Terry Pinnell <terrypinDELETE@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote:

>At http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/s...hattoknow.mspx I read
>"Before you install SP2, get your version of Windows completely
>up-to-date with the latest performance and security updates. Go to the
>Microsoft Update, click Express Install, and then install all high
>priority updates listed."
>

That paragraph contradicts everything that I have ever been told about
Service Pack 2 by Microsoft, and I would suggest that you disregard
it.


>Is that absolutely essential please? Because I'm in a sort of Catch 22
>situation here.
>
>On my wife's new PC which we ordered without an OS, I've run her old
>XP SP1 CD, successfully installing a raw version of XP Home SP1. But
>before proceeding with adding her broadband and all the many other
>applications she had running on her old PC under XP SP2, I want to get
>back to the familiar look of her old desktop etc. To do that I used
>the File & Transfer Wizard. But the new PC doesn't recognise the
>settings I've copied across, i.e. the wizard won't run on the new PC.
>I'm *guessing* this is because it's on SP1 and the settings were saved
>on SP2. So I've downloaded the full 266 MB SP2 update EXE (on my own
>PC), copied it across to the new PC, and am now hesitating about
>running it.
>
>Any advice urgently appreciated please.


If you have the complete SP2 download then I suggest you just install
that. SP2 is a complete package and includes all critical updates
from the original release of Windows XP up to the date of SP2.

Of course once you have installed SP2 then you still need to go to
Windows update because there are a tremendous number of updates that
are post-SP2 which you also need to get installed.

And before you install SP2 you might want to look at the following web
site:
Service Pack Installation Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."