Click on the following:

Hit the START button,
Control Panel,
Security Center,
On the Automatic Updates line, Click just to the left of where it
says, "Check Settings" (click once or twice). You want the box
to expand so you can see the more detailed view...)
IF there is a button that says "Turn On Automatic Updates", press it...
Experienced users may (or may not) want to give control of this feature
directly to MS, but from your question, I think this would be the correct
setting for making things "easier" for you, and protect your computer
better...

Running "your" firewall or other Security programs is "too specific" for me
to answer, since I do not have or use, and have never seen those programs...

Getting your system patched, and up to the current service pack level
is a very good start...

                                                        Rick Glazier

From: "holly hamilton",
> I've never posted before; I hope this is the right way to do this...
> I wanted to just ask all of you on this topic to please write more! I am
> very interested to read what you have to say.  I have just reformatted my
> computer with XP home media center edition, I have no idea about service
> packs.  And the machine works fine.

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