Vista's Windows Updates doesn't offer SP2 to download.

[Phillip Pi]

Hello.

I got a new Acer Aspire M3800-U3802A desktop machine and I updated
everything in Vista HP SP1 OEM. However, I did not get its IE8 since it
was optional and I didn't want it yet.

It does not offer me a SP2. Why is that? I read it can be picky on
drivers and stuff, but which ones? Do I really have to get every driver
and updates from Acer.com?

I know I can get the stand alone SP2, but I would like to know why
Windows Update is refusing to give me SP2.

Thank you in advance. :)
--
Phillip Pi
Senior Software Quality Assurance Analyst
Partner Engineering/Internet Service Provider/Symantec Online Services,
Consumer Business Unit
Symantec Corporation
www.symantec.com
-----------------------------------------------------
Email: phill...@symantec.comSYMC (remove SYMC to reply by e-mail)
-----------------------------------------------------
Please do NOT e-mail me for technical support. DISCLAIMER: The views
expressed in this posting are mine, and do not necessarily reflect the
views of my employer. Thank you.

[Andy]

for best service get updated anything for youre pc from both microsoft and
acer.

--
AL'S COMPUTERS
"Phillip Pi" <phill...@symantec.comSYMC> wrote in message
news:eRPp5lvc...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

SP2 Prerequisite Updates may include:

. Description of the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 installation
software feature update (28 Apr-09)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955430

. Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for
Windows Server 2008, and for Windows 7 (22 Sept-09
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

Have both KB955430 and KB947821 been installed?

How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791/

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows Vista, but only for Service Pack 2 (SP2). This support, originally
scheduled to end 26 November 2009, has been extended until 26 February 2010
so get a move on! Availability of chat or e-mail support differs depending
on your geographic location. Some issues may require more advanced support
for which there is a charge. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=13014&gprid=582034 &
select appropriate category (i.e., Download issue; Installation issue;
Issues after you install a service pack).
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

[MowGreen]

Is this an x64 system, Phillip ?
As PABear has posted, there are a couple of prerquisite updates that
must be installed prior to the offering of SP2. They, and necessary
driver updates, *should* be offered via Windows Update.
The only times I've seen the SP2 not being offered when all prerequisite
and driver updates have already been installed is on Vista x64 systems.
As to why ... even MS can't explain it.

Service packs May not be offered for installation through Windows Update
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/ddc270b9-057c-4658-9fd5-ac42bf5e0a29/

MowGreen
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

banthecheck.com
"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked"

[Phillip Pi]

On 12/1/2009 10:10 PM PT, Andy wrote:

> for best service get updated anything for youre pc from both microsoft and
> acer.

OK, I will check Acer's Web site which is going to be pain since they
have tons of Vista drivers. Ugh! I wished it had updater software to
check for them.

[Phillip Pi]

I would assume so if those KB updates were provided via Windows Update.
I did not pay attention to them. I just told Window Updates to give me
everything in critical and optional beside IE8. Or are those two KBs
separate from Windows Updates?

On 12/1/2009 10:14 PM PT, PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

> SP2 Prerequisite Updates may include:
>
> . Description of the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 installation
> software feature update (28 Apr-09)
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955430
>
> . Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for
> Windows Server 2008, and for Windows 7 (22 Sept-09
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821
>
> Have both KB955430 and KB947821 been installed?
>
> How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791/
>
> Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
> Windows Vista, but only for Service Pack 2 (SP2). This support,
> originally scheduled to end 26 November 2009, has been extended until 26
> February 2010 so get a move on! Availability of chat or e-mail support
> differs depending on your geographic location. Some issues may require
> more advanced support for which there is a charge. Go to
> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=13014&gprid=582034 &
> select appropriate category (i.e., Download issue; Installation issue;
> Issues after you install a service pack).
--

[Phillip Pi]

On 12/2/2009 11:53 AM PT, MowGreen wrote:

> Is this an x64 system, Phillip ?

Yes. Preinstall OEM.

> As PABear has posted, there are a couple of prerquisite updates that
> must be installed prior to the offering of SP2. They, and necessary
> driver updates, *should* be offered via Windows Update.

I remember seeing a few drivers in optional section and got them. The
only thing I rejected is IE8. I assume IE8 is optional and not required.

