Win ME service packs...

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can download the latest service pack
for Windows ME 4.90.3000 for offline installation?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Ismael

There is no Service Pack for ME - the nearest to is was the Security CD
issued in Feb 2004 (and since withdrawn), that covered all active OS's at
the time.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Ismael" wrote in message
...

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can download the latest service
pack for Windows ME 4.90.3000 for offline installation?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Ismael

One wonders if Ismael (let's call him that) thinks a mere patch is a
'Service Pack'?

Meanwhile I wish I'd ordered 10 - not 5 - donuts from Tesco! Now *that's* a
Service Pack!

--
Shane


------------------------------------
The Sugitive

Ch. 1: http://tinyurl.com/bcevp
Ch. 2: http://tinyurl.com/ag92o
Ch. 3: Coming to an URL near you soon!
------------------------------------

"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
There is no Service Pack for ME - the nearest to is was the Security CD
issued in Feb 2004 (and since withdrawn), that covered all active OS's at
the time.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Ismael" wrote in message
...

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can download the latest service
pack for Windows ME 4.90.3000 for offline installation?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Ismael

Thanks for the info...I guess the only way to update Win ME is on the
Microsoft update website...but is there a way to stream line the process? I
would like to download all the updates to my hard drive and at a future date
should I need to do a clean install of Win ME these updates would be
available offline. I could then check the MS update site again and see if
there are any further updates at that time. To my understanding the service
packs are released every so often so that a person does not have to install
each update individually. The released service packs are meant to combine
all updates into one installation (current updates as to when the service
pack was released) Am I right about this?

Any solutions or suggestions out there on how I can combine all current
updates into one installation package and add future updates to this install
pack or is there another (better, less time consuming) way of doing this? I
would like to be able to do this with all Windows operating systems. I also
believe the update process would be faster since you don't have to download
the updates each and every time you need them, also having the MS update
website scan your OS for needed updates makes the update process that much
more time consuming.

Bottom line: I would like to download these updates offline, check new
updates online and then add them my current collection of updates. I would
like a one click install process and the ability to add these updates to the
one click install process.

Thanks to anyone who can help,

Ismael


"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
There is no Service Pack for ME - the nearest to is was the Security CD
issued in Feb 2004 (and since withdrawn), that covered all active OS's at
the time.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Ismael" wrote in message
...

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can download the latest service
pack for Windows ME 4.90.3000 for offline installation?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Ismael

Service Packs are normally only released for the NT series of OS's (that's
one of the things that they pay the extra for!)
You can check your installed list in Windows Updates, and then download the
updates for offline installation from the Windows Updates Catalog (use the
Personalise option in Windows Updates to see the link)

Note that any update package that you create may only be applicable to your
current hardware!


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Ismael" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the info...I guess the only way to update Win ME is on the
Microsoft update website...but is there a way to stream line the process?
I would like to download all the updates to my hard drive and at a future
date should I need to do a clean install of Win ME these updates would be
available offline. I could then check the MS update site again and see if
there are any further updates at that time. To my understanding the
service packs are released every so often so that a person does not have
to install each update individually. The released service packs are meant
to combine all updates into one installation (current updates as to when
the service pack was released) Am I right about this?

Any solutions or suggestions out there on how I can combine all current
updates into one installation package and add future updates to this
install pack or is there another (better, less time consuming) way of
doing this? I would like to be able to do this with all Windows operating
systems. I also believe the update process would be faster since you
don't have to download the updates each and every time you need them, also
having the MS update website scan your OS for needed updates makes the
update process that much more time consuming.

Bottom line: I would like to download these updates offline, check new
updates online and then add them my current collection of updates. I
would like a one click install process and the ability to add these
updates to the one click install process.

Thanks to anyone who can help,

Ismael


"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
There is no Service Pack for ME - the nearest to is was the Security CD
issued in Feb 2004 (and since withdrawn), that covered all active OS's at
the time.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Ismael" wrote in message
...

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can download the latest service
pack for Windows ME 4.90.3000 for offline installation?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Ismael

As Noel said, such (admittedly very useful) service packs are not available
for Win ME. The nearest is the CD of which he speaks - and it is worth
getting hold of as it condenses a lot of individual file running time into 5
minutes max. But it updates to Nov '03, so all subsequent updates have to be
installed seperately.

NT systems - as ever, demonstrating Microsoft's corporate system
administrator bias - have the tool QChain.exe, with which updates can be
strung together and run with a single batch file, but it doesn't run on 9x
systems.

Other than getting hold of the cd, your best bet would be either updating
Win ME then making an image of it, then in future installing *that*, or
writing a batch that installs updates, rebooting in between (the need to
reboot is a consequence of multiple versions of the same filename being set
for installation on reboot - via wininet.ini - and the wrong one being
selected, which is what NT's QChain.exe get's around). I did an installer
based on the latter suggestion once. Apart from the initial workload, it is
pretty effective. It's easy to set the batch to resume after each boot, to
carry on where it left off. Then you can put the whole thing on a cd and
have a poor man's Service Pack. But a lot of work to build in the first
place.

