Will SP4 or SRP1 in Win2000 help existing problems or make them worse?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mm
  • Start date Start date
M

mm

Will installing SP4 and SRP1 in Win2000 help existing problems or make
them worse?

Hi,

A friend with a win2000 computer has 2 problems, neither of which I
was able to solve my last time over there, but I only had 10 minutes.

It turns out he still needs to install win2000 SP4 and SRP1 (Update
Rollup 1 !?). IIRC some SP's are almost as long as the original OS,
so do you think there is a chance that doing this would also resolve
his two problems?

Or is it important that they be fixed before the applying the updates?

Any help is appreciated.


I'm sorry I don't have all the details**, but the problems are:
1) He can't use his printer even though it used to work before he
moved to a new house. The computer can't find the printer, and when
he tries to reinstall the same printer, a C++ screen comes up with a
some code already in the window, after a message that said he is
expected to edit the code to make it work!!

2) After he opens any pre-existing compatible file in Word 97, which
used to work fine before, an error message giving a particular hex
address appears and iirc nothing more can be done.

**I"m supposed to go over there tomorrow afternoon and fix him up! So
that's why I"m asking when I don't have many details.
 
MM,

Wrong newsgroup

Windows 2000 is unsupported now & why is anyone still using Office 97?
 
Doubtful any service pack /rollup is going to resolve his issues.
I suggest a repair install as it sounds as if some os files are corrupt.
as well as his printer drivers, one possible solution is to uninstall the
printer drivers, shut down the pc with the printer detached, then power up
and install the drivers and attach the printer.

same thing with the office software either run a repair, or uninstall reboot
and reinstall.
 
mm said:
Will installing SP4 and SRP1 in Win2000 help existing problems or make
them worse?
Click to expand...

[snip]

Is there a reason you crossposted this to an XP group?
 
mm said:
Will installing SP4 and SRP1 in Win2000 help existing problems or
make them worse?

A friend with a win2000 computer has 2 problems, neither of which I
was able to solve my last time over there, but I only had 10
minutes.

It turns out he still needs to install win2000 SP4 and SRP1 (Update
Rollup 1 !?). IIRC some SP's are almost as long as the original OS,
so do you think there is a chance that doing this would also resolve
his two problems?

Or is it important that they be fixed before the applying the
updates?

Any help is appreciated.


I'm sorry I don't have all the details**, but the problems are:
1) He can't use his printer even though it used to work before he
moved to a new house. The computer can't find the printer, and when
he tries to reinstall the same printer, a C++ screen comes up with a
some code already in the window, after a message that said he is
expected to edit the code to make it work!!

2) After he opens any pre-existing compatible file in Word 97, which
used to work fine before, an error message giving a particular hex
address appears and iirc nothing more can be done.

**I"m supposed to go over there tomorrow afternoon and fix him up!
So that's why I"m asking when I don't have many details.
Click to expand...

Windows 2000 is no longer supported by Microsoft.
Word '97 is no longer supported by Microsoft.

Installing a service pack seldom fixes problems likwe those you listed - it
can make them worse. After all - the service pack is not a miracle cure -
it is a roll-up of previously released patches and some not previously
released for public consumption - usually security related and not 'common'
in some cases. Sometimes a service pack will add new features.

The problems you describe could be the result of many things - corrupt files
(software or hardware caused) comes to mind. I'd tell you to scan for
viruses and malware using some modern toold - but the fact is - that is
likely a lost cause.

Find a refurbished Windows XP machine someplace for like $300 and replace
that thing.
 
MM,

Wrong newsgroup
Click to expand...

I figured that 2000 and XP were similar enough, and that a lot of you
once had 2000, that you XP guys might have some good answers.
Windows 2000 is unsupported now & why is anyone still using Office 97?
Click to expand...

Because he doesn't have as much money as some of you guys on Usenet
do.
 
mm said:
I figured that 2000 and XP were similar enough, and that a lot of you
once had 2000, that you XP guys might have some good answers.
Click to expand...

You clearly thought wrong, doofus.
 
SPAMCOP User said:
MM,

Wrong newsgroup

Windows 2000 is unsupported now & why is anyone still using Office 97?
Click to expand...

Agreed; wrong group.

There are actually a lot of Office 97's still being used. For one, it's
a cheap wysiwyg web authoring tool, avoiding most of the bloat later
versions created and having none when an MS designed filter is used with
it. I know several people who still use it. In fact, it's on a win98
server out in the tech room on one of the machines I use for backups, so
I have it myself.
It will work at least all the way up through XP and its files are
readable by any version of Office up to Vista IIRC so you'll never
produce an unreadable doc file with it. Up to the point where MS
decided to try to force it out of existance, that is.
Also, there are several applications where MSO97 provides all the
functionality needed; updating would be for the sake of updating and
progress only for the sake of progress; nothing real. If it ain't
broke, why fix it?