> The only times I've seen the SP2 not being offered when all prerequisite
> and driver updates have already been installed is on Vista x64 systems.
> As to why ... even MS can't explain it.
>
> Service packs May not be offered for installation through Windows Update
> http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/ddc270b9-057c-4658-9fd5-ac42bf5e0a29/

Thanks.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

To keep track of things, it helps immensely if you quote all of the previous
message(s) in your replies to the newsgroup. Thank you.

TIP: Configure your newsreader to add your sig after your post, not at the
end of the message, if you're going to top-post replies (as is the custom in
MS newsgroups).

If those two prerequisite updates have been downloaded/installed by
Automatic Updates, they'll be listed in Install Updates pane.

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?

Vista SP2 Installation Tips:

. Your computer will restart several times during the installation process:
Make certain you've saved your work and closed all open applications before
beginning the install.

. Disable (1) your anti-virus application, (2) any real-time system
protections afforded by any anti-spyware applications (except Defender), &
(3) your third-party firewall (if any) and then (4) enable the Windows
Firewall _before installing or uninstalling_ Vista SP2.

. The installation process can take an hour or much longer, depending on
server demand. If you're installing SP2 on a portable computer, make sure
that you plug-in the power cord and have the battery inserted into its bay.

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

<PASTE>

[Phillip Pi]

On 12/3/2009 5:18 PM PT, PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

> If those two prerequisite updates have been downloaded/installed by
> Automatic Updates, they'll be listed in Install Updates pane.

OK, I will have to check later since I am not near it.

> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
> subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than
> Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?
>
> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
> machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
> bought it)?

It did come with McAfee, but I never used it and uninstalled it.
Currently, there is no antivirus/security product except MS Defender. I
wanted to get SP2 before installing a Norton product.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I cannot assist you when you keep snipping previous quoted replies from your
posts, Phillip. Good luck.

That being said...

> It did come with McAfee, but I never used it and uninstalled it.
> Currently, there is no antivirus/security product except MS Defender.

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

Format & do a clean install of Vista, then take care of *everything* on the
above page before otherwise connecting the machine to the internet or a
network and before using a USB key that isn't brand-new or hasn't been
freshly formatted.

No, a Repair Install (AKA In-Place Upgrade) of Vista will *not* resolve your
problems.

[Curious]

Have you confirmed by going to Windows Esplorer/Help/ About Windows that
your are on SP1? I ask since maybe when you loaded all of the updates for
your SP1 installation SP2 was one of the updates that was installed.

"Phillip Pi" <phill...@symantec.comSYMC> wrote in message

news:#PW4MfGd...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

[Ant]

Yes, it is SP1 and the computer came with SP1 as well.

On 12/4/2009 10:53 AM PT, Curious typed:

> Have you confirmed by going to Windows Esplorer/Help/ About Windows that
> your are on SP1? I ask since maybe when you loaded all of the updates
> for your SP1 installation SP2 was one of the updates that was installed.
>
> "Phillip Pi" <phill...@symantec.comSYMC> wrote in message
> news:#PW4MfGd...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> On 12/2/2009 11:53 AM PT, MowGreen wrote:
>>
>>> Is this an x64 system, Phillip ?
>>
>> Yes. Preinstall OEM.
>>
>>
>>> As PABear has posted, there are a couple of prerquisite updates that
>>> must be installed prior to the offering of SP2. They, and necessary
>>> driver updates, *should* be offered via Windows Update.
>>
>> I remember seeing a few drivers in optional section and got them. The
>> only thing I rejected is IE8. I assume IE8 is optional and not required.
>>
>>
>>> The only times I've seen the SP2 not being offered when all prerequisite
>>> and driver updates have already been installed is on Vista x64 systems.
>>> As to why ... even MS can't explain it.
>>>
>>> Service packs May not be offered for installation through Windows Update
>>> http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/ddc270b9-057c-4658-9fd5-ac42bf5e0a29/

--
"I go out of my way to avoid stepping on ants." --Terry McGovern,
daughter of Senator George and Eleanor McGovern, subject of the book
"Terry by her father"
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: phi...@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANT...@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

[Ant]

I don't think this Acer computer came with a clean Vista OS. I did not
see one on both the HDD and discs. It came with an OEM one.

On 12/3/2009 10:53 PM PT, PA Bear [MS MVP] typed:

--
"As I watch the busy ants on the trail and around the ant pile, I am
impressed by the fact that they are doers and not just believers." --CR 1967

[Phillip Pi]

Weird! I ran Windows Update today and SP2 showed up! The only thing
different were I haven't used the machine and OS for a few days and
downloaded Defender's definitions (didn't see them last time).