Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:

Q: "Does that not imply that whatever baseline version disk you use will take
out all updates & patches released after that version disk ?".

A: Only as long as the "uninstall" files for the Service Packs exist. If the
Service Pack uninstall files do not exist, as in the case of a slipstreamed
version, then the Service Pack cannot be uninstalled.

I have actually tried performing a Repair Install using the original RTM
Windows XP CD or a Windows XP CD with SP1 after having deleted
the SP2 uninstall file directory ( $NTServicePackUinistall$) in Windows Explorer.
The only repair install that will work is with a Windows XP CD with SP2 slipstreamed.

With a new computer that comes preinstalled with Windows XP SP2, the
SP2 uninstall file directory ( $NTServicePackUinistall$) does not exist,
therefore SP2 cannot be uninstalled manually or via a repair install using
a pre-SP2 Windows XP CD.


Are you really that dense? You've got to be lying about actually trying
it because I just did it yesterday and so did Torgeir. Clean install
from an XP Pro SP2 CD, then a repair install from an XP Pro SP1 CD. No
errors, period. Not even a re-activation required. The box is now
running XP Pro SP1.

Steve