Post Service Pack 2 updates

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Guest

I recently had to reinstall Windows XP Home Edition on my machine because I
was complacent and did not keep up on my updates. As a result, my machine
was riddled with worms, trojans, etc. So, I used a Win 98 boot disk and
deleted the partition and installed a fresh XP. I ordered Service Pack 2 and
installed that along with Norman Antivirus. However, I still need to get up
to speed from SVC Pack2. Any suggestions on where I can find these updates
so I can download them? I won't be using my machine as I don't want to risk
it. In other words, that page where you go and your machine is scanned for
applicable updates won't work because I'll be using someone else's machine.
I was hoping someone would be able to tell me exactly where to go and I'll
download them onto my jumpdrive. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

DanB
 
Did you ever use Windows Update???

In Internet Explorer, choose Tools and Windows Update.

JP
 
DanB said:
I recently had to reinstall Windows XP Home Edition on my
machine because I was complacent and did not keep up on my
updates. As a result, my machine was riddled with worms,
trojans, etc. So, I used a Win 98 boot disk and deleted the
partition and installed a fresh XP. I ordered Service Pack
2 and installed that along with Norman Antivirus. However,
I still need to get up to speed from SVC Pack2. Any
suggestions on where I can find these updates so I can
download them? I won't be using my machine as I don't want
to risk it. In other words, that page where you go and your
machine is scanned for applicable updates won't work because
I'll be using someone else's machine. I was hoping someone
would be able to tell me exactly where to go and I'll
download them onto my jumpdrive. Any help would be greatly
appreciated!!

DanB
Click to expand...

Dan,

The problem with this approach is that you won't know which
updates to download. As long as you've got your AV program and
firewall up and running you should at least make one trip to
the Windows Update site to create a list of updates that need
to be installed on your computer. There are currently 60
critical and 23 recommended post SP2 updates available for XP.
Not all of them will apply to your computer.

If you are determined to follow your approach, go to this web
site:

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog/en/default.asp

Click on "Find updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems"
Scroll through the list to the next to last item, Windows XP
SP2.
Hit the search button.
Click on "Critical Updates and Service Packs".
Go through the list and click the Add button for each item you
want to download.
Do the same for "Recommended Updates".
Once you're finished the selection process, click on "Go to
Download Basket".
Hit the Browse button and select the location where you want to
save the files.

If you want more info on this process, here's a MS article on
the subject:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;323166

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
DanB said:
I recently had to reinstall Windows XP Home Edition on my machine because I
was complacent and did not keep up on my updates. As a result, my machine
was riddled with worms, trojans, etc. So, I used a Win 98 boot disk and
deleted the partition and installed a fresh XP. I ordered Service Pack 2 and
installed that along with Norman Antivirus. However, I still need to get up
to speed from SVC Pack2. Any suggestions on where I can find these updates
so I can download them? I won't be using my machine as I don't want to risk
it. In other words, that page where you go and your machine is scanned for
applicable updates won't work because I'll be using someone else's machine.
I was hoping someone would be able to tell me exactly where to go and I'll
download them onto my jumpdrive. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

DanB
Click to expand...
Hi,

Post-SP2 Critical Updates for WindowsXP
http://www.kurttrail.com/microscum/postsp2/

The "Download Now" links on this web page are downloading from
Microsoft's download center...
 
By firewall, do you mean the firewall that came with Service Pack 2? I don't
have a firewall of my own installed. Do you think that the firewall that
came with Service Pack 2 and Norman Antivirus is sufficient enough for me to
go and do some research? I just really don't want to go through these
headaches again. I know that there's always going to be a potential threat,
but I want to be prepared. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!
 
DanB said:
By firewall, do you mean the firewall that came with Service
Pack 2? I don't have a firewall of my own installed. Do
you think that the firewall that came with Service Pack 2
and Norman Antivirus is sufficient enough for me to go and
do some research? I just really don't want to go through
these headaches again. I know that there's always going to
be a potential threat, but I want to be prepared. Please
let me know what you think. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Because it only monitors inbound traffic, the built-in Windows
firewall is barely adequate. Still, it's better than nothing.
There are a number of free software firewalls available that
monitor outbound traffic as well:

Zone Alarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

Sygate Personal Firewall
http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm

Kerio Personal Firewall
http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html

I've used Zone Alarm in the past and found it effective and
easy to configure. If you have faith in the company whose AV
software you're using you might want to consider their firewall
program.

As you point out, the simple act of connecting to the internet
puts any system at risk. That said, I've never had a problem
using Windows update on a new system. I was confident that the
installed AV and firewall apps would protect the machine. I'm
also a believer in putting all computers, even a single
machine, behind a router that's runing NAT.

Maybe if I'd experienced the problems you outlined I'd be more
cautious. The bottom line is that you've got to decide what
level of protection is enough for you.

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
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