Windows 2000 SP4

For those of you who are running Windows 2000 on your home machine, or administer a network of Windows 2000 boxes, SP4 was released today (a week behind schedule). I know that some of you are wary about installing a service pack until it's been tested, but, having gone through the beta from the start, I can attest that it's definately much more stable than other, previous, service packs. As usual, all you have to do is install this service pack, as it includes all other service packs, as well as all security and other updates released since the last SP. Below are two links to download it.

Windows 2000 SP4 - Full (130 MB)
Windows 2000 SP4 - Express (Web Install) (600 KB)

AJ

Hrmm. M$ hasn't had the best luck with even numbered service packs.... I won't hurry to install it until I don't hear horror stories.

I'm sick of crossing my fingers when installing M$ "fixes".

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I'm sick of crossing my fingers when installing M$ "fixes".

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I hear that....

I'm surprised I didn't see that when I was updating new machines today... sp3 is huge... let alone the 36mb of pre-sp4 updates...

Thanks for the heads up! Maybe I'll put it on the new machines and test em for a couple of weeks b4 I update the rest...

Wow that's a real big service pack. Am just hoping when I do decide to instal it something weird doesn't go wrong and my PC gets stuck.

I have been constantly burnt by these service packs leading to a full reinstal in the past. I hate when that happens...

I will test it on a test machine before installing on my network. Its weird that service pack 4 is not mentioned on the Win2k site http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/ or in Windows Update. Did you get the link from the NTBugTraq posting?

Its not mentioned here also: http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000...ks/default.asp

Thx avdven i was waiting for this one.........no more pre sp4 manual updates safes me some time!

I agree. I'm going to test sp4 before rolling it out to 100 computers. I'll wait for other people to report the problems and until sp4 is on the critical updates page.

Some interesting points for the paranoid in the service pack 4 eula:

a. Windows Update Features.
Under the Software's default configuration, if you connect
a device to your Computer and the correct device driver is
not available on your Computer, then Windows Update
features on your Computer (including Device Manager
and the Plug & Play CDM Module) automatically attempt
to check Microsoft computer systems via the Internet
for the correct device driver. Having this happen
automatically makes Plug-and-Play installation of
new hardware a better experience for customers.
You may switch off Windows Update's automatic driver
checking feature.

hmmm... so now MS thinks that it should check for the drivers without asking?

b. Consent to Use of Data.
You agree that Microsoft and its affiliates may collect
and use technical information gathered as part of the support
services provided to you, if any, related to the Software.
Microsoft may use this information solely to improve our
products or to provide customized services or technologies
to you and will not disclose this information in a form
that personally identifies you.

What do they mean by technical information? This sounds almost XP'ish in tracking hardware changes.

And I have done 3 upgrades and no problems yet. (All SP3 to SP4, no clean installs)

And the official release from Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000...p4/default.asp

I just installed SP4 on a clean installation in a VMWare W2K Server which was clean and it was perfect...

i would not advance beyond SP2, as the SP3 eula was "updated" / "fixed" with:

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"You acknowledge and agree that Microsoft may automatically check the version of the OS Product and/or its components that you are utilizing and may provide upgrades or fixes to the OS Product that will be automatically downloaded to your computer,"*

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*Microsoft EULA asks for root rights - again -> http://theregister.co.uk/content/4/26517.html

i remember this being discussed here around the time, but i have not had the best of luck with searching for past articles here :)

:karate:

Dive right in but "cya" first by having a good, full backup and detailed documentation of your server/workstation build.

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"Sometimes you have to just slow down to hurry up!"

Bill Russell, NBA Hall of Famer

I installed SP 4 on 2 W2K boxes.... All went smooth
if not I would have been in for a 2 1/2 hr drive one way!!

Well I installed it on my backup server (my sacraficial lamb). And now my box is totally secure; what I mean by that is that now my backup server is in a constant state of rebooting. :thumbsup: At least M$ made something more secure. ;)

I haven't had any problems with any of the Windows 2000 service packs *knocks on wooden desk*.
The only exception to this was when I first installed 2000. It was snowing heavily outside, so I figure it is a good time to upgrade my system. I backed up my system, cleaned the drive, then installed 2000, device drivers, and I was in the middle of installing SP1 (which was the current SP at the time) when the power went out. When it came back on, my machine would boot to the log in screen, and as soon as it appeared, it would reboot. None of the F8'able boot options helped. So I repeated my previous 2 hours work again and waited until the snow stormed was finished before installing the SP.
My adivce, don't install an SP during a storm when the power might go out, or if you do, make sure you have a UPS installed.

Korp did you install it after a clean install..........I only use a sp after a clean install since using it on a fully updated box might get you in trouble.

Now the sp should only update whats needed but this part i think needs improvement.
Sp3 gave also strange problems used that way.

At least your safe...thank God !

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Originally posted here by kadeng
Korp did you install it after a clean install..........I only use a sp after a clean install since using it on a fully updated box might get you in trouble.

Now the sp should only update whats needed but this part i think needs improvement.
Sp3 gave also strange problems used that way.

At least your safe...thank God !

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Umm...nope. I put it on my fully pathched backup server. I highly doubt that anyone, even M$, would expect you to totally reinstall your whole OS and programs just to install one update. This just goes to show you that testing your fixes is the way to go. I've never thought M$ has ever tested their crap correctly. Someone should write a tut on SQA (Software Quality Assurance) for M$.

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Originally posted here by KorpDeath


Umm...nope. I put it on my fully pathched backup server. I highly doubt that anyone, even M$, would expect you to totally reinstall your whole OS and programs just to install one update. This just goes to show you that testing your fixes is the way to go. I've never thought M$ has ever tested their crap correctly. Someone should write a tut on SQA (Software Quality Assurance) for M$.

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They know about some of the problems.........5.0 Release Notes and Known Issues


http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=813432

Hmm, well it sounds just like any normal software to me. There are always horror stories, people who oppose it or support it. But since the supporters and opposers are about equal it sounds like a fine patch. Sure there are always times when it won't work, causing continuous reboots, but other people say it works perfectly. I will just do what I always do, wait about 6-8 weeks after the service pack comes out, so most of the new holes they make are fixed, and it looks like I will be fine.