Re: Service Pack 3 Update

Chris B wrote:
<snip>
Perhaps MS MVPs can enlighten us about the mysterious way Microsoft
updates work and why some of us have problems despite following all
their advice. I, for one, would be keen to learn.
<snip>

In truth - no idea. In the end the most likely explanation hovers around
the one fact I give so often...

There are millions upon millions of combinations of software/hardware out
there. There is no possible way Microsoft (or anyone) can test a patch of
any sort on all of those different combinations. So there is no way of
knowing exactly whom might have issues and who will not. It could come down
to even versions of some software or driver release even. Examples: Norton
AV 2006 might give cause trouble with some particular patch because of
something in its engine, while Norton AV 2008's engine is not the same and
thus does not cause that issue. Someone else might have Spybot Search and
Destroy 1.3 installed and not use TeaTimer while another person has Spybot
Search and Destroy 1.4 installed and does use TeaTimer. Or maybe someone
installed IE7, someone else did not. Someone installed a particular
released patch - critcal or no - and someone else did not. The
combinations/differences are numerous and impossible to predict/test for.

As for things not working when following an MVPs advice - *shrug* - we are
you. The only difference is we *might* know more about a particular subject
and we have decided to share that knowledge here. There are many people
here that are not MVPs that do the same thing - so taking advice from an MVP
vs anyone else should not really be the factor. Everyone posting here
(except a select few spams, possibly) is human and they can make mistakes
and it is unlikely they know everything (especially everything about your
particular setup/situation.)
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


.

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