Harry Newton writes
Don't mess with it. There's an old rule in the computer industry: If it works, don't mess with it. Microsoft has just released something called SP3 (Service Pack 3) for Windows XP. Microsoft recommends you install SP3 because it provides more protection and 1,174 patches and hotfixes. I didn't make that number up. I have not installed it. But reading ComputerWorld makes me fearful. There are potential problems -- from your computer may simply not work after you've installed SP3 to a host of incompatible driver problems. If your XP is working fine -- and mine are (I have several machines with XP on it them) -- don't tempt fate by installing SP3.
Most importantly, turn off the software that's called "Automatic Updates." You don't want Microsoft messing up your machine while you're at lunch. What blew me away: the XP SP3 stand-alone installer weighs in at an incredible 316 megabytes. That's a lot of code. To me, that looks like a brand-new replacement operating system. That's not a gamble I want to make. For more, read ComputerWorld.
