Vista Home Premium tells me to install Win XP SP3!?

[doublet]

Hello, vista noobie here.. just been using it for two weeks on new computer - first time ever I have bought a box off the shelf... thought I'd give it a go and see what happens.
So far, ok, but today had a little odd thing happen, googled it and can't find an answer, so joined up and am asking here - hopefully I won't have too many vista problems I need solutions for!
This morning I notice a windows update icon for new updates available. As is my habit, instead of blithely installing, I checked to see what it was, and to my amazement, it is telling me I have an "Important Update" of Win XP SP3!
Hmm I thought, maybe they had me on about what my OS was... so I checked... Windows Vista Home Premium SP1.
Why would Windows update think I need XP SP3? I am wondering what will happen if I try to install it, but don't feel like rebuilding a machine today, I have better things to do with my time.
Can one of you vista gods please tell me why I get this? I have not mucked about with any settings on my machine as yet, it's straight out of the box, I have been far too busy to start playing with stuff like that.
The only thing I can think of is that I installed Frontpage 2002 yesterday. Maybe that is fooling it into thinking it's an XP box? (and I was intending to install an old version of .NET (developer, not framework) too, not sure if that will work or not either)
thank you
doublet

 

[Night Hawk]

I think you have your own answer to some point. You certainly wouldn't install any updates for any previous version of Windows.

Which release of Net Framework were you trying to install? 1.1 and 2.0 are too outdated for Vista to start with. 3.0, 3.5, and any releases that follow would be what to see installed.

 

[doublet]

thank you for responding Night Hawk,

I was wondering why Vista is asking me to install SP3. I won't be doing it, but I don't want any more updates for the wrong OS which are less obvious, so would like to know if I can specify this somewhere (it's not obvious through Windows update)

As for.NET - I am not wanting to install .NET Framework, but .NET - I am a developer and use .NET to write in.

Thank you

 

[Night Hawk]

I'm glad you clarified that somewhat so it wouldn't be confused with a developers version of Framework. It's certainly an odd one for Vista to be prompting on updates for any previous version.

The automatic scan performed by the MS update and WGA would know right off which version and edition as well of Windows you are running suggesting the older software includes some automatic updater of it's own involved there. That is trying to install updates for the version of Windows it was written for being XP.

I think you will probably end up needing a dual boot with XP or simply adding in a separate drive with XP on it for working with the old version of NET you have there. You would simply remove it from Vista and run it on the older version to avoid this type of problem from appearing.

 

[doublet]

yikes! So not going anywhere near dual boots... wanting to keep this laptop simple...

Haven't actually installed .NET as yet, so it's not that, but thinking about your response, it could be Frontpage 2002 that is the culprit, especially since the update notification came the very next morning.

I will look for an updated version of frontpage (think they killed it off though), and when I get financial, maybe .NET. I will try installing .NET and see if it lets me get away with it first... and just have to live with the phony update messages.

cheers

 

[Night Hawk]

Apparently the last version released was the 2003 edition. The page for perhaps the much needed updated version is pending at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/frontpage/FX100743231033.aspx

I suspect that the 2002 you have there is the problem. Look it over well to see if you can disable the update option somehow before removing it. That way you can still work with it. The 2003 version may see the same problem.