"SP2 is NOT AN OPTION" Well, It has always been an option, Windows update site itself gives the OPTION to either install SP2 in totality OR, to pass and simply take any OR all the security updates and critical updates thus avoiding the need to install sp2 completely. NOW anyone who has opted NOT to install SP2 previously as allowed, yet has downloaded and installed ALL the updates separately, will have to install SP2 and then they will have to download 100's mb in subsequent patches AGAIN that have since been released after the packaging of SP2. There is NOTHING in sp2 that the game/demo should be reliant on that can not be obtained separately.I think the only thing that SP2 will install that is not installed as a seperate windows update is .NET framework 2.0. and this is availabe as a stand alone installation.Many people did have problems with SP2, this is widely documented and did avoid it till now. As stated above, the windows update site itself , as well as MANY tech forums clearly implied it was not nessessary to install SP2 although recomended.

Hi,I believe that all those choices end this fall when MS stops support for SP1...Take care,--Tom GibsonCal Classic Propliner Page: http://www.calclassic.comFreeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.comDrop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

>There is NOTHING in sp2>that the game/demo should be reliant on that can not be>obtained separately.>>I think the only thing that SP2 will install that is not>installed as a seperate windows update is .NET framework 2.0.>and this is availabe as a stand alone installation.That is factually incorrect. There are other things in FSX that require SP2 to be installed aside from the .NET framework.One of the most critical of these requirements is SxS (Side-by-Side) support for dynamic link libraries. Another would be the new security requirements now in place.There are many other things aside from those two above, but even if they were all, it is sufficient... ;)