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Resolved Question

Windows Vista Service Packs

by Dec 11, 2011 11:22PM PST

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I am in the midst of refurbishing my kid's Dell laptop. I
have reinstalled Windows Vista <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> version
6.0 and a bunch of updates. I know that I should have Service Pack 2 installed
and that I need have Service Pack 1 installed before I install SP2. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes">


When I check the system properties of my computer it lists Windows
Vista Home Premium in the "Windows Edition" section, but there is, for reasons
unknown, no mention of any service packs. But when I look in the update history
of Windows Update, it says I have installed Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
Service Pack 2 Security Update for Windows Vista (KB974467), <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> Update to .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1
for the .NET Framework Assistant 1.0 x86 (KB963707), and Microsoft .NET
Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 and .NET Framework 3.5 Family Update (KB951847)
x86. Do I correctly read this to say that SP1 is installed but that I need to
now install SP2? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

hkaborn2 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
7 Posts
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Best Answer

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Re: Service packs.
by Forum moderator Dec 11, 2011 11:32PM PST

No, the service packs for .Net are totally independent of the service packs for Vista. And they are unrelated to the service packs of MS Office also (just in case that would be your next question).

Kees

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RE Service Packs
by hkaborn2 Dec 11, 2011 11:53PM PST

Thanks, and sorry 'bout all the gibberish at the top of the post. Any idea why the service packs are not coming up as available on Windows Update?

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One guess.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 12, 2011 12:09AM PST

If I don't have .NET 2.0 installed I don't get the updates for .NET 2.0.

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Want To Install Them Manually?
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Dec 12, 2011 1:37AM PST

Of course, you can determine all of the software, plus their current service pack editions, by using the Belarc advisor tool from the link below. It's free and will tell you all of the information you need.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Next, you could easily download the full standalone installers for Vista Service Pack 1 and 2 at the links below:

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=30

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=16468

Before installing SP1, make sure you have updated all your hardware drivers and make sure all the Windows Updates are current as well.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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RE: Want To Install Them Manually?
by hkaborn2 Dec 12, 2011 9:33AM PST

Thanks Grif. I will give it a try. Is there an easy (or at least not too difficult) method of checking that I've updated all the drivers? I think I read something (on the Windows website?) that indicates that perhaps the reason the Service Packs are not showing up on Windows Update may be that all the drivers are not loaded or up to date.

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Re: drivers
by Kees_B Forum moderator Dec 12, 2011 4:02PM PST

It's independent of drivers. It should work with any version.

Kees

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Well, Vista Service Pack 1 Was Finicky Regarding Drivers
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Dec 13, 2011 12:03AM PST

For some reason, even though most service packs should install fine with any driver, the Vista Service Pack 1 installation was finicky and required the most current drivers for your system to be installed. We noted the problem in the Vista forum when SP1 first came out.. Microsoft suggested that users visit the Windows Update site and download and install the drivers indicated at the site.. Since most folks don't recommend using the Windows Updates site as a driver download location, we gave advice to visit the actual hardware device manufacturer's website and use their drivers to update your video, audio, and chipset drivers.. This advice seemed to work fine for those users who couldn't install SP1.. See the bottom section of the link below describing the problem with driver updates being needed.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343#method5

You'll note the System Update Readiness Tool can be helpful as well.

SP2 was much less finicky and as long as you had SP1 installed, SP2 should install fine.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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