100s of updates...Then SP1

Hi,

I've just had a laptop given me to repair and had to restore to factory default state...

Tried to connect to my wireless network, only to find that when it connects it shows as an 'Unidentified Network' with Local Access only but that's a different story...

Current connection is via Ethernet...

The story so far...

1. Once connected I had 117 updates available, no SP1. Installed them all (some failed due to old office installation).
2. 30+ new updates, no SP1. Installed them.
3. 1 update. Installed
4. 1 update. Installed
5. 1 Update, finally SP1. Installed and lost sound capability. Continued with update check.
6. 45 updates found, no SP2. Installing now....

I thought that a Service Pack was supposed to include ALL previous updates up to the point that the SP was released?

Obviously it's not that case as from over 200 updates only 1 has been SP1. My worry is that after the next 45 finish downloading & installing i'll find yet more to install then SP2 then another few thousand...

Anyone else found this?



OS

I woulda just done the standaones... I'm certain it cuts on the updates.

True, but what would be the point of offering updates then the SP which would include a lot of them anyway. That's 1 thing i've never liked with Vista.

Also, after the new 45 updates, SP2 arrived LOL

This is what should happen. This is normal behaviour. Service Packs are not actually the groupings people believe they should be getting. Standalones almost are, but I do not recommend them. They are a bigger download size, and due to missing prerequisites, they sometimes fail, and it is difficult to track down exactly why. In general, you should let Windows Update do its thing. It splits updates up somewhat. This can cause problems, but in general it will resolve a lot of problems. Windows Update is ALWAYS the recommended way, as it lets you download just what you need, in the right order, and there is automatic error correction. I would say that standalones are only for slipstreaming and non-connected computers.

WU is better, even if it doesn't seem it!

^+1

Or you can ring MS and get them to send you the most recent build. Cost me £16 to get a new dvd shipped out. So after a fresh install, my copy of vista was already at sp2.