Updating Windows - from a Mac

[the tortoise]

Hi, first post - please help if you can.

My self-built Windows machine runs XP Home for my audio software and is not connected to the internet for maximum reliability and security.

This means that the SP2 install that I originally put on the drive is pretty much unaltered since - there is no way for the machine to update itself.

However, I've just updated my audio software and after uninstalling the previous version, upon trying to install the new release I get the message that XP is missing a critical update required by the software.

Now, my internet computer is a MacBook. How is it possible for me to acquire the relevant Windows updates from the Microsoft site, download them to my Mac and then transfer them over to my PC? Microsoft's site requires that it checks my copy of Windows to see that it's a registered, official copy - how do I do this without having the target PC connected to the intranets?

I need to solve this problem as soon as possible as I've got work to do (and no, there was no mention of the requirement of this Windows update in my software's installer documentation).

Many thanks for your help peeps! Nice forum.

:)

the tortoise

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

Does the installer tell you what critical update is missing? If so, you can just go and download it from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/xxxxxx - where xxxxxx is the actual KB number of the update.

If it does not tell you what's missing, then you are a bit in a bind. However, sometime in the 2nd half of April, Microsoft will release Windows XP SP3. I am sure that SP3 will contain all previously released critical updates.

If you cannot wait for the final release of SP3 you may want to try the latest release candidate of SP3 - you can find downloads all over the Internet. Make a full backup of your system before you install it, so you can restore it for the final release of SP3.

[the tortoise]

Thanks for the help.

Unfortunately, it merely states a 'critical' update is missing. Is there really no way to update a Windows machine without it being connected to the internet?

Does no separate application exist that can assess the state of my system, confirm an authentic copy of Windows then save a file that I can upload to Microsoft and download the relevant updates?

(Oh, and I have no option but to stick with SP2. The software I use - Pro Tools - insists on only being on a fully qualified and supported system and SP3 will only fall under that category once it has been released and tested by Digidesign. I can't afford to have anything but a fully reliable system but I need this issue solved ASAP)

Thanks again for the help. :)

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Another thing you could try is this collection of Windows XP hotfixes and updates: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4754.html

[Seshomaru Samma]

a round-about way

boot your computer (either Mac or PC) from an Ubuntu CD

install ie4linux

set IE security to "low" (don't worry you are on Linux)

go to microsoft's website

(for some reason microsoft.com recognises Ubuntu runing ie4linux as authentic Windows,here)

download your update

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

download your update

But he doesn't know what update is missing.

[the tortoise]

download your update

But he doesn't know what update is missing.

It is a nice idea though. I've been musing the possibility of trying out Linux on one of my machines - Ubuntu in particular. Maybe this is the opportunity I need to sate my curiosity for the OS.

I'd be afraid to do it on my main workstation though, as I'm pretty strict when it comes to keeping the machine as clean as possible.

Of course, as Pat said, I don't know the specific download (yet, I've contacted Digidesign tech support) so this wouldn't solve the problem as far as I know.

[the tortoise]

The nice guys at Digidesign Tech Support have linked me to the update I need. All is well.

I'll wait for SP3 for the rest of my system updates.

Thanks for the help fellas.