It's not up to us to judge why someone may be using something. If it's
part of the picture, it's part of the picture. Knowing WHY is mostly
irrelevant to anything but curiousity.

HTH,

Twayne`
 
mm said:
I figured that 2000 and XP were similar enough, and that a lot of you
once had 2000, that you XP guys might have some good answers.

Because he doesn't have as much money as some of you guys on Usenet
do.
Click to expand...

Or it ain't broke and don't need fixin'
 
SPAMCOP User said:
MM,

Wrong newsgroup

Windows 2000 is unsupported now & why is anyone still using Office 97?
Click to expand...

Wrong newsgroup. Ask that over in the O 97 related group.

HTH,

Twayne`
 
Shenan Stanley said:
Windows 2000 is no longer supported by Microsoft.
Word '97 is no longer supported by Microsoft.
Click to expand...

But not being supported is a moot issue. The software doesn't stop
working just because it's not supported anymore.
Installing a service pack seldom fixes problems likwe those you
listed - it can make them worse. After all - the service pack is not
a miracle cure - it is a roll-up of previously released patches and
some not previously released for public consumption - usually
security related and not 'common' in some cases. Sometimes a service
pack will add new features.
Click to expand...

Sort of, but without SP4, he's missing some practical things that may
help him. I don't recall it anymore for sure, but it's not likely SP4 is
going to mess it up further for him. OTOH, if it was working previously
without SP4, installing it might just add another unknown to the
equations. In that case it's better to fix it without SP4, and THEN
install SP4 et al after it's working again. SP4 was an important pack.
The problems you describe could be the result of many things -
corrupt files (software or hardware caused) comes to mind. I'd tell
you to scan for viruses and malware using some modern toold - but the
fact is - that is likely a lost cause.

Find a refurbished Windows XP machine someplace for like $300 and
replace that thing.
Click to expand...

Or find a win2k/Office97 for even less and avoid the whole re-learning
curve of switching to XP, another soon to die OS which he'll shortly
again be advised to toss and go to ... .

Heck, I've got three unused copies of Ofice 97 right here; they used to
be used for upgrades I made but aren't relevent today.
I'm not saying you're wrong: I"m just positing a different opinion
direction.
 
mm said:
Will installing SP4 and SRP1 in Win2000 help existing problems or make
them worse?

Hi,

A friend with a win2000 computer has 2 problems, neither of which I
was able to solve my last time over there, but I only had 10 minutes.

It turns out he still needs to install win2000 SP4 and SRP1 (Update
Rollup 1 !?). IIRC some SP's are almost as long as the original OS,
so do you think there is a chance that doing this would also resolve
his two problems?

Or is it important that they be fixed before the applying the updates?

Any help is appreciated.


I'm sorry I don't have all the details**, but the problems are:
1) He can't use his printer even though it used to work before he
moved to a new house. The computer can't find the printer, and when
he tries to reinstall the same printer, a C++ screen comes up with a
some code already in the window, after a message that said he is
expected to edit the code to make it work!!

2) After he opens any pre-existing compatible file in Word 97, which
used to work fine before, an error message giving a particular hex
address appears and iirc nothing more can be done.

**I"m supposed to go over there tomorrow afternoon and fix him up! So
that's why I"m asking when I don't have many details.
Click to expand...

No, installing Service Packs or Service Releases rarely if ever fixes such
problems. Re-installing Win2000 and Office 97 would be by far the fastest
way to make this once more a robust installation. Since the owner does not
have the required CDs, adopt one of the suggestions proposed by other
respondents. When finished, tell the owner not to be so casual with his
software. To run a solid show he must do this:
- Keep a copy of every piece of software he installs.
- Make a note of the place/location where he got the software from, and when
he got it.
- Keep a printed copy of each and every software licence.
Since he probably ignored all of the above, a fresh start seems the only
reasonable course of action.
 
Your best shot is a repair installation. Failing that a clean install is
probably the next step.


How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=292175

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=306952

Be sure to apply these to your repair install before connecting to any
network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en
and
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-067.mspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------


To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup
disks. The set of four install disks can be created from your Windows 2000
CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the CD-Rom and execute
makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow the
prompts.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very
important (at setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive
controller detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later
you'll be prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows 2000 driver
for your drive controller in drive "A")

Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to
install the Setup and driver files. When the Windows 2000 Professional
screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows 2000 Professional.

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx


Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en
and
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-067.mspx

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
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