Shane

Ismael wrote:
Thanks for the info...I guess the only way to update Win ME is on the
Microsoft update website...but is there a way to stream line the
process? I would like to download all the updates to my hard drive
and at a future date should I need to do a clean install of Win ME
these updates would be available offline. I could then check the MS
update site again and see if there are any further updates at that
time. To my understanding the service packs are released every so
often so that a person does not have to install each update
individually. The released service packs are meant to combine all
updates into one installation (current updates as to when the service
pack was released) Am I right about this?

Any solutions or suggestions out there on how I can combine all
current updates into one installation package and add future updates
to this install pack or is there another (better, less time
consuming) way of doing this? I would like to be able to do this
with all Windows operating systems. I also believe the update
process would be faster since you don't have to download the updates
each and every time you need them, also having the MS update website
scan your OS for needed updates makes the update process that much
more time consuming.

Bottom line: I would like to download these updates offline, check
new updates online and then add them my current collection of
updates. I would like a one click install process and the ability to
add these updates to the one click install process.

Thanks to anyone who can help,

Ismael


"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
There is no Service Pack for ME - the nearest to is was the Security
CD issued in Feb 2004 (and since withdrawn), that covered all active
OS's at the time.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to
NG's "Ismael" wrote in message
...

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can download the latest
service pack for Windows ME 4.90.3000 for offline installation?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Ismael

Thanks Shane...I can see it being a "poor man's Service Pack" and yes I can
see there would be a lot of work to build this. I just wanted to see what
the alternatives were to get these updates streamlined and thus less time
consuming especially on slower PC machines. Ever think of building these so
called "poor man's Service Packs" for all MS operating systems and selling
them to the general public...lol?

Am I correct to say the writing of the batch file consists of a person who
would need to read what each update does and determine if after each
individual update, a reboot would be required and thus write it into the
batch file so the necessary rebooting takes place before the next update
patch is installed. This is where it becomes time consuming. It would be
nice to install all update patches that don't require reboots first then
install the updates that would need rebooting next and thus only one reboot
would occur. Is that possible? Could you provide the step by step process
on creating the batch file you made or even better yet provide the batch
file as a guideline. Do you know of any good websites you recommend that
provide information on creating batch files specifically to run installation
update patch files unattended offline?

The CD you speak of what is the name of it and where can I get it? Noel
mentioned "Security CD issued in Feb 2004 (and since withdrawn)" Why was it
withdrawn? Are the updates on the Security CD (as well as from the MS
update site) all related to security and nothing to do with program fixes,
bugs or enhancements to WinME?

Ismael


"Shane" wrote in message
...
As Noel said, such (admittedly very useful) service packs are not
available
for Win ME. The nearest is the CD of which he speaks - and it is worth
getting hold of as it condenses a lot of individual file running time into
5
minutes max. But it updates to Nov '03, so all subsequent updates have to
be
installed seperately.

NT systems - as ever, demonstrating Microsoft's corporate system
administrator bias - have the tool QChain.exe, with which updates can be
strung together and run with a single batch file, but it doesn't run on 9x
systems.

Other than getting hold of the cd, your best bet would be either updating
Win ME then making an image of it, then in future installing *that*, or
writing a batch that installs updates, rebooting in between (the need to
reboot is a consequence of multiple versions of the same filename being
set
for installation on reboot - via wininet.ini - and the wrong one being
selected, which is what NT's QChain.exe get's around). I did an installer
based on the latter suggestion once. Apart from the initial workload, it
is
pretty effective. It's easy to set the batch to resume after each boot, to
carry on where it left off. Then you can put the whole thing on a cd and
have a poor man's Service Pack. But a lot of work to build in the first
place.

Shane

Ismael wrote:
Thanks for the info...I guess the only way to update Win ME is on the
Microsoft update website...but is there a way to stream line the
process? I would like to download all the updates to my hard drive
and at a future date should I need to do a clean install of Win ME
these updates would be available offline. I could then check the MS
update site again and see if there are any further updates at that
time. To my understanding the service packs are released every so
often so that a person does not have to install each update
individually. The released service packs are meant to combine all
updates into one installation (current updates as to when the service
pack was released) Am I right about this?

Any solutions or suggestions out there on how I can combine all
current updates into one installation package and add future updates
to this install pack or is there another (better, less time
consuming) way of doing this? I would like to be able to do this
with all Windows operating systems. I also believe the update
process would be faster since you don't have to download the updates
each and every time you need them, also having the MS update website
scan your OS for needed updates makes the update process that much
more time consuming.

Bottom line: I would like to download these updates offline, check
new updates online and then add them my current collection of
updates. I would like a one click install process and the ability to
add these updates to the one click install process.

