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With
Windows XP Service Pack 3 fast approaching, I thought I would find out
how many updates it takes to fully update Windows XP Professional.
I installed Windows XP Professional [Pre SP1] and then took a trip to Windows update...
Here is what I found...
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Just two updates to start with, which are required to use the latest version of Windows update.
Total Download Size: =1.7MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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16 High-priority updates.
Total Download Size: =19.5MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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As it was offered, I decided to install Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Total Download Size: ~75MB
Restart Required: Yes
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Two more updates are required to use the latest version of Windows update.
Total download size: =2.9MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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81 High-priority updates.
Total Download Size: =52.5MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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2 High-priority updates.
Total Download Size: =2.5MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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All done.
There are no more High-priority updates to install. |
So there you have it, it only takes 104 High-priority updates, approximately 154.1MB and six restarts to update Windows XP Professional.
But to be fair this was updating Windows XP Professional, with neither Service Pack 1 or 2 initially installed. Most would have Service Pack 2 installed. So I then installed Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2. I then took another trip to Windows update and here is what I found...
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Just three updates to start with, which are required to use the latest version of Windows update.
Total Download Size: =4MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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82 High-priority updates.
Total Download Size: =60.5MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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2 High-priority updates.
Total Download size: =2.5MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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All done.
There are no more High-priority updates to install. |
So it only takes 87 High-priority updates, approximately 67MB and three restarts to get Windows XP with Service Pack 2 up to date.
But what would it take to install all optional software updates that are offered?
Taking our previously up to date [High-priority updates] Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2, I decided to find out...
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10 optional software updates.
Total Download Size: =131.3MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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There are now 10 High-priority updates to install.
Total Download Size: =39.1MB
Restart Required: Yes |
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1 High-priority update.
Total Download Size: =8.8MB
Restart Required: No |
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1 optional software update.
Total download size: =413KB
Restart required: No |
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All done.
No more updates to install. |
So a further 22 updates [11 optional and 11 high-priority] totalling 180MB and two restarts are required to fully update Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2.
Summary...
As a non scientific experiment [of course] it would seem that any user of Windows XP Professional with Services Pack 2 is in for some heavy updating and a number of restarts. However with a modern broadband connection and decent system it shouldn't take too long to get Windows up to date. Providing you do have Service Pack 2 installed you will be looking at:
Total Updates: 109
Total Download Size: 247MB
Restarts Required: 5
Roll on Windows XP Service Pack 3...
Note: As Windows XP is updated monthly, the above number of updates, download size, number of restarts will vary and may not reflect what you see above.
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