Windows Service Pack 2 for XP

Only computer geeks seem to know about Microsoft Service Pack2 (SP2). But this major update to the Windows XP operating system is now being distributed to PC owners via the Windows Update feature.
SP2 is a security oriented 80MB upgrade. It will prevent the automatic installation of ActiveX components (which are the leading conduits for viruses ), switch on and manage the Windows XP firewall, notify you if your antvirus software is not working, and automate the delivery of future Windows Updates. SP2 also adds a popup blocker to Internet Explorer.
Unfortunately SP2 has caused major problems on about 10% of the PC's on which it has been installed. These problems range from slowing Internet connections, hardware failures, and the disabling of some software applications.
To counter these problems, Microsoft has published a document which details the steps you should take before installing SP2. These include backing up important documents, removing spyware, and updating any existing antivirus and firewall software. Microsoft has also published a list of applications that might be impacted by SP2.
Starting in October, SP2 is being rolled out to consumers via the Windows Update. Since an 80MB upgrade would be quite onerous for dialup users, Microsoft has also made SP2 available on a free CD.
I successfully installed SP2 on a fairly new XP machine with few applications. The installation took about 75 minutes.

Your PC Just Got A New Lease On Life

Processor speed used to double every 18 months. This meant that in three years your PC was effectively obsolete. However Intel has just announced that it will no longer be increasing the speed of it's CPU's. Therefore older PC's are going to be functional for a much longer time. From my own experience, any PC with a 1Ghz or faster CPU will adequately perform almost all of today's computing tasks. So enjoy your old PC... just buy as much memory as you can afford.

Dump Internet Explorer.....Switch to Firefox

I switched to Firefox from Internet Explorer and I highly recommend that you switch also. Here are some reasons why I ditched IE:

• Firefox offers tabbed browsing which allows me to open several different webpages with one click. It's like an Excel workbook with several tabbed worksheets that you open at will.
  
• Firefox's built-in pop up blocker.
  
• Firefox is smaller and more stable than IE.
  
• Firefox opens webpages much more quickly than IE.
  
• Firefox provides a simple way to manage or dispose of cookies.
  
• Firefox is immune to the plethora of cyber attacks that are aimed at IE.
  
• Firefox 's built in RSS reader updates and delivers news and blogs in real time.
  

Since it obliterated Netscape, Microsoft has made no attempts to improve on the functionality of IE. Download a free copy of Firefox and enjoy friendlier and more secure websurfing now.