Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (
More info?)
No, John is correct.
The IT version is a full 279MB because it contains all the updates to Service
Pack 1 (including the Service Pack itself, plus all the updates since, including
Service Pack 2). It is designed to be installed on a fresh install of XP
(although most IT Professionals merge it with a copy of XP in a process called
slip-streaming). IT Professionals use this version of the XP because they won't
have to determine what updates are installed on the many systems they have to
update. With this SP, they can push it automatically via script or by Microsoft
System Update Server.
The 70MB file is for those individuals who have kept up with the updating of XP.
Those individuals need only the software to update their systems to SP2.
The truth is, Microsoft cannot determine what you need to download until it can
scan your system. That's why it would be difficult to allow you to store this
download. It's only valid for the scan just completed. If you made a change to
your system in the intervening time, then installed the update, it would be wrong.
The 279MB update contains all the updates. The installer examines your system,
then installs only the updates you need. So if machine A needs 120MB, it gets
it; if machine B needs 70MB, that's all it gets.
Regardless, teh 279MB file contains all of the updates.
HTH
courtney sends...
William B. Lurie wrote:
> Thanks, John, but there's a little inconsistency here. For one thing,
> I got the impression that they wouldn't allow me to download the 70 MB
> version to install when I feel like. For another, how can one fixed-size
> version which skips previously installed updates cover all people,
> some of whom may have opted not to install certain updates?
> W B L
>
> johnf wrote:
>
>> Two different animals.
>> The first skips the critical updates you've previously installed, the
>> second is the full (I.T.) version including all updates, intended for
>> burning to CD & installing on multiple PCs.
>>
>> --
>>
>> johnf
>>
>>
>>> Windows Update pop-up suggested dowloading and installing
>>> SP2---70-odd Megabytes. But when I went to Microsoft website
>>> to download SP2, it downloaded a file almost 279 MB. One
>>> of you MVPs like to resolve this paradox? Thanks.
>>> --
>>> William B. Lurie
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>