JS Downloader in the Virus Chest

[YoKenny]

Are you saying SP2 & IE6 are now unreliable?
Also I still use a dialup connection. Thanks

As you are on dial-up get the CD from Microsoft to take the system up to SP3

Order the Windows XP Service Pack 3 CD to get the system up to SP3 level as Windows XP Service Pack 3 has been available for over a year and a half plus it provides many Critical Updates and performance improvements:
https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/Validation.aspx?StoreID=7b7aa929-bd0a-487a-bc7e-df7631fee660&LocaleCode=en-us&JavaScriptOn=yes

What country are you in?

[DavidR]

I got a friend with broadband to download it for me, save it to CD and that was that. The full SP3 is over 300MB, it is less for an on-line install but still too great for dial-up.

This was the URL I used http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en, it is still valid.

[sweets]

I'm having someone download and make CD's for me of Service Pack 3 and Internet Explorer 8. What precautions do I need to take before installing them? Do it offline, shut down Avast, firewall, create a restore point before installing each one, what else ? Thank you
I'm using Windows XP Home Edition version 2002

[DavidR]

All I did was to ensure I was off-line, I didn't shutdown avast, there shouldn't be a need to do so, but that is a personal choice. I would certainly scan the CD first before using it.

Same thing on the firewall (you didn't say which you use) as when you install new stuff, it will make note of that so essentially you would need it on, again down to personal choice.

Making a new restore point before each installation is wise, I would also suggest that you do the SP3 one first (don't believe you can install IE8 before it) and reboot if it doesn't asks for it (I believe it will) and then install IE8 and reboot.

[sweets]

I'm using Windows firewall, but if I do the install offline does it amke a difference if I turn off the firewall? Any other tips to the install? No need to shut down Avast either? Thanks

[DavidR]

The windows XP firewall isn't worthy of the name as it is like a firedoor that will only protect from file if you happen to be on the right side of the door. So turning it off wouldn't make a blind bit of difference as it isn't recording anything about what is on your system.

Whilst the windows XP firewall is usually good at keeping your ports stealthed (hidden) it provides no outbound protection and you should consider a third party firewall.

Any malware that manages to get past your defences will have free reign to connect to the internet to either download more of the same, pass your personal data (sensitive or otherwise, user names, passwords, keylogger retrieved data, etc.) or open a backdoor to your computer, so outbound protection is essential.

It is some considerable time since I did install SP3 on my other system that I can't recall if I took any other measures some will say you should disable your AV others think it is unnecessary, so there is no real conclusive you must do this. I can't recall what what MSes view on this was/is, probably to disable.

[sweets]

Should I install SP3 and IE 8 online or offline, since I'm getting the CD from a friend?
Should I run Microsoft's free Windows XP scanner (online) before installing SP3?

[DavidR]

Personally I installed them off-line, because they are likely to ask for a reboot after installation.

I don't know which Microsoft's free Windows XP scanner (online) you mean, if a compatibility checker, that won't hurt, but any other I don't know what the benefit might be.

[sweets]

The online XP scanner was at the Microsoft website for the SP3 download.

And what about the install, online of offline, how should i do it?

[DavidR]

I can't give you specific advice only what I have done or what MS suggests if anything, the decision has to be yours.

[bong2x]

  sir/madam before installing sp3 check the compatibility of your system hardware and software because if not compatible then you cannot run a thing. and will be blame to antivirus because it is crawling or some program never run at all!

[sweets]

sorry bong i don't understand your english, could you clean it up a bit? thank you

[YoKenny]

@ sweets

What I did with my XP Pro system when I got the SP3 CD if I remember.

* I booted the system with no Internet access
* Loaded the CD
* Followed all the prompts and Shutdown
* Connect to the Internet then reboot
* Open IE then go to Tools then Windows Update then make sure all remaining updates are applied.

[sweets]

I can't do the Windows updates cause I use dialup and they would take forever. So I'm just going to load SP 3 from the CD as you did, and then install IE8 from another CD I'm getting, aseting a restore point before each event. Do you think that will be ok??

[YoKenny]

After the SP3 CD install the additional updates should not be that many.