Windows 2000 - SP4

[Ron M]

I just surfed onto the W2K site at Microsoft and noticed that Service Pack 4 is available. This is the first I have heard of it, or at least the first I can remember hearing of it. Does anyone out there have any experience/knowledge of this SP? With the way things go today with MS patches, I am becoming leary of patching until I have feedback from Woody and the Lounge folks.

Another question, until recently, I am unclear whether I have implemented a patch or not. (Lesson learned, I am keeping records now.) My question about this is whether or not one can do any damage by inadvertently re-applying a patch. My intuition says that the answer is no, but I will wait until someone reinforces my intuition with good hard facts.

Any insight anyone can provide is greatly appreciated. <img src=/S/compute.gif border=0 alt=compute width=40 height=20>

Thanks.

Ron M <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15> <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15> <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>

[WyllyWylly]

From all reports that I have heard, Service Pack 4 is a success and is stable. I have it running on a Windows 2000 server and the installation went without a hitch, and the system continues to operate normally. This has been the case with every Windows 2000 system I have installed it on as well.

As far as reapplying patches, your theory is correct - you should have no problems. Whether that is actually the case is not something you can ever be assured of. Typically, problems result from the patches themselves, so if a patch has a problem to start with and you reapply it, you are re-introducing whatever problems it brings. With piecemeal patches it is usually better to wait a few weeks while the bleeding edge adopters install it. Your best bet is to subscribe to e-zines like Woody's, among others, and see what the word on the street is.

HTH,

[Ron M]

Thanks Mark. <img src=/S/thankyou.gif border=0 alt=thankyou width=40 height=15> I will go ahead and install the SP4 update. You are right on <img src=/S/thumbup.gif border=0 alt=thumbup width=15 height=15> when you say that Woody's ezines are the best way to learn about the patches. I am a long time subscriber to them and look forward to the information in every one of them. <img src=/S/compute.gif border=0 alt=compute width=40 height=20>

Regards,

Ron M <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15> <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15> <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>

[WyllyWylly]

Yes yes, Woody's e-zines have a lot of good information that you cannot find elsewhere. The straight scoop, so to speak. Here is hoping that you do not encounter any rare problems with your upgrade!

[Ron M]

Installed it yesterday - all is working well - case closed or, as I should say, SP installed <img src=/S/compute.gif border=0 alt=compute width=40 height=20>

Thanks.

Ron M <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15> <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15> <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>

[dpollock]

Has Woody done anything on SP4 yet. I have the patch, but would like to wait for WWW. Have browsed archives but cannot find anything??

[unkamunka]

Nothing has been issued by Woody yet on SP4. He did give a general "amnesty" on patches some time after SP4 came out. I have yet to come across major issues with SP4 at their root. HTH

[billcw]

Have applied W2K SP4 with no problems. If you are running Norton SystemWorks 2002 or older, and run Speed Disk (do not know about 2003-04), you will get a screen saying that SP4 has has not been tested for NSW2002. However, everything worked just fine (I did uninstall NSW2002 before applying SP [as Norton recommends] and re-install after applying the SP). Good Luck!!