I was USING Win XP Pro with automatic updating. I use dial up network to access internet.  8-)

Recently, I renewed my hard disk and installed same operating system on it. It started downloading windows updates right from the beginning, which is normal.  

Can I somehow install the updates, which are already downloaded in my old hard disk. If not wrong, these are stored in folder: c:\windows\software distribution\downloads. If it is possible, it will save me from downloading large data again.

Please help...

jawanda56  Are you starting with SP1 or SP2?  If SP1, you can order SP2 on CD; it's by far the largest update to Win XP SP1.  See http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx.  If your Win XP CD is SP1, you might want to use the slipstreaming technique to create a Win XP SP2 CD that could be used for future situations where you need to format and reinstall Windows.

I'm not sure about installing updates from your old hard drive.  I'll be watching to see what other replies are posted.Thanks for the response.

I have SP2 CD and it was installed immediatly after installing WinXP Pro, both on new and old hard DRIVES. 8-)

My quary is how to retrieve windows updates from my old HDD, somehow?

Looking forward...

jawanda56 You will finder it easier to do it the way Microsoft likes, from the Windows Update site. The only problem comes in is with the WGA. Do you not have a legal installation?LOT of thanks, Soyabean and GK1_Man.

I will follow your advice. My operating system software is not legal, like millions others. Anyway, will continue to get updates untill WGA is received.

Great help...

jawanda56The whole problem can be resolved if it is a legal installation, but with pirated copies we cannot help. I do appreciate your being up front about it, and wish others would too.  Those shiney new WinXP CD's are worth every penny you SPEND on them...

Even if it is overpriced.

patio.   8-)Thanks Potio and GX1_Man,

Lets CLOSE this topic right here.

Thanks for the help...

jawanda56