Go START, HELP AND SUPPORT, and the chose KEEP YOUR COMPUTER UP-TO-DATE. Then follow instructions.
I usually skip these 'Lets Bash MS Some More' threads because it brings out the more emotional(liberal) side of FR posters, leaving the rational thinking side of the brain to rest a bit.
One thing I've noticed was how RealPlayer (for example) can invade my computer memory and screen area and yet no complaining from anyone. Its the devil to get it out, and I haven't really got their infectus software tamed. Yet MS, which has consistantly, over the years, made major improvements to it's OS gets slammed.
The improvements are of such magnitude that I can now run really crappy 3rd party software (I have no choice but to do so) and WIN will just ignore all of the bugs in it. My computer has crashed maybe once or twice in the past 18 months. The crappy 3rd party software has caused about 200-300 crashworthy problems in that time. Task manger has allowed me to pinpoint them and 'cut-off' the offending file, or whatever. Like I said I'm not a wiz, but like everyone else I know when things aren't working.
Flame away, but when something works as good as WIN 2000 and now XP, I'm an avid supporter. It's made my life much easier.
I got my update through the auto update feature when it was released. I am always connected over cable and never had any problems with hackers. I got a hardware firewall and usually move some standard ports to another port for my own personal use. So those stupid port trolling apps those hackers use miss me all together. Flame me if you want but MS puts out some good stuff. ASP is my favorite of their inventions.