windows updates

[mizi]

I run windows xp,i have automatic updates to run everyday,when i turn on my laptop i click to install,this takes sometimes up to 20mins,this slows down my laptop to nearly stopping then at the end of it it tells me that "windows xp service pack 3" cannot be installed.Do i need this? what is it? and can i stop it from trying to install?Im dreading turning on my laptop,i have now set the updates to weekly,have i done the right thing?Many thanks to anyone that can help

[vehelpfulguy]

You ask "what is service pack 3 and do you need it"

Well Microsoft release regular updates to fix individual problems, these are what you download each week. These files are usually fairly small.

But after a number of months (or even years) they reach the stage where a person who installs Windows XP from scratch has to download hundreds of small fixes.

So what they do is pack all these small fixes into one large fix that they call a "service pack".

Rather than downloading hundreds of small files you have to download one large service pack.

We have already had service pack 1 for XP, and service pack 2 for XP came out about 3 years ago.

more........

[vehelpfulguy]

continued....

Microsoft have announced that Service Pack 3 for XP will be coming out soon (mid April?).

The strange this is that I am on XP and do NOT get offered service pack 3, so I am not sure why YOU are being offered service pack 3.

As far as I am aware service pack 3 is not officially out yet.

more.....

[vehelpfulguy]

continued.....

To get round this problem you could turn OFF automatic updates (at least until service pack 3 is properly out).

Open the Control Panel and note the Security Center icon.

Open the Security Center.

Near the bottom it says "Manage security settings" and select Automatic Updates. An Automatic Updates window opens.

At the bottom select "Turn off Automatic updates". Press OK.

You may get a few windows warning you it is turned off, ignore these for now.

You should now be able to get your work done without these automatic update problems.

Dont forget to turn automatic updates back ON at some point in the future, or select "Notify me but dont automatically download or install them" to give you a chance to say no.

[figure]

Hi Helpfulguy - I also use XP. On Friday service pack 3 was automatically installed on my computer. Maybe it has been released.

[vehelpfulguy]

figure - thanks for the info.

I just tried going into Windows Update and did NOT get offered it.

Maybe they are doing it in a phased approach, offering it to a few people to see if they get any problems, I guess this also reduces network traffic.

If you go here, the XP SP 3 download page, there are a couple of text documents but the actual SP is not there yet.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.asp x?********=68c48dad-bc34-40be-8d85-6bb4f56f511 0&displaylang=en

[vehelpfulguy]

In the link above replace the asterisks with the word

f a m i l y i d

With no spaces.

Answerbank does not like the last 3 letters (racist term)

[figure]

Helpfulguy, I'll have a look. Thanks!

[mizi]

Thanks for your help,it's amazing how much i am learning just by posting questions on here,its good to know that help is only a laptop away,cheers