Thanks to anyone who can help,

Ismael


"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
There is no Service Pack for ME - the nearest to is was the Security
CD issued in Feb 2004 (and since withdrawn), that covered all active
OS's at the time.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to
NG's "Ismael" wrote in message
...

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can download the latest
service pack for Windows ME 4.90.3000 for offline installation?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Ismael

Hi this CD upgrade Windows ME to 4.90.3000A
Greetings !
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Aldo Comparini G.
(escribe SIN MIEDO antes de enviar correo)
www.ecoarqtec.elgratissitio.com
"Haz lo mejor que puedas con los recursos que tengas"
Guatemala C.A
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Noel Paton" escribió en el mensaje
...
There is no Service Pack for ME - the nearest to is was the Security CD
issued in Feb 2004 (and since withdrawn), that covered all active OS's at
the time.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Ismael" wrote in message
...

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can download the latest service
pack for Windows ME 4.90.3000 for offline installation?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Ismael

Thanks Shane...I can see it being a "poor man's Service Pack" and yes I
can see there would be a lot of work to build this. I just wanted to see
what the alternatives were to get these updates streamlined and thus less
time consuming especially on slower PC machines.

Yes, *less time-consuming* being the operative term. Some user input will
still be required, but that is reduced to an absolute minimum. But, unless
the cd (or whatever) is going to be used several times, the initial workload
is going to negate the time saved later, no doubt about it.

Ever think of building these so called "poor man's Service Packs" for all
MS operating systems and selling them to the general public...lol?

vbg


Am I correct to say the writing of the batch file consists of a person who
would need to read what each update does and determine if after each
individual update, a reboot would be required and thus write it into the
batch file so the necessary rebooting takes place before the next update
patch is installed. This is where it becomes time consuming. It would be

That would be one way. I'd make a test installation, install each patch in
turn and see what happens. When I did this - with NT4.0 - I determined the
order to install post-sp6 patches by extracting their files each to a folder
of the same name and comparing file dates.

nice to install all update patches that don't require reboots first then
install the updates that would need rebooting next and thus only one
reboot would occur. Is that possible? Could you provide the step by step
process

No, the reason for the reboots is to overwrite files - during next boot -
that are protected when Windows is running. In 9x systems it is not
guaranteed that, if several versions with the same filename are queued up,
that the most recent will be the one used to update the original. That's
what the (itself updated, as the original was not reliable) NT QChain.exe is
for. There are a no. of protected files that have been updated more than
once.

You could, no doubt, get around it by batching or scripting, say to have all
but one version of a file deleted from it's temp folder before reboot, or
edit the update infs to install only some of it's files, but frankly I think
it's far less bother to just have the machine reboot a few times more.

on creating the batch file you made or even better yet provide the batch
file as a guideline. Do you know of any good websites you recommend that
provide information on creating batch files specifically to run
installation update patch files unattended offline?

As for websites, no, my experience was an entirely self-taught one. I made a
cd that installed NT4.0, updated it (there are one hell of a lot of updates
for NT4.0!) and then installed the 3rd-party stuff I use as a matter of
course. Even without the 3rd-party stuff it would have been a very long file
and it's easier to write a seperate batch for each boot. Also, I originally
planned to write it in vbs, but in the end decided batch files were capable
of more.

Anyway, it's easy enough to get it to continue after each reboot, and what I
found easiest (though bear in mind I was using Command Processor commands
slightly different to those I was most familiar with) was to have the batch
make a folder on the hd, then add a file, eg a .txt (to which information
could be written for debug purposes, if required) with a particular name.
The batch would look for any such files and go to the routine applicable to
the newest found.


The CD you speak of what is the name of it and where can I get it? Noel
mentioned "Security CD issued in Feb 2004 (and since withdrawn)" Why was
it withdrawn? Are the updates on the Security CD (as well as from the MS
update site) all related to security and nothing to do with program fixes,
bugs or enhancements to WinME?


Yes, interesting question! The files it installs are listed here (bar those
superceding at the time of writing), in the order the cd installs them, with
links to articles about them and the files themselves (last time I tested
them they still worked). Due to dragging my heels, lack of feedback and MS
dropping the cd, I didn't finish the site, but left these pages up:
http://website.lineone.net/~shanebeatson/fixlistme.htm. It was largely
intended to demonstrate how to run the cd *without* installing the like of
Windows Media Player 9 Series or Internet Explorer 6.0 sp1, if the user
didn't want to. Microsoft considered such as Security Updates, but I thought
it a little cavalier of them *even though I have those installed myself and
recommend them*.

E-mail me and I may be able to arrange a copy of the cd for you, and I can
post you the instructions for editing the infs to avoid installing the
aforementioned and more. Actually I think I left those up too.

As for examples of the batch(es), I believe I kept that cd for old time's
sake (though I threw away the Win 95 and other obsolete OSes such as
NT3.51). I'd have to find it (and look at it as, like I said, they're very
long!).

Shane