critical updates and service pack question

[jhest]

I currently use Windows XP Home edition and just replaced my motherboard. As a result I had to do a clean install of XP. I went to the update page to get the updates to bring everything up to date. The search showed that there were 41 critical updates and service packs available. I had everything up to date before I replaced the motherboard. My questions, do I have to install all of this to get current? Do any of the service packs cover everything from the date of the service pack all the way back?

If I have to install all of this is there any recommended order in which it should be done and how many to do at one time? I would not want to download 41 and install all this at one time.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot for your help.

Jim

[scouse]

when you go to windows update page it checks you OS to see what updates you need if it says you need all them then you will need them and will not have any of them already. you can downlaod as many as you want from 1 at a time to what ever you want, if you are on broadband then do them all at once click review updates then install, if you are on dial up then choose 1 or 2 at a time only.

also the service pack will not cover all those updates the service pack will be just 1 of those critical updates so you ahve a lot to downlaod, also you should get SP1 on disc it is easyier for when you ahve to do reinstalls.

[ESALADUANE]

As I recall, you should download SP1 first, and Windows Media Player and DirectX 9 should be downloaded separately. The rest can be downloaded in any order (either indiviually or as a group).