Service pack 2 is being released for Windows XP and I highly recommend it. They made a number of improvements in security and I've been running it for a couple days now. It has a built in pop up blocker, built in firewall that will pop up questions and "Learn" how you work. (for example when you do an online update with Lifesaver, it asks you if this is OK - the first time)
If you're a dialup customer, it'll take a LONG time. (possibly days, versus 3-5 minutes with dsl or cable) The one I downloaded was 266 MEGABYTES!
I believe the scaled down version will be about 84 megabytes.
They released it to developers and IT professionals a few days ago, and it'll slowly become available through the WINDOWS UPDATE very soon.
It's also possible to order it for free on a CD.
If you have XP, the best way to get it:
1 Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Performance and Maintenance.
Note If the Performance and Maintenance category is not visible, click Switch to Category View.
3 Click System.
4 Click Automatic Updates and then select Keep my computer up to date.
5 Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting "Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify" and setting a daily update.
Note: You can set the automatic download time for any time, day or night. Just be sure your computer is on at that time. (To avoid slow-downs, pick a time when you will not be using the computer yourself. The computer will need to be turned on, however.) If you set up Automatic Updates to notify you, or if you forget to leave your computer on, you will see a notification balloon. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates.
If you're a dialup customer, it'll take a LONG time. (possibly days, versus 3-5 minutes with dsl or cable) The one I downloaded was 266 MEGABYTES!

They released it to developers and IT professionals a few days ago, and it'll slowly become available through the WINDOWS UPDATE very soon.
It's also possible to order it for free on a CD.
If you have XP, the best way to get it:
1 Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Performance and Maintenance.
Note If the Performance and Maintenance category is not visible, click Switch to Category View.
3 Click System.
4 Click Automatic Updates and then select Keep my computer up to date.
5 Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting "Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify" and setting a daily update.
Note: You can set the automatic download time for any time, day or night. Just be sure your computer is on at that time. (To avoid slow-downs, pick a time when you will not be using the computer yourself. The computer will need to be turned on, however.) If you set up Automatic Updates to notify you, or if you forget to leave your computer on, you will see a notification balloon. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates.