WinXP 2 Upgrading

albertross_2

If you have (or buy) a broadband router, it has an inbound hardware firewall built in. They can be configured to block outbound ports as well, but it is much fiddlier than using a software firewall.

My advice would be to go with SP2, and if it still doesn't work, install a 3rd party software firewall, zonealarm, kerio etc..

Or wipe the PC, and start again..

The odds are that you will get hit with something nasty again if you aren't fully patched.. especially on broadband.

If you want to check your firewall is working, try the shields-up link on this site:

http://www.grc.com/default.htm