PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
spamme0 wrote:
<snip>
What's the true skinny on updates?
I installed xpsp2 with the network disconnected
and turned off automatic updates.
But I read that M$ invades your computer anyway.
Is this thing gonna descend on me against my wishes?
WinXP SP3 cannot be offered if Automatic Updates (AU) is disabled or if
you do not choose to install it at Windows Update (WU) website.
However, you should be aware of several very important things:
1. If AU is disabled and you do not keep the machine fully patched
(i.e., install all critical security updates as soon as possible), YOUR
MACHINE IS NOT SAFE TO BE USED ONLINE OR TO BE CONNECTED TO ANY
NETWORKS!
I gotta say, I've never had ANY problems with malware.
I HAVE had numerous problems when some program updated itself and the
system
went unstable. M$ was the biggest culprit. Which program update caused
it? Who knows. How do I fix it? Who knows.
I turned it all off and never looked back.
But I do keep my drive imaged regularly.
And this newsgroup is about the riskiest place I visit.
If I'm looking for cracks or torrents or downloading porn, I use a
virtual machine
that gets wiped after each session...or my linux box that boots from CD.
2. If you do not have SP3 installed a year from now (i.e., 2010),
neither AU nor WU will offer the machine ANY further critical security
updates and YOUR MACHINE WILL NOT BE SAFE TO USE ONLINE OR CONNECT TO
ANY NETWORKS!
I did download SP3, I just have no plans to install it.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
3. MS is offering free installation and compatibility support for SP3
(and only SP3), but only until 14 April 2009. After that, you're on
your own or will have to pay $150 USD (or much higher) per hour for
such
support.
When did anybody EVER get better support from M$ India than they
could find with google?
WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx
Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3) and *only until* 14
Apr-09. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173
|
select "Windows XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"