Service Pack 2 taking quite a while to show up

I actually have some e-mail that does not involve the lottery in Nigeria, fake pharmaceuticals or pirated software. Let's try to answer them.

Question: I haven't received Service Pack 2 for Windows XP via download yet. What is the schedule for rolling it out?

Answer: It has already been rolled out, but because there are so many computers out there who need it, it's going to take awhile to get to everyone. The process is this: you turn on automatic updates in XP. Here's how: hit START then Control Panel then Performance and Maintenance. (If you don't see Performance and Maintenance, switch to "Category View" on the left side of the pane.) After you open Performance, click System. Click Automatic Updates and "Keep My Computer Up to Date."

Assuming you have a high-speed connection, when your number is up, so to speak, SP2 will show up at some point.

(Think weeks, not days.)

Microsoft's "TechNet" site offers the patch for download now if you can't wait, but that version is the whole 285 megabyte version. If you've been keeping up with patches, you likely won't need that whole patch because the Windows update version will only download the parts you are missing. If you don't want SP2 but still want other updates, search the Microsoft site for "Temporarily Disabling Delivery of Windows XP Service Pack 2 Through Windows Update and Automatic Updates," which will send you to a patch that will delay the installation for 120 days.

Question: I have a question regarding antivirus software. What do you think about "Grisoft"? I installed their AVG 6.0 for Windows. Would value your opinion.

Answer: Its AVG comes in a couple of flavors, including a free version for home use only. Obviously I am not a test lab, but I know a good one. The Virus Bulletin is an impartial service that puts antivirus solutions to the test. If you head to www.virusbtn.com, you can see the results for yourself. If you use XP, AVG tests out just fine. Just keep it updated every few days like any other virus product.

Question: I am fed up with Internet Explorer. What's the best "other" browser out there.

Answer: The leaders are Netscape, Opera and Firefox. Netscape (owned by AOL) is by far the largest and most established of the three. You can try all three and delete the ones you don't like. You can get Netscape at www.netscape.com. You can get Opera at www.opera.com. Firefox is at www.mozilla.org.

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James Derk is co-owner of CyberDads, a computer repair company, and a computer columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail address is jim@cyberdads.com.