I was working on someone’s laptop that was running XP SP1, and desperately needed SP2 and some other important patches (and, apparently, needs automatic update turned on.)
I go to Windows Update and start installing Service Pack 2. It’s working on it, working on it, on and on. But it’s not making much progress. Well, the progress bar is about 75% of the way through the install, and it’s now finishing up, or cleaning up, or something like that. But it’s been doing that for an hour or two.
The hard drive is chattering, and stuff is happening, but it’s just not making any progress, so I leave it there overnight. I figure the next morning it’ll either still be trying to do that, in which case I just stop it, or it’ll be done.
But I wound up with an error instead. Just a typical application error and the offer to report the error to Microsoft. Sure, why not. And it then directs me to a Windows Error Reporting web page for more information about the error. That page says:
This problem was caused by Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2. Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 was created by Microsoft Corporation.
There is no solution for this problem at this time.
However, your computer is missing updates that can help improve its stability and security.
Recommendation:
There are two options for you to upgrade your computer to Windows XP SP2:
Option 1: Upgrade online (free of charge)
Option 2: Order a Windows XP SP2 installation disc (A shipping and handling charge will be assessed on your order.
Gee, thanks. You don’t know why I got an error trying to install SP2, but you will recommend that I install SP2 in case that helps things?
And, immediately after getting the error message, the Windows Update dialog box reported that I have successfully updated my computer. Now I don’t know who to believe, Microsoft or Microsoft. One of them is lying to me.
After a reboot, it looks like it really is all SP2′d. Not an exciting post here, but I thought it was funny. Maybe I’m just easily amused.