Which Updates Should I Install

I have reinstalled a fresh copy of Win XP Pro Service Pack 1, on a laptop that I was given. It has a Pentium 4, about 2.66Ghz, 500mb RAM, 60 GB HDD. The bundled Explorer browser will be used occasionally. My default browser is SeaMonkey.
I want to keep the computer as speedy as possible, ESPECIALLY FAST BOOTUP!! It will PRIMARILY be used as a diagnostic platform to run automoblie tuning software. It will connect to the Web, occasionally.
It's great, right now, as it boots and runs very fast! What is the minimal Windows update software that you recommend. Can I skip SP2? SP3? Net Framework 1.1? 2? 2 SP1?
What are the most streamlined free antivirus and spyware programs? Spyware Doctor Starter, and AVG free have slowed my desktop significantly?
What do you all recommend???

Thanks in advance,
Joe

 

Upgrading your RAM would help a lot with your speed when you start to install your malware stuff and anything else you might need on there. Just a quick thought.

 

Thank you all, for the good advice..........especially about not installing SP3.

I have installed SP2 only. I have turned automatic updates OFF. I have NOT installed any NET framework updates, and simply left the version 1.0 from original XP SP1. I have not installed any memory hogging programs, like Ipod Service/Itunes.

I did NOT install any spyware/antivirus programs, and will install/uninstall them to perform routine cleanup from time-to-time.

There are 1-2 programs that I did not install, and will use them on my desktop computer, because they are memory hogs. This laptop is mainly an automotive diagnostic tool, and is setup lean-and-mean. It's fast, but still has about 90 per-cent of the functionality as my desktop. I'll probably use it to surf the web only on very rare occasions.

Thanks again,
Joe

 

Just so you know... you don't need any of the .NET updates. The .NET Framework is used by other programs (usually 3rd party) and if you happen to install a program that requires it, the program will tell you during installation. So, don't worry about it!