RoHe
You might check the Microsoft site to see if they will send out the Service Pack. When they came out with SP2 for Windows XP they would send it to you. I also have slow dial-up so I had them send SP2. Also at no charge. They might be doing it with office service pack.
George
I called MS but the product support people didn't even know Office 2003 SP2 existed. I had to give them their own KB article number! Guess it's going to take a while for them to get organized. They suggested I call back in 3-4 weeks.
They did say there would likely be a $5 charge for a CD, which is what they're currently charging for Office 2003 SP1. Guess that's minimal compared to the hours that would be wasted on a dial-up connection trying to download 91MB.
Just a note to anyone who updates their Outlook. If you use Small Business Accounting and Outlook Business Contact Manager, the update will not allow the two to link until you open Small Business Accounting, open your company file, and update the file. This is not explained in the error message you will receive if you do not update the company file. Other than that, I don't see any major changes in this update. Most are minor fixes that can wait until a CD comes out (if you have dial up). The entire update took over 35 minutes with a DSL connection.
I guess it's time to realize that updates to software are not dial up friendly, and, since many areas don't have broadband available, waiting for a CD is necessary.
I am going to try to burn a CD with the downloaded files to determine if I can update my laptop without going online and using the Office update.
The last time I remember being on dial-up, my 21.6Kbps connection was on-line for about 134 hours (about 5 and a half days) continuous. I was glad I had a dedicated phone line, and an untimed exchange for my ISP since my phone company had "metered local service".
Perhaps you could get someone else to download it and burn it to a CD? Perhaps you could download it at your office and put it on a USB memory stick to take it home? If your system is portable, you could possibly go to your local library, or local hotel. Many of those now offer free wireless "hotspot" functionality. If you are een more desperate, you could go to a starbucks, or some such place that sells wireless hotspot services...
Thanks everyone! I'd probably get very strange looks if I try to assemble a Dimension desktop at the local Starbucks! I hope abach will report back if he's able to use his homemade CD to update his laptop before I ask someone to burn it to disk for me. Otherwise, I'll wait for MS to offer a CD. If the email I got from them today is any indication, that may be a while:
"From your conversation I understand that you wish to have Office 2003 SP2 on CD. I realize the importance of the concern. I have researched our self help website and found some information that may help you with your concern. You may download Office 2003 SP2 from the following link..."
The only potentially helpful bit of info in the email is: "you may require Office SP1 in your computer to install Office SP2."
My ISP (a national ISP) is finally getting around to offering broadband in this neighborhood (in the heart of Silicon Valley!), so if MS keeps pushing these gigantic updates, I'll have to get high speed access.
I tried to save the downloaded files to a CD. It doesn't work. I get error messages about not being able to find certain files. I'd recommend waiting until a CD is available. This is not a major update, so we can live without it for a few weeks.
Allan,
Thanks for the feedback on trying to make the SP2 CD. Did you download Office2003 SP2-kb887616-CLIENT-enu.exe or Office2003SP2-kb887616-FULLFILE-enu.exe ?
If you tried -client-enu.exe, and the update is asking for files on the original Office 2003 CD, the Local Installation Source may be missing or corrupt on the PC. According to MS, you'd have to repair Local Installation Source to do the SP2 update using -client-enu.exe. But it may still be possible to install SP2 without doing the repair if you use -fullfile-enu.exe.
Details here under heading 'Request for source':
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=57E27A97-2DB6-4654-9DB6-EC7D5B4DD867&displaylang=en
I'll post back when I hear from MS that an SP2 CD is available.
oldfield
101 Posts
0
September 27th, 2005 19:00
You might check the Microsoft site to see if they will send out the Service Pack. When they came out with SP2 for Windows XP they would send it to you. I also have slow dial-up so I had them send SP2. Also at no charge. They might be doing it with office service pack.
George
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
September 27th, 2005 23:00
They did say there would likely be a $5 charge for a CD, which is what they're currently charging for Office 2003 SP1. Guess that's minimal compared to the hours that would be wasted on a dial-up connection trying to download 91MB.
Ron
Denny Denham
2 Intern
•
18.8K Posts
0
September 28th, 2005 00:00
It's nearly an all night adventure. My download of XP SP1 (135MB) took 11 hours 50 minutes (at 45 kbps). Thank goodness SP2 was offered on CD.
abach
1.7K Posts
0
September 28th, 2005 11:00
Just a note to anyone who updates their Outlook. If you use Small Business Accounting and Outlook Business Contact Manager, the update will not allow the two to link until you open Small Business Accounting, open your company file, and update the file. This is not explained in the error message you will receive if you do not update the company file. Other than that, I don't see any major changes in this update. Most are minor fixes that can wait until a CD comes out (if you have dial up). The entire update took over 35 minutes with a DSL connection.
I guess it's time to realize that updates to software are not dial up friendly, and, since many areas don't have broadband available, waiting for a CD is necessary.
I am going to try to burn a CD with the downloaded files to determine if I can update my laptop without going online and using the Office update.
JersWork
770 Posts
0
September 28th, 2005 15:00
JersWork
770 Posts
0
September 28th, 2005 15:00
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
September 28th, 2005 16:00
"From your conversation I understand that you wish to have Office 2003 SP2 on CD. I realize the importance of the concern. I have researched our self help website and found some information that may help you with your concern. You may download Office 2003 SP2 from the following link..."
The only potentially helpful bit of info in the email is: "you may require Office SP1 in your computer to install Office SP2."
My ISP (a national ISP) is finally getting around to offering broadband in this neighborhood (in the heart of Silicon Valley!), so if MS keeps pushing these gigantic updates, I'll have to get high speed access.
Ron
abach
1.7K Posts
0
September 28th, 2005 21:00
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
September 28th, 2005 23:00
Thanks for the feedback on trying to make the SP2 CD. Did you download Office2003 SP2-kb887616-CLIENT-enu.exe or Office2003SP2-kb887616-FULLFILE-enu.exe ?
If you tried -client-enu.exe, and the update is asking for files on the original Office 2003 CD, the Local Installation Source may be missing or corrupt on the PC. According to MS, you'd have to repair Local Installation Source to do the SP2 update using -client-enu.exe. But it may still be possible to install SP2 without doing the repair if you use -fullfile-enu.exe.
Details here under heading 'Request for source':
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=57E27A97-2DB6-4654-9DB6-EC7D5B4DD867&displaylang=en
I'll post back when I hear from MS that an SP2 CD is available.
Ron
abach
1.7K Posts
0
September 29th, 2005 01:00
I didn't see the link, just went to Office update. I'll look at the files and see if I can create a CD.
Thanks!