Service Pack 1? or 2? or 3?

[Sinbad]

Help. I had to restore Windows after a crash from the orig restore discs which date back to 2003 for my Windows XP Home Edition. I've successfully done this, but whenever I try to reinstall the printer drivers, or anti-virus programmes, etc i get the message that I can't because I need a higher version of Windows (usually SP 2).

I've been on Microsoft centre and can see all the downloads, but because I'm not techy minded I don't undertsand which ones I need or don't need.

Can I go straight to SP3 or do I have to go up from 1 and then 2 first?

Does XP Home have SP1 installed as standard?- I don't know!!

Any help would be much appreciated

[Synapse]

Install SP2 first, then after a long wait and a reboot install SP3.

 

I'd download the service packs to your computer before you start.

 

Then unistall your security software ( go offline if you are worried about being online without security). Then install your service packs and when all that is done out your security back on.

 

The reason for removing security is that SP2 was notorious for failing to install, and antivirus programs were partly to blame.

[Sinbad]

Thanks Synapse.

My next problem is there's not a download that says that it is a straightforard Service Pack 2 (or 3) download - they all have different names i.e. ".Net framework 2" and I don't know what they mean.

Can you give me the links and I'll try them?

Ta

 

Sinbad

[RandyL]

Microsoft kb article 322389 should help you Sinbad. It says what Synapse stated about doing SP2 first as well as how to turn on automatic updates. If you want to download and install the updates manually it has direct links to the downloads.

[Sinbad]

Thanks Randy L and Synapse. Used your advice and now up and running again. Thanks.

 

Sinbad

[RandyL]

Good to hear. All I did though was provide the link. Synapse was right about the issue and the right method to correct it.