Clean Vista install - 1 day of windows updates later

[coolVariable]

<rant>WTF is up with Vista and Microsoft.
Did a clean install of vista yesterday ... and then spent almost a full day doing endless reboots and windows updates. WTF!
It took something between 5 and 8 "installation waves" of updates before I could even get to SP1.
That's just absolutely ridiculous! why can't MS offer 1 download that simply contains all updates, so its 1 download and 1 installation process ... not 1 day of endless installations and reboots!</rant>

 

[MrChad]

You could have slipstreamed SP1 onto your installation disc with vLite.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i just re-installed too. why did you use windows update before service packs?

upgrade disk install >
upgrade re-install >
sp1 >
sp2 >
windows update

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
i just re-installed too. why did you use windows update before service packs?

Maybe to avoid the potential issues with installing SP1 without the required prerequsite updates and to avoid issues with problematic hardware, software, or drivers already on the computer.

Microsoft has included the four prerequsite drivers in the full downloadable SP1 package. These ensure that once you've updated to SP1, you can REMOVE SP1 if things don't work out. These are four of the "necessary" Windows Updates if you are going the "Windows Update" route.

To update any problematic drivers, you can run Windows Update and just view and install the recommended driver updates.

This Microsoft KB goes over most of the "problem areas" in doing a Vista SP1 update.

And, no, I don't know how big a deal it is if you have "problem" hardware or drivers, don't fix it, and you manually update to SP1 with the installation package.

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
i just re-installed too. why did you use windows update before service packs?

upgrade disk install >
upgrade re-install >
sp1 >
sp2 >
windows update

Because the SP's are over 1GB for 64bit ... I thought it would be faster. Boy was I wrong.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Maybe to avoid the potential issues with installing SP1 without the required prerequsite updates and to avoid issues with problematic hardware, software, or drivers already on the computer.

When doing a clean install, there are no third-party drivers to worry about, except for the odd LAN device that isn't supported in-box. Even so, if you use the latest drivers for the device, it shouldn't have any problems with SP1. You can wait to install third-party drivers until after SP1 or even SP2.

Don't forget the system readiness and other patches:

- Install Vista RTM
- KB947821
- Service Pack 1
- KB957321
- KB958655
- KB947821 (yes, again)
- KB955430
- Service Pack 2
- Windows Update

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Was there a reason why you didn't start with SP2 as your first update? I just set up a new vista machine and started with sp2. after that, there were only a few other updates left so it wasn't so bad.

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: Chiefcrowe
Was there a reason why you didn't start with SP2 as your first update? I just set up a new vista machine and started with sp2. after that, there were only a few other updates left so it wasn't so bad.

Because SP1 needs to go before SP2.
And yes - I will never ever go the windows update route again.

In WinXP (and maybe even 32bit Vista) this works much better: start windows update, it takes maybe 3 reboots/install cycles ... and voila you are up-to-date. I don't remember this taking more than 1-2 hours (including the downloading).
Windows update on a Vista 64bit clean install is just fvcked up!

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: coolVariable

Originally posted by: Chiefcrowe
Was there a reason why you didn't start with SP2 as your first update? I just set up a new vista machine and started with sp2. after that, there were only a few other updates left so it wasn't so bad.

Because SP1 needs to go before SP2.
And yes - I will never ever go the windows update route again.

In WinXP (and maybe even 32bit Vista) this works much better: start windows update, it takes maybe 3 reboots/install cycles ... and voila you are up-to-date. I don't remember this taking more than 1-2 hours (including the downloading).
Windows update on a Vista 64bit clean install is just fvcked up!

Are you sure? I slip-streamed SP2 for XP onto a pre-SP1 CD image... are the Service Packs no longer cumulative for Vista as they were for XP?

 

[corkyg]

No, SP2 requires SP1 unless you have the latest MS Vista file with SP2 slipstreamed. In that version, both are included. The 64 bit version is 1 GB bigger than the X86 version.

I just downloaded the Vista Ultimate w/SP2 X86 ISO from MS TechNet. It's about 1.34GB.

 

[wrangler]

Originally posted by: corkyg
No, SP2 requires SP1 unless you have the latest MS Vista file with SP2 slipstreamed. In that version, both are included. The 64 bit version is 1 GB bigger than the X86 version.

I just downloaded the Vista Ultimate w/SP2 X86 ISO from MS TechNet. It's about 1.34GB.

I've got 2 original Vista Ultimate COA's and am about to do a re-install on a machine. Sure would be nice to have an iso with SP1 & 2 already on it. We're talking about like if you went to the store and bought Vista with SP2 already on it right? I've been on Technet for about an hour now searching............is access to the complete Vista SP2 iso something for members only? I typed Vista iso in the search......Vista SP2 iso......etc. etc.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
Don't forget the system readiness and other patches:

- Install Vista RTM
- KB947821
- Service Pack 1
- KB957321
- KB958655
- KB947821 (yes, again)
- KB955430
- Service Pack 2
- Windows Update

Thanks for the concise summary. I haven't dealt much with Vista and find the SP and System Readiness stuff confusing. I'll look those over and keep the list available.

Which reminds me:

Didn't Microsoft promise that after SP2, there'd be a Microsoft-approved way to slipstream Vista Service Packs? I was under the impression that they'd hired the guy who did NLite/VLite.

 

[tcsenter]

No, someone from Microsoft stated at one time that it may be possible with SP2 but others quickly extinguished that. Due to the image based install, it just isn't feasible or even desirable to do offline integration. Its not really all that hard to learn the ImageX or WAIK tools, but it is definitely more effort and time than before.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
No, someone from Microsoft stated at one time that it may be possible with SP2 but others quickly extinguished that. Due to the image based install, it just isn't feasible or even desirable to do offline integration. Its not really all that hard to learn the ImageX or WAIK tools, but it is definitely more effort and time than before.

Until today, I didn't realize that you can't run a "Repair" of Vista (using the Vista Install DVD) unless you have a DVD with the same or higher Service Pack. I guess I'm going to have to learn the WAIK tools, since I'm pretty sure I'm going to need Vista repair tools in the future, and it may be a while before I have access to a Microsoft SP2-integrated Vista DVD.

Ugh...I just realized, it's gonna' be worse than that. I'll likely need Dell SP2, HP SP2, Toshiba SP2, etc. DVDs, too.....yuck.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: wrangler
is access to the complete Vista SP2 iso something for members only? I typed Vista iso in the search......Vista SP2 iso......etc. etc.

Yes - that comes with a subscription.

 

[wrangler]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: wrangler
is access to the complete Vista SP2 iso something for members only? I typed Vista iso in the search......Vista SP2 iso......etc. etc.

Yes - that comes with a subscription.

Ah.......thanks for the response.

I have to say though, with the way they did the COA's, it doesn't make any sense not to let us just download the whole thing. I mean, if my buddy goes down to Best Buy and gets Vista with SP2 on it, I can just use his disk with my COA and voila........I have a brand spanking new installation with SP2 already on.

Sure would be nice.