Not even Microsoft upgrades come close to this level of confusion.

We need clear, concise upgrade and patch methods.
Life is already too short and too complex to deal with this madness.

How about,

        Place the DAT/TAPE/CD-ROM in the drive,
        Place the drive on line, and
        Follow the simple instructions presented on the console.

Neil (I wish) Harvey



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael D. Hensley [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 1998 11:39 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Express 4 power patch (Official answer)
>
> First, a warm "thank you" to Jon Cohen for clearly posting the
> "official
> answer".  Also, a "thank you" to Kevin Newman, who re-posted a very
> clear
> explanation last week.
>
> [Removing "sincere" hat, putting on "grumpy" hat]
>
> So, if I'm moving from "MPE/iX 5.5 Express Release 2" directly to
> "MPE/iX 5.5
> Express Release 4", I should use the "Express 3 Subsys Tape" and the
> "PowerPatch 4 Tape", huh?
>
> Let's try.  [Grabbing my "Express 3" tapes...]
>
> I have two tapes here.
>
> One is labeled "MPE iX 5.5 Power Patch".  It doesn't say "Express 3"
> anywhere
> on it.  It does have "REV C.55.03" on it, so I guess I'm supposed to
> ASSume
> it's "Express 3".
>
> The other one is labeled "MPE/IX5.5 EXPRESS 3".  Doesn't say "subsys"
> anywhere on it.
>
> I also have here a tape labeled "MPE/iX 5.5 POWERPATCH" (notice how
> the name
> of the operating system keeps changing?).  It doesn't say "POWERPATCH
> 4"
> anywhere on it.  It does say "REV C.55.04", so again I guess I'll
> ASSume it's
> Power Patch 4.
>
> According to the "Read Before Installing", I have "information related
> to
> Express 4 PowerPatch (C.55.04)".  At least the "REV" or "VUF"
> (depending on
> which tape you are looking at) seems to be tied to the "Express 4
> PowerPatch".
>
> I won't even mention the fact that in order to update from 5.5 express
> 2 to
> 5.5 express 4, you can't use the "Update OS and Add-on SUBSYS
> products"
> instructions.  You need to use the "Add-on with Tape and Manage
> Patches"
> instructions.  The "Read Before Installing" that came with the tape
> doesn't
> tell you this.  I guess you're supposed to deduce it from the fact
> that you
> don't have all of the materials needed to do an "Update OS", after you
> figure
> out that the tape you have is a SUBSYS tape, and not a FOS or SLT
> tape.
>
> And I'll leave out my comments on the "Choose Your Own Adventure(tm)"
> style
> of installation instructions, too.
>
> [removing "grumpy" hat -- hey, it's stuck!]
> ---
> Michael D. Hensley       | mailto:[log in to unmask]
> Allegro Consultants Inc. |
> 408/252-2330             | Visit scenic http://www.allegro.com