Service Packs reinstalling

[Doc666]

On a system running Nt 4.0 workstation with service pack 6A installed I had to install a new network card. Of course it wanted the NT CD to get the required network files. Now i need to re install the service packs ??? If so how do I get service pack 4 to install ? It tells me 6A is already installed and won't install. I can reinstall 6A but it does not update the Network files that 4 does ???

[WyllyWylly]

Service Packs are cumulative - everything that was in Service Pack 4 is included in 6a. You only need to install 6a. And by the way, my condolences, I hate Service Pack hell in NT. My desktop at the office rarely gets anything changed or installed because I know what's coming next! <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15>

[kaplinb]

WHY do you want to reinstall SP6a ? Did you during NIC installation choose to overwrite newer versions with older ones when prompted? SP6a doesn't update all WinNT files, only some of them. If your system works fine - you don't need any updates. Just forget about it!

[WyllyWylly]

I'm not contesting the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" aspect of this statement - but the reason that you should re-install a service pack after new software is installed, hardware changed/added, etc is to ensure the stability of Windows NT. It is because some software overwrites critical files without asking, or sometimes with the user's permission. It's also the reason that we now have slip-streamed service packs in Windows 2000/XP and Windows FIle Protection - a very good thing indeed.

Now, I'm as guilty as the next bloke about not religiously re-applying the service pack as advised by the Dark Side <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15> but I also keep in mind that I may be compromising stability. And if it was a server, that is something I would definitely not take a chance on.

In the end, it's the user's call, but an informed decision is the best deicision.