SP2 Help Needed

okay... for some reason i have this irrational belief that SP2 is going to screw up my computer when i try to install it... i've got everything running smoothly on my computer just the way i like it, no spyware or any problems whatsoever so that's where my hesitation comes in with downloading SP2 but i know it's needed/recommended... i'm running on Windows XP Home

i have a few questions i want to clear up before i try to install it;

1) Do I need to disable my Sygate Personal Firewall to install SP2? Or grant access to certain Windows Components (like Windows Explorer) or anything?

2) Do I need to disable my antivirus, Avast Antivirus, to install SP2?

3) Do I need to disable anything in my startup that might conflict with the installation process? I do use Windowblinds, and here's what I got running at Startup:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/ANHEDONIC/Startup.jpg

4) Also, I remember when installing SP1 it gave you the option of archiving the files when you installed it so that it could be removed. I know this takes up disk space so what is recommended for this if it prompts me again for SP2? I'm guessing No.

I know I need to access the Windows Update site with Internet Explorer and not Mozilla Firefox (my browser of choice)... I appreciate your help...

 

I think the article in the link below will handle all of your questions, but DO download the whole thing (or use the CD) so that you don't have to be connected to the Net while you do the installation, AND yes, it would be a good idea to disable your AV and your firewall (after you disconnect entirely from the Internet), and it would be a good idea to accept the redundant backup of files and leave it in place for a couple of days ... and then DUMP it.

http://computingsolutionsunlimited.com/SP2_for_XP.html

 

Wisewiz how can i get the SP2 CD?

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

 

thanks Kodo... i ordered the CD online, they said to allow 4-6 weeks for delivery but i got it in 3 days...