Microsoft KB Archive/898461

= Software update 898461 installs a permanent copy of the Package Installer for Windows version 6.1.22.4 =

Article ID: 898461

Article Last Modified on 5/13/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
 * Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2

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INTRODUCTION
The Package Installer for Windows is used to install software updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems and for other Microsoft products. Software update 898461 installs a permanent copy of the Package Installer for Windows version 6.1.22.4 on the computer so that subsequent software updates can have a significantly smaller download size.



New features in the Package Installer for Windows version 6.1.22.4
Currently, the files for the Package Installer for Windows are downloaded every time that you use the Windows Update site or Automatic Updates to update the computer. This redundant download can be avoided if the installer files are made resident on the computer, because subsequent updates can use the resident files. Software update 898461 installs the files for the Package Installer for Windows version 6.1.22.4 on the computer.

Note This change in behavior applies only to express installation packages that are downloaded from the Windows Update site or through Automatic Updates for Microsoft Windows XP. Downloads from the Windows Update Catalog site are not affected.

Update information
The files for the Package Installer for Windows are installed in the following folder:

\System32\PreInstall\WinSE\WXP_ _v1

Note The placeholder  represents the location of the Windows system directory. The placeholder  represents the language identifier for the operating system that the computer is running. For more information about language identifiers, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms776324.aspx

The following files are installed in this folder:
 * Update.exe.ref
 * Updspapi.dll.ref
 * Spuninst.exe.ref
 * Spcustom.dll.ref
 * Spmsg.dll.ref
 * Spupdsvc.exe.ref

Effect on future updates
Software update 898461 was first offered as a critical update. However, this software update is now mandatory.

Some of the software updates that are released on or after July 26, 2005 and that are available at the Windows Update site or are available through Automatic Updates do not include the Package Installer for Windows. Instead, these updates use the permanent copy of the Package Installer for Windows that software update 898461 installs.

Software updates that were released before the release of software update 898461 will not be modified and will continue to be offered as is. Updates that are available from the Windows Update Catalog site will also continue to contain the installer and therefore will not depend on the presence of software update 898461 on the system.

Download information
The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download the 898461 package now. Release Date: Jun. 28, 2005

For more information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Additional resources
For more information about the Package Installer for Windows, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/deployment/winupdte.mspx

Keywords: kbinfo kbdownload kbqfe kbupdate kbpubtypekc kbwindowsinstaller atdownload kbadmin kbexpertiseadvanced kbhotfixserver KB898461

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