> I assure you, Windows XP does not update automatically without > asking (or you intentionally configuring it to do so). Also, you > do not need a LAN cable attached during installation for any > reason, especially for configuring the network settings. After > install is complete and you boot the first time, just configure > network settings as usual or auto-update settings, etc. > -Bob (minesweeper certified solitaire engineer) Sorry, Robert. I'm using SP3. Maybe it is different from what you are used to. I have spent the past several weeks installing and re-installing XP due to problems with VirtualBox, XP file formats, snapshot corruptions, trying to install XEN on top of VirtualBox (don't do that!) or any number of other problems. XP will not allow you to connect to the web if you do not have the LAN cable connected at the point in the installation when it tries to see if it can connect. I tried this several times and found the cable had to be connected at that point. But then you must disconnect the cable for the rest of the installation. The default for Auto Update is set true. After first boot, there are several places where it will start updating. There may be a notification that it will do so, but it is very easy to misinterpret or miss it entirely. When XP first starts, there are so many warnings about missing antivirus programs, firewall, taking the XP tour, and I forget what else. It is very easy to get distracted and click the wrong button, then you are hosed and have to start over again. The safest way is to disconnect the LAN cable until you have turned everything off and won't have to deal with any more distractions. Another thing that might be worth looking at. ReactOS is starting to show some good results: http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html It would be very interesting to see if Silverlight would install and run on it. Eventually they will get there. Wouldn't that be funny! Best, Mike