive first.