Infopackets reader 'NCombs' writes:

" Dear Dennis,

I have Windows XP. Do I need to download Service Pack 3? "

My response:

Yes, you should download Windows XP Service Pack 3 and install it immediately as it contains cumulative / major updates to the operating system.

Without updating your PC on a regular basis -- whether it's a service pack or a hot fix, your PC is vulnerable to exploits (hackers, worms, Trojans, botnet, spamming, etc). In fact, Service Pack 3 includes a patch for Conficker worm that we've been talking about.

Microsoft Recommends Backing Up

Service Packs are a major update to the operating system and change many system files. As such, Microsoft recommends that you backup your system before applying a service pack.

That said: the last XP service pack released by Microsoft (XP Service pack 2) caused many computers to fail after it was installed, leaving a lot of folks with an unbootable (unstartable) computer.

In case this happens, I *highly* recommend you make a disk image backup of your system using Acronis True Image. This program is unlike most backup programs: it can revert your entire computer -- including the operating system -- to a previous state.

Details here:

Acronis True Image 2009 Review