Kilo Siera:I just went to this page and hit the download link about a quarter of the way down:http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822603.After some more testing, I'm still seeing a sunstancial [Edit: I just invented a new word] improvement, and I'm glad others are as well. Always sweet to get free goodness like this. Many thanks to Sab12 for originally posting on Flightsim.com.

Yes thank you for the link but I still would like to know why the windows update site doesnt work.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/5...603-x86-ENU.exe[h4]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smithhttp://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/196432/winglets_lg.jpg [h3] AMD XP 2200 |MUNCHKIN 512 DDR RAM |ECS[/b ][i] K7S5A MB[/i] |GF2 MX 32 MEG and still runs GOOD!|WIN XP PRO |MITSUBISHI DIAMOND PLUS 91 19"[/h3]

The holes are mostly to do with IE and Outlook Express. Simple solution is _not_ to use them!! Why bother with patches in the first place? Use safe hex, a firewall and antivirus program plus run others like Ad-aware frequently and you shouldn't need "updates". You say your system ran fast _before_ the updates. Now you require more updates to get back what you had before. What's the point of updating if you need to continually update to "fix" the previous one??If certain games require SP1, then I suppose you're stuck but I "don't have to be nuts" just because _I_ don't play the updating game.

with the ethical and moral issues of updating aside... I was one of those borderline guys, 20fps usually, ocasional dips to the mid teens. Very usable, but always just a bit short of ideal. after a sizeable update, (im set to automatic, but obviously far behind) i gained 5fps locked at 24 and im a happy camper.it really worked :) i "feel" like there's less going on behind the scenes now. I always felt like my CPU was "thinking" while flying. I would suddenly see wild fluctuations in my FRs 24-12 then it would level off and calm down for a period before starting up again.all gone! even boosted some sliders ;-)solid!thanks

Well WOW!! I gave it a try, I went from 13-14 FPS at YVR with Fair Weather, POSKY 744, and now I get around 17-18 FPS, I lock mine at 18 and this is amazing!! For an old system like this I think thats amazing!! I was using FSUIPC but I was having some stutters and I read that if you remove it they might go away and for me they did, i've read that 3.08 works better so I will give it a try when I get home, won't work well at school.

Now I'll think 2 times to install SP1 in my XP Pro, last experience wasn't good, but maybe it is a good idea with FS9....What you guys installed, only SP1 or after the SP1, the USB patch ???Ulisses

While your measures may work to protect you from MOST worms/viruses/holes out there, it won't protect you from all of them. It's of course up to you as to whether you update your system or not, just be sure you don't blame MS when you get a virus or something that was fixed with an update a long time ago.

Everytime I've seen this error, it's been firewall related, usually something blocking port 443 (SSL).

Ulisses: This update is only after SP1.techaziod: Well I have no Firewall running or virus Scan at that time, I don't use the XP firewall, not sure why, I'll keep looking around to see if I can find out why.

with the ethical and moral issues of updating aside. I have my system set to do auto updates. As a daily gmax user, i stopped my auto updates when the update that corrupted gmax files was out.after reading this, i went and completed my update to SP1 (must have been far behind, it took like 3 hours on a d/u)I can say that this smoothed out an already OK running sim. I was one of those borderline guys 20fps normally, slugged down to 12fps on heavy areas.I gained a solid 4fps, but the nice thing is i have lost that wild fluctuation that bugged me.locked at 24fps and one happy camper, thanks for the tip!joe

Even MS can not...repeat not...anticipate each and every virus, trojan, worm or other malfeasance with patches, updates or what have you. And neither can those companies whose sole existance is built upon anti this-and-that programs. It just isn't possible!! Therefore, the onus is completely upon you the user to ensure security....don't depend on MS or anyone else. Simple, isn't it??If I didn't get a "bug" _before_ MS came out with a defense, why would I all of a sudden require said defense????If the OS functions to my satifaction (operative word) right out of the box, why would I wish to continually keep updating? There is of course a caveat: if a particular program/software requires an update to the OS in order to work properly, then I guess there is no recourse......other than to forego using said program.Interestingly enough, there has been mention about a report with respect to MS security conducted under contract by an independant firm. It was commisioned by MS themselves. The individual responsible for final analysis and signing off of the report was let go by the firm. Apparently, this report did not paint a very glowing picture of MS security!!The above is an abridged synopsis, obviously. For more info, I suggest visiting the newsgroup grc.com.It should be quite apparent that MS could instigate more vigorius control over their OS if they indeed wanted to. This could take place instead of releasing a "different and improved" version every 18 months to 2 years with the same flaws. Its not like they haven't been critisized before and by more than one expert who has suggested various forms of prevention.

>I have found through the years that MS's service packs and>now Windows Update packages have numerous unintended>consequences on FS performance by positively or negatively>affecting system stability and integrity.>>The tweaking addiction knows no boundaries!Amen, Gridley. Amen.