You are walking into a minefield here, jdvock.
There are three schools of thought regarding this topic.
1. Download and install
every update, whether they be Critical Updates, Windows XP Updates, or Driver Updates.
2. Download Critical Updates and Service Packs only.
3. Don't download or install
any updates.
Many experienced regulars on various quality forums advise users not to install
any updates, as they strongly believe that the updates, whether they be Critical Updates, Services Packs, Hotfixes, or otherwise, cause more problems than they claim to fix.
They justify this by using a quality software Firewall and AntiVirus, up-to-date at all times, properly configured, coupled with a hardware router what is NAT (Network Address Translation) and SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) enabled. They also practice ‘safe surfing’ and regularly scan their systems with quality anti-spyware/adware/scumware/malware software. They are also very careful what they download and
never open email attachments they are not expecting, deleting emails with attachments they were not expecting.
The aforementioned paragraph, I personally advocate and strongly agree with.
My take on the debate is, after you have read and understood the relevant Critical Update and Service Pack MSKBA, do what you feel is right for you and your computer. As is the norm, what will be fine running on your computer, does not necessarily mean that it will run okay on another’s.
Regarding Windows Updates in general,
not Critical Updates and Service Packs, I, personally do not download or install any of them. I believe in the maxim, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Many users download and install way too many drivers, etcetera, for my liking, when there is absolutely nothing wrong with the service their current driver is providing. They also wonder why the newer drivers are causing a conflict, when their previous driver was working perfectly fine.
You can slipstream SP1 and SP2 by using the following methods: -
Create A Bootable Windows XP Installation CD Slipstreamed with SP1
Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Good luck, whatever you decide to do........................
