> I believe in "If it ain't broke don't fix it," and other than this new
> problem my system works perfectly [without SP3 installed]...
> I'm very safe with no anti-virus or anti-spyware software.
Uh-huh...
Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of
Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT
fix this!
HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307
After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers) and
before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been
freshly formatted:
4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx
Other helpful references include:
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b
Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029
NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the
appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application
(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).
Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe
McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe
Also see:
Risks & Benefits of P2P file sharing
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/data/downloadfileshare/filesharing.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2008/10/06/the-cost-of-free-software.aspx
Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx
Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx
Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx
If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.
Repost: Extended Support for WinXP (x86) SP2 ends on 13 July 2010. After
that date, computers running WinXP (x86) SP2 will NOT be offered any further
critical security updates, Automatic Updates will not work, and Windows
Update website will not be accessible until SP3 is installed.
What does it mean if my version of Windows is no longer supported?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/what-does-end-of-support-mean
--
~PA Bear
Ethan Winer wrote:
> Thanks for replying Robear.
>
>> Is IE8 configured as your default Browser?
>
> No, I use Firefox as my default, with no ActiveX or any other plug-
> ins. This way I can browse anywhere safely. When I need to go to
> YouTube etc I launch IE manually.
>
>> Why isn't WinXP SP3 installed yet?
>
> I believe in "If it ain't broke don't fix it," and other than this new
> problem my system works perfectly. My PC is finely tuned for editing
> audio and video, with all unneeded background programs disabled.
>
>> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
>> subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than
>> Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these
>> applications running in the background when you installed IE8?
>
> I don't have any such software running or even installed. I'm behind a
> hardware firewall, so between the firewall and no plug-ins in Firefox,
> I'm very safe with no anti-virus or anti-spyware software.
>
> Note that all other attachments seem to open okay. It's only JPG and
> GIF files that are ignored.
>
> If I change the default program for viewing JPG and GIF files to be
> IE8, then I can view images from within OE. But I don't want to use IE
> to view images because I rely on the ability of Windows Picture and
> Fax Viewer to easily resize using the mouse scroll wheel. I often get
> very large photos from people unskilled in photo editing, so it's
> convenient to view them with Windows Picture and Fax Viewer since it
> resizes images automatically.
>
> Thanks again for any advice you might have.
>
> --Ethan