Installation - SP2 with SP1 key?

i would of thought so as long as they are the same license version

Not sure  - just heard something the other day - that they are on SP2c - the c because they ran out of activation keys for b and just plain sp2.  This may not be the same thing - I'm not certain.  You can try it... let us know what happens.  (One thing, at the very least BOTH CDs must be OEM and should be the same brand of computer (an HP OEM CD/Key usually won't work on a Dell system and vice versa - and an OEM key DEFINITELY won't work on a Retail CD and vice versa.

Product IDs
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Product_IDs

As long as they are the same Product Id, then you should be fine.....

You can always slipstream your SP1 installation, w/ SP2....

Windows 2000/XP SP Slipstreaming
http://www.petri.co.il/windows_2000_xp_sp_slipstreaming.htm

nope im wrong it appears you cannot use sp1 product key on an sp2

Thanks. I'll try it and post back the result.
Regards

C

Cool . .

Its a rebuild and reinstallation - I have to get it done quickly as he needs it for his university work and it would save a lot of time and bandwidth to get an SP2 install first off instead of the downloading etc.

C

Just borrow one from anywhere,  on thesp2 disc it states share it. ;)
Have you checked his system is ready for xpsp2? Some programs dont run friendly with xpsp2 and the drivers will have to be updated.
Nero is one.
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

Once you have installed xpsp1 , dont connect to the internet at any time at this stage..until you have an up to date antivirus program.
 dont install Norton, use AVG free
Then when your ready  get all drivers up to date
 installed office
 java
QT
adobe flash  etc.

Once xpsp1 is fully functioning just insert the xpsp2 disc and run setup. from the desktop.

Okay all I do is disconnect from the internet first, disable the windows firewall stop the anti viirus programs, you must stop the security scanners and AV etc these will interfere with the install.
Unplug any exteranl devices scanners printers USB devices set teh display to single if you have clone.
And that's it.

from the above link I provided just skip the top stuff and go down to
How to Use the CD Installation
For many people, the official Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD from Microsoft will be the best way to install SP2. You can order this CD from Microsoft and then use it to upgrade all your computers, as well as give it to your friends and neighbors to update theirs. This is the only version that you can share with your friends and neighbors, by the way.
You'll definitely want to choose the CD installation option if you have to build or rebuild a computer, since it allows you to secure your computer before you connect it to the Internet, definitely a good idea.
                     

You can download SP2 here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049c9dbe-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

Copy to CD or Flash drive.  I like to install SP2 immediately after installing XP . . before any drivers or applications . . that way you avoid any confilicts.

As always, many thanks for your help. Sometimes you cant see the wood for the trees - I never thought about making it easy on myself and downloading SP2 onto disk! ;-)

Safely installed and seems to be working fine, including reactivation.

Thanks again.

C

Outstanding . . Well done!

Good to hear CSHTech  :)
The first time is always tricky, yeah its as easy as, like anything just read the instruction first.
Now all you need to watch out for is driver issues, xpsp2 demands specific drivers, if you  have an ATI video card or nvidia use only nvidia / ATI  xp drivers dont let windowsxp sp2  decide to use xp video  drivers if you get what I mean.They must tay at nvidia or ATI.
These are default anyway, it will throw up a warning and may threaten you but it soon learns whose boss. :)
Cheers guys and all the best
Meret