Hi,

I am new on here and this is my first post.

I currently have beta version 2149 of sp2 and i had always read on other beta versions that they couldn't go over other beta versions.

Will i be fine to put the RTM version over my one or will it cause problems? i dont know if this is a issue with the version i currently have but after i installed this 2149 version i had 4 add / revove programs icons in control panel and i also had 4 explorer.exe files in my windows folder as well, all with 1, 2, 3, and 4 after there file name.

thanks, any advice would be much appreciated.

James

No you can not install the SP2 full version or RTM onto one that has a beta version already installed.

The beta's COULD be installed on top of each other because I had done this since 2120 to every other build up to 2162.

This SP2 will report a warning that you are using a beta build and that it can NOT continue until you UN-INSTALL the previous version...

I just installed it last night and received this message and I planned on doing a fresh install once it was released... And for anyone questioning if it is the real deal (IT IS...) There are not builds listed under my computer it simply now states Service Pack 2... When checking the files they are 2180 as mentioned and have dates of 8/04/04...

So your best bet is SLIPSTREAM RTM into your XP or XP SP1 CD and create a fresh and new SP2 installation disk - this is what I did.

Let me warn some people though once you install SP2 I tried to activate now mind you my copy of XP is LEGAL but I had to call good old Microsoft because my Key came back and stated that I have installed my copy too many times - this is probably true because I fdisk and format my PC almost every 3 months for a clean slate - (I'm not sure how many is too many they would not say)???

So don't be scared to give the old MS a call and they will ask like two questions and you read off your product key that is generated by windows to an automated system then once you get a real person on phone they will ask those two question (none have anything to do with name, or anything - completely private information is never asked) - they just ask, "Is this the only PC this key is used on?" - of course it is - they then turned around and read off another key you have to enter and bingo you're good to go again until you over install it again I guess???

:beer:

Ok, seems complicated just to install a service pack lol

ok well sp2 is listed in my many icons of add / remove programs in control panel so am guessing from what you said that i can more or less just uninstal sp2 and then reinstall the rtm version, its basicly the same files isn't it so no programs should be really affected by me doing so?

thanks

I messed up and didn't have these options any more in my Add/Remove because I deleted the installation folder when cleaning up my pc from my temp folder...

So the only way I could go about it anyway but it didn't matter is because I wanted to do it anyway was a fresh and clean install...

But yes you can just un-install from Add/Remove - probably just the SP2 itself without worrying about the other updates then once that is done run the RTM as you would have the betas and you should be good to go - but if you see any weird things going on then it may be the fact that it wasn't a clean and fresh install...

For those out there that haven't gotten or found download sites here is a good one for ya... http://board.iexbeta.com/ibf10/index.php...opic=45182 plenty of mirrors to try for the fastest possible download...

SP2 final does work over

RC1 2096
and 2138 to 2180

btw the absolutely best thing to do now is to slipstream and do a FRESH install ... this will make the overall WinXPerience much better
believe me ... it will work like charm

If you "upgrade" one of the beta builds to SP2 RTM the 180 day limit may not go away.

To verify 180 day limit or not:

1. Start --> Run --> type in "winver" press enter.
2. Click on the "End-User License Agreement" link

OK now am more confused.

i have installed sp2 now which went okish apart from the fact that the rpc service said i was going to shut me pc down in 1 minute as soon as i done it and also the fact that my pc went very slow cause it appeared a problem with norton, as i found it seemed to be hangin wen windows tried to start the auto protect,

that seems ok now as i reinstalled norton as in the process when it was doing its pre install scan it found a virus, someting it didn't do when it was installed previously i must say lol, what a load of crap this software is.

anyway my system appears ok now and my question now is about this 180 day thing? i have just done what you said and i clicked on the end user agreement and it does say: 180 Day License.

what exactly does this mean? cant microsofts on developers create service packs that can tell if a peice of software is already legit or something? when i click on activate windows it does say this pc is already activated.

thanks