# Going to install WinXP Pro soon, what do I need to know?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-install-winxp-pro-soon-what-do-i-need-to-know/252363>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 26, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-install-winxp-pro-soon-what-do-i-need-to-know/252363 "2004-06-26T22:45:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-install-winxp-pro-soon-what-do-i-need-to-know/252363/21 "2004-08-09T04:20:21Z")

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> [@Hermitian](#):
>
> [Here](http://www.cablemodemhelp.com/xpsurvivalguide.pdf) is a decent guide to help you avoid getting nailed with worms and viruses on the “first day.”
> 
> Many people, after they install XP, immediately get online to download the patches to protect themselves against the viruses. However, if you do not do some things first, you can actually get infected _while_ you’re downloading the patches!
> 
> This gives you a certain sequence of actions to perform after installing XP to help ensure you are not infected.

That guide is pretty good, 'specially page 8 where you [turn on the ICF](http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/use_icf.mspx). But note that you should yank the plug on your network **before** install. Going online _after_ installing XP is nothing. During the actual _installation process_, at about 30 minutes left to install, your network cards are activated. If you’re connected directly to a cable modem, your PC is likely infected _before WinXP is even installed_.

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**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-install-winxp-pro-soon-what