dumb computer question (Windows XP)

I have a PC that was purchased secondhand from a TAFE (for eastern states ppl, that is a college that does trades quals and diploma's etc).

It has XP 2002 and SP3 is installed.

I use it obviously as a standalone home PC for the interweb, and stuff all else.

It keeps prompting me to download an update - Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition service pack 3.

It won't download, it won't install, it does stuff all. But it keeps prompting me. I guess is is a remnant of having been used on a network before?

( History: When I was using dialup, it always used to have a little icon dwn the bottom and when I hovered over it it said a network cable or ethernet cable was unplugged. Thus I thought it was at some stage networked. Makes sense.
Now I am using wireless broadband and the modem is plugged into the ethernet port doohicky I haven't seen that.)

So do I need the update? I doubt it.
If not how do I make the bloody prompt go away?
If I don't download it, and don't get rid of the prompt, will it not prompt me for any other updates that I do need, until this one is downloaded? I don't wanna miss anything important....

Hi,

we have TAFEs over here too!

Anyway this SQL server express edition is for some application on your computer that needs a little database server to run. Who knows what the application is.

Does the computer have a whole bunch of applications on it that would have been used for teaching? If so, probably the best thing to do would be to wipe the computer and load Windows on again. The only proviso to this is you have all the installation files and codes for applications you need plus you back up your data.

If you don't want to do but are sick of the update not working then you can do something like right clicking on the update icon, then manually installing the icon the going to the update list and then deselecting the update that won't install. It will warn you about not installing it. It will then go on the ignore list. I am on a mac right now so can't check it exactly.

Original disks may not be enough. Each Microsoft product requires an installation key. In somewhat similar circumstances to your problem, Mark, I wanted to reinstall XP and Office 2003. Microsoft refused to supply a key for Office 2003 as they no longer 'supported' it. They were OK for a key for XP.

I ended up installing Open Office and am happy with it - see my thread here from last January.

Hi Mark this problem is common but rather complicated to fix if your not really IT savvy.

SQL is a database hosting program. If none of your programs that you know of use a database, then just uninstall all of SQL Express from your add/remove programs icon in your control panel. If your not sure, perhaps tell us what progams you use on that PC and I can tell you if they use SQL.

The exact problem is (techno jargon warning) due to some of the sql scripts not having a complex password set, and not meeting the PC's password policy. The only way around it is to manually edit the .sql scripts and change the default password of "Yukon90_" to something more complex like "Yukon90_Password123"

There is a technet article on the MS knowledge base on this, and I have had to do it on all our SQL servers at work each time there is a new service pack for SQL 2005 (currently up to service pack 3). If you know anyone who is comfortable with editing files etc I can PM you the technet link and the steps on fixing the problem so the service pack successfully installs.

The product key is printed on the cover of the original disks. You need the original disks if you want to reinstall the operating system.

OpenOffice is a fine alternative to MS Office.

so much for buying a clean coputer with everything removed and Windows reinstalled huh



Thanks fellas


(and I learned something else - I thought TAFE was WA only and they'd be called something else on the totherside. There you go.)

Thanks GD, thats made my day I need to get a life