SP2 install delay and other mysteries

papa

Distinguished
Apr 6, 2004
512
0
18,980
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

I just finished installing SP2 on my Gateway laptop, and ran into a few
interesting events.

Before doing the install, I was notified by the Automatic Update feature
that SP2 was available for install. I clicked on that icon and the screen
told me that I would be downloading a 260 MB file. Having heard that there
are smaller SP2 files, I cancelled out of that and clicked on the Windows
Update button, where I was told that the download of SP2 for my Home Edition
OS would be, if my memory is correct, 73 MB. So I opted to download and
install SP2 from the WU rather than from the Automatic Update feature. This
puzzles me. Why is the size of the SP2 file in Automatic Update different
from the size of the SP2 file in WU?

Anyway, after initiating the SP2 download and install in WU, the download
went off without a hitch. However, the install procedure stalled for at
least 20 minutes (I use cable broadband) with only 3 tics on the progress
bar. I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del to see if there was a "Not Responding" message, but
there wasn't. So I "X"d out of that and waited another 15 minutes. Still no
more progress on the progress bar. Finally I hit "Cancel" to get out of the
install.

Then I clicked on WU again and re-started the SP2 install. I was pleased to
see that the system is smart enough to not do the download all over again.
Instead it began immediately to do the install, and this time there were no
delays and the install was successfully completed. I wonder why there was an
install delay during my first attempt. The download had already been
completed, so I don't see how an internet communication delay could have
been the culprit.

Any comments on these events are certainly welcome.
 

curt

Distinguished
Apr 27, 2004
125
0
18,680
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

I did not have the problems you mention with my install of SP2 on 6 systems,
but after the installation the boot drive, (c:), was heavily fragmented.
Other than having to defrag which is a weekly routine anyway, all is well.

--
Regards,

Curt,
'May the best of your past be the worst of your future'

"Papa" <bikingis@my.fun> wrote in message
news:eqDDAxSjEHA.712@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>I just finished installing SP2 on my Gateway laptop, and ran into a few
>interesting events.
>
> Before doing the install, I was notified by the Automatic Update feature
> that SP2 was available for install. I clicked on that icon and the screen
> told me that I would be downloading a 260 MB file. Having heard that there
> are smaller SP2 files, I cancelled out of that and clicked on the Windows
> Update button, where I was told that the download of SP2 for my Home
> Edition OS would be, if my memory is correct, 73 MB. So I opted to
> download and install SP2 from the WU rather than from the Automatic Update
> feature. This puzzles me. Why is the size of the SP2 file in Automatic
> Update different from the size of the SP2 file in WU?
>
> Anyway, after initiating the SP2 download and install in WU, the download
> went off without a hitch. However, the install procedure stalled for at
> least 20 minutes (I use cable broadband) with only 3 tics on the progress
> bar. I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del to see if there was a "Not Responding" message,
> but there wasn't. So I "X"d out of that and waited another 15 minutes.
> Still no more progress on the progress bar. Finally I hit "Cancel" to get
> out of the install.
>
> Then I clicked on WU again and re-started the SP2 install. I was pleased
> to see that the system is smart enough to not do the download all over
> again. Instead it began immediately to do the install, and this time there
> were no delays and the install was successfully completed. I wonder why
> there was an install delay during my first attempt. The download had
> already been completed, so I don't see how an internet communication delay
> could have been the culprit.
>
> Any comments on these events are certainly welcome.
>
 

ME

Distinguished
Apr 1, 2004
1,746
0
19,780
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 14:24:32 -0400, "Papa" <bikingis@my.fun> wrote:

>I just finished installing SP2 on my Gateway laptop, and ran into a few
>interesting events.
>
>Before doing the install, I was notified by the Automatic Update feature
>that SP2 was available for install. I clicked on that icon and the screen
>told me that I would be downloading a 260 MB file. Having heard that there
>are smaller SP2 files, I cancelled out of that and clicked on the Windows
>Update button, where I was told that the download of SP2 for my Home Edition
>OS would be, if my memory is correct, 73 MB. So I opted to download and
>install SP2 from the WU rather than from the Automatic Update feature. This
>puzzles me. Why is the size of the SP2 file in Automatic Update different
>from the size of the SP2 file in WU?
>
>Anyway, after initiating the SP2 download and install in WU, the download
>went off without a hitch. However, the install procedure stalled for at
>least 20 minutes (I use cable broadband) with only 3 tics on the progress
>bar. I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del to see if there was a "Not Responding" message, but
>there wasn't. So I "X"d out of that and waited another 15 minutes. Still no
>more progress on the progress bar. Finally I hit "Cancel" to get out of the
>install.
>
>Then I clicked on WU again and re-started the SP2 install. I was pleased to
>see that the system is smart enough to not do the download all over again.
>Instead it began immediately to do the install, and this time there were no
>delays and the install was successfully completed. I wonder why there was an
>install delay during my first attempt. The download had already been
>completed, so I don't see how an internet communication delay could have
>been the culprit.
>
>Any comments on these events are certainly welcome.

SP2 spends a long time clearing up the mess it creates during the
installation. The best policy is to go and have lunch and let it get
on with doing the installation.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

I don't see any questions listed in this post.

Tom
"Papa" <bikingis@my.fun> wrote in message
news:u9kK$rpjEHA.3972@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
| It would be nice if some of you MVPs could enlighten us on these
questions.
| Thanks.
|
|
 

papa

Distinguished
Apr 6, 2004
512
0
18,980
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Tom, please read it then. The questions were as follows:

Why is the size of the SP2 file in Automatic Update different
from the size of the SP2 file in WU?

I wonder why there was an
install delay during my first attempt. The download had already been
completed, so I don't see how an internet communication delay could have
been the culprit.


"Tom Pepper Willett" <tompepper@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:eqoH66pjEHA.3824@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>I don't see any questions listed in this post.
>
> Tom
> "Papa" <bikingis@my.fun> wrote in message
> news:u9kK$rpjEHA.3972@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> | It would be nice if some of you MVPs could enlighten us on these
> questions.
> | Thanks.
> |
> |
>
>