Have you got a WindowsXP system at home / somewhere that does NOT have high-speed internet, AND you suffer the pain when it tries to regularly download patches and updates automatically / frequently to alleviate security holes.. and the process takes forever?

Well, there is a better way. A snazzy utility exists that allows you to prepare a collection of updated windows patches, and then burn the patch set to a CDROM. When you insert the CD to your windows machine, it will auto-run a patch analysis tool and install in sequence all patches that are required.

The collection is compiled from the official MS WIN Update site, and is up-to-date as of the time you run the compilation. Subsequent runs from the same "prep box" will re-use previously existing files and add new ones that have been released since the last run.

Also: I've just done a run tonight (Thurs Feb.15th) and have a CDROM here which I would happily loan / burn a copy for anyone in POLAN who might benefit from such a thing. Please feel free to drop by and pick it up. Maybe just email me first to express interest / arrange a time.

Note this is all based on the free tool "Offline Update", available at the URL, http://www.heise.de/ct/ftp/projekte/offlineupdate/ctupdate302.zip

(PLEASE don't run this application here on the POLAN network .. it does a ~500-700meg download which is a bit of a bandwidth pig. Since I've already got the thing ready here, it is preferable for you to get a copy from me, given any choice..)