Solidworks 2008 Service Pack 4.0 Available; Getting Bit By The Installation Manager
Service pack 4.0 for Solidworks 2008 became available last night in the customer portal on the Solidworks website. Along with a laundry list of fixes, there is supposed to be improvements in overall performance.
One area that still has some issues however is the installation manager. Now either I'm a gluten for punishment, or I am just to trustworthy, but each time a service pack comes out, I git the installation manager a chance, and it always lets me down in some way. I then end up downloading just the raw update for Solidworks, and the other add-ins get left behind. This morning was no different. Let me walk you through the process.
So first off I choose the installation manager and off I go. Notice the message at the bottom of the screen highlighted below in red? Anyone know where that documentation resides?
Once the installation manager finishes downloading (which it does for every service pack) I choose individual installation.
Alas I see something new. instead of downloading some huge file, the installation manager can download what it needs and use the DVD as a source for all the other files. Sweet! Let me dig out my service pack 0 DVD and get one step closer to service pack nirvana.
So finally they got it right and things are good. I am ready to download:
So approximately 58 minutes later, the download finishes and the installation begins. Like the screen above asks, the 2008 DVD is in my drive, waiting to assist in getting me to the new service pack. Now look at that screen shot one more time. Notice it doesn't say that I need a particular 2008 DVD in the drive?
Well upon starting the installation, it checks my DVD and discovers that its a service pack 0 DVD and it asks me to please insert the service pack 3.1 DVD so the installation can continue!
Now unless Solidworks is going to send out new DVD's to all their customers after each service pack, this method simply isn't going to work for anyone. Besides, Al Gore and his new found environmental buddy Barrack Obama may have an issue with such a vast waste of resources.
So when you go to upgrade to service pack 4.0, make sure you have the correct DVD if you want to use this method of upgrading, if not, do it the old trusty way and download the raw file.
where is the download link aq
thank you aq³
Posted by: SesRefiz | November 13, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Ken,
There is a 64-bit version of SP 4.0 available in the download center in the customer portal.
Posted by: Mike Puckett | August 09, 2008 at 11:58 AM
is there a 64 bit sp4.0?
my SWIM downloaded the 32. silly computer.
Posted by: ken barra | August 09, 2008 at 09:24 AM
thanks you
Posted by: boko | August 08, 2008 at 07:23 AM
Hi - I have the same problem with the query for the 3.1 disc. I want to download the raw file, but where? Any help...THANKS!
Posted by: Neville Turner | July 17, 2008 at 03:36 PM
i have lenovo Y510 notebook having window vista so it is not supporting solidworks 2006, can i upgrde my solidworks 2006 into solidworks 2008 from internet. please reply........thnx.
Posted by: prabhjot ldh | July 12, 2008 at 04:39 AM
Hi Mike,
This might no longer be the proper place to try to help resolve the issue. You might consider contacting your VAR, most likely they'll involve SolidWorks TS (it might end up with me) and help resolve /diagnose any issues. Best of luck.
DP
Posted by: DP | July 02, 2008 at 03:25 AM
DP,
Originally SW was installed using a SP0 DVD back when they arrived in October of last year. Since then I have done all service packs by using the download file. I always avoided the SWIM because of the file size error it used to have. Service pack 4.0 was the first time I used the SWIM to do an upgrade. Whats strange is that of the 6 or so computers I upgraded, 2-3 of them gave me this problem.
Posted by: Mike Puckett | July 01, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Thanks for the update, I've been out of the office so I forgot to ask this particular question. What was your exact upgrade path?
i.e. installed SP0 from DVD, upgraded to SP1.0 via SWIM, upgraded to SP3.1 via manual download, SP4 doesn't install because it's looking for disk.
From experience, what happens is some user's install the full download and the 'source' (good ole .msi technology) gets switched to the new full download install directory.
A good way to figure out where the 'source' (from the "use source" in your last screen shot) is to find it in the registry. Start > Run and type REGEDIT, find the following key (folder)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SolidWorks Installation Manager.....
In the right hand pane you'll see a string value stating "Install Source", if it says:
a) \sldim, it suggest it's installed from whatever DVD you have.
b) "C:\SWDist\SW2008SP3.1\sldim or some variation pointing to a local hard drive folder or network directory, it suggest it's from a full download
Just trying to help, for the most part the SWIM download and the manual downloads are the same .msp files, tried and true MSI tech with a fancier GUI.
Posted by: DP | July 01, 2008 at 02:18 AM
DP:
The file I downloaded for this issue was about 130mb or so. I'm not sure of the exact file, but it was no where near 5gb like you mentioned. Any thoughts?
Posted by: Mike Puckett | June 30, 2008 at 11:23 AM
So here goes...it think it's a misconception that "service pack" files weren't available with SWIM, they always could do this, if used to upgrade an installed version (the download option always downloads everything). If you don't believe me, check the download folder, it's a bunch of .msp files (wiki it). I've checked and the downloads actually are the same size as the downloads at sw.com. You could always use the downloads for all user's, even back in 2007, you just have to be on the same SPs if downloading the msp files.
The error your getting about the SP3.1 disk, well chances are you downloaded/installed the full SP3.1 using SWIM. Did you remember the download taking forever and consuming 5 GBs? If you did, then it was a full download and not a service pack. If service packed, you'll require the original disk you installed with (the SP0 disk you have). Hope this clears some stuff up.
Posted by: DP | June 28, 2008 at 02:46 AM
I checked the same boxes you did, but it never asked for my Solidworks DVD. It installed everything just fine and I had no problems.
Posted by: Dan Buffo | June 20, 2008 at 12:04 PM
I have 6 seats, mixed between 32bit and 64bit. I have both versions of SP0 and SP3.1 on the server. Now I am downloading both of SP4. 15gig of files to make this process hurt less.
Posted by: Todd Engle | June 20, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Mike,
I am making a new image on one of my CAD lab computers here at college using SWX 2008-09 Edu edition that I received last week. I installed SWX 2008 w/ SP 2.1 (on the DVD). I then immediately used SWIM to install SP 4. I put the DVD in the drive at the proper time - all went great - no problems.
I believe you do need the proper DVD w/ current SP in order to use SWIM.
Posted by: Kirk Barnes | June 20, 2008 at 06:46 AM
I have completely given up on the SWIM. I always do the downloads the old fashioned way because I never have any luck with the SWIM. A lot of people I talk to (including some SW employees) say that the SWIM causes nothing but troubles.
Hopefully someday they can get it working great because I definitely see the benefits of using it.
Posted by: Jason Raak | June 19, 2008 at 09:20 PM
I tried it again too for sp4, which is still not installed. I got an error I had never seen before. It said it could not find the file to download.
At a recent SWUGN Summit I attended, Greg Jankowski convinced me that the SWIM is necessary. He failed to convince me that it actually works, but I do see the need.
Posted by: Matt Lombard | June 19, 2008 at 07:56 PM