Vista - Sample Vista SP2 Installation Experience

Just thought I'd describe my Vista 64-bit SP2 Installation experience so others will be ready for the long process. Have patience and it should install fine though.

Using Windows Update the download was relatively short; however, it took an eternity for the Microsoft server to begin the download. I went to bed hoping it would be ready to install the next morning, which it was.

From the time I clicked the post-download Install Button, it took 14:18 minutes to reach a window requesting restart. (I had disconnected my wi-Fi connection just before.)

Once I clicked restart, it went to through the post-install shutdown stages.
Stage 1 took 12:50 min.
Stage 2 took 16:47 min.
Stage 1 took 9:21 min. From the end of Stage 3 it took 2:53 min to return to the login screen.

After login it took 8:08 min for Vista to appear to be fully loaded. Some icons were missing from Notification Bar (I use the Task Manager Performance tab to determine when loading is complete).

The 2d restart took 2:19 min to reach login and 5:18 min more to fully load. All icons appeared properly in Notification Bar on the second restart.

NOTE. Soon after buying my Vista 64-bit laptop last year I had initiated an installation one day shortly before it began to rain. I shut it down during the install to complete it later. Something went arie and I had to reinstall the entire operating system. Do not Interrupt the installation process.

Cyberbiker,
I'm 'thinking' about installing SP2 but after reading about sound not working, icons missing and others having to re-install the OS, I'm having second thoughts. Been running Vista x64 24-7 without ANY problems since June 2008. Just got the SP2 notification in windows update a few days ago.
Did you shut down your antivirus program and disable your firewall (assuming you have one activated) before you began the update? Thanks for any advise in advance !

I've had no problem since i installed the SP2 and everything seems fine and vista seems faster and it has fixed some of the bugs; eg. WMP used to start up slowly, but now with SP2 it's faster than ever.

No, but I use Symantec Internet Security, which never seems to have problems with installations. It can't hurt to turn it off though.

I think the most common problem is people not giving it long enough by interrupting the process or hastening it in some way. SP2 installation takes a long time, often appearing to be doing nothing.

I think the most common problem is people not giving it long enough by interrupting the process or hastening it in some way. SP2 installation takes a long time, often appearing to be doing nothing.[/quote]

True...I'll give it all night.

Did you lose your Audio Drivers like some have?

Nope. Just the volume icon in the Notification bar, which happens often after updates. Takes 2 or 3 restarts to bring it back.

All it takes to get the audio drivers back is to go to Realtek , then download and install the latest Realtek High-Definition Audio Driver .

You can correct the volume icon problem with this Tute:
Notification Area - System Icons

SP2 was very smooth installation and I found it faster than SP1 installation. It makes Vista a pleasant OS.