I see no chance of being infected when downloading updates from Microsoft, Norton, etc. Just don't go surfing, and have Windows firewall on while you're doing this.

It shouldn't take 1/2 hour to download Norton updates.  It only took me 7 minutes to download a nearly 100 MB Windows SP2 upgrade via cable. Turn your cable modem off while you install WIndows and all other programs you have CDs for.  The turn it back on to download any updates.

Unfortunately, it does. Downloading Norton updates is slow, and with this computer I can't download a complete update at one time. The computer locks up, and then I'm not sure if the complete update was downloaded. I'm guessing I don't have enough ram (320 megs) for a complete download so I do it piecemeal. Periodic restarts are required too, and after an update is complete it is necessary to check again as Norton doesn't necessarily include the entire update in a single download. I've downloaded large applications much faster.
Jim

You should be safe if you have a firewall. Just don't go surfing, like someone else said.

Download the Norton updates. Also, get more RAM. 512mb is almost the minimum.

Once I made the mistake of getting online with no firewall (this was before XP SP2) and I got the worm (msblaster, I think) and my computer started the 30 second countdown to restart.

(RPC, I think)

There is a thing called "Autopatcher" - www.autopatcher.com - from which you can download a file containing all the latest MS updates for Windows XP. I tried it after a reinstall of XP Pro and it worked well for me.

 

Regards, Jas.

Thanks for all the tips. 512 mb of ram is a good idea, but don't know whether I should spend another $75 (approx) on this old machine. I bought the computer at a swap meet a few years ago from a commercial seller. Getting Windows XP and Office XP for under $200 looked like a good idea, but have been nickeled and dimed to death since then. Didn't get any system software, so had to buy Casper XP to have a backup. Miniscule hard drive, and 128MB of ram, etc., diminished the appeal as I replaced them.

I'll add a link that may be of interest.

http://www.russelltexas.com/ and check the malware and check the malware and tech tips links.

http://www.russelltexas.com/antivirus/may12004worms.htm gives the information I received before an earlier hard drive replacement.