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Thread ID: 31622 2003-03-27 10:04:00 Windows XP SP1a Mike (15) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
131394 2003-03-27 10:04:00 Did I miss something? Was Service pack 1a released without me knowing about it? What's the difference between SP1 and SP1a? I tried searching the MS site for what's different, but can't seem to find anything.

Worth downloading?

Mike.
Mike (15)
131395 2003-03-27 10:08:00 www.microsoft.com XP Service Pack 1a[/url] for anyone else who missed it.

Mike.
Mike (15)
131396 2003-03-27 10:09:00 Nevermind... found it :)

"If you have already installed Windows XP SP1, you do not need to Windows XP SP1a." - Microsoft.com

support.microsoft.com between SP1 and SP1a[/url]

Mike.
Mike (15)
131397 2003-03-27 10:12:00 SUMMARY
This article describes the differences between Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Service Pack 1a (SP1a) . Windows XP updates are distributed in service packs . You can use service packs to help keep Windows XP current and to extend and update the functionality of your computer . On September 9, 2002, Microsoft released Windows XP SP1 . On February 3, 2003, Microsoft released SP1 again as SP1a .

MORE INFORMATION
If you are not running Windows XP SP1, install SP1a to make sure that you have the latest security and reliability updates for Windows XP . Install any appropriate security updates and hotfixes that are already released or that will be released after SP1 on Windows XP-based computers that are running SP1a . Windows Update will continue to offer the same set of updates for Windows XP-based computers that are running either SP1 or SP1a .

To determine if you are running Windows XP SP1, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties . If "Service Pack 1" appears under System, you are already running Windows XP SP1 . There is no benefit to installing SP1a if you are already running Windows XP SP1 . Microsoft does not recommend that you install SP1a if you are already running SP1 .

Windows XP SP1a is the same as Windows XP SP1 except that the Microsoft virtual machine (VM) is removed in SP1a . emphasis added

Technical Changes
Windows XP SP1a does not include or install the Microsoft VM, which provides support for running Java programs .

Note If you are running Windows XP or Windows XP SP1 with the Microsoft VM, you can continue to update the Microsoft VM by using Windows Update . If you are running Windows XP without the Microsoft VM, you do not have to install updates to the Microsoft VM . Therefore, these updates are not offered to you when you visit Windows Update . Microsoft is no longer able to provide a download of the Microsoft VM for computers that do not already have the Microsoft VM installed . For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
. microsoft . com/java" target="_blank">www . microsoft . com

To determine if you are running the Microsoft VM, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Run .
Type cmd, and then click OK .
At the command prompt, type jview and then press ENTER .

If you are not running the Microsoft VM, you receive the following error message:

'jview' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file .
When you install Windows XP SP1a, the following changes are made to the registry . These changes indicate that SP1a is installed:
A string value is created in the following registry key and its value data is set to "a":
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SubVersionNumber

The value data for the Description string value in the following registry key is updated to include "SP1a":
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Wind ows XP\SP1\Q324720

The title for the Windows XP Service Pack 1 entry in the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel is changed to "Windows XP Service Pack 1a . "

Notes
You can use this entry to remove the service pack . It is present only if you choose to archive files when you install the service pack .
This entry is not updated if you use the Microsoft Software Installer package to install Windows XP SP1a .
Documentation Changes
The title for the SP1a Release Notes has been changed to include "SP1a" in most languages . In other places where "Service Pack 1" is used, the text has not been changed .

Note On the Microsoft Web site, "Service Pack 1" may be used in some cases to refer to either SP1 or SP1a .


Mike .
Mike (15)
131398 2003-03-27 10:13:00 As soon as I heard about it I downloaded. There really is nothing to it though. If you've got SP1 installed there is no need to do the update it just has some more IE fixes in it. -=JM=- (16)
131399 2003-03-27 10:13:00 Wow a whole thread with me as the only poster :)

Mike.
Mike (15)
131400 2003-03-27 10:42:00 Well you woud've been the only poster if it wasn't for me coming along and not refreshing the page. -=JM=- (16)
131401 2003-03-27 12:19:00 If you have a read of the MSoft website it says that they cannot include their java virtual machine with any future service packs anymore. That is why they released sp1a - it doesnt have JavaVM.

Sounds they got another lawsuit from Sun, about java again. That'll be why if you want MSoft Virtual Machine from now on, you have to manually windows update to get it.
PoWa (203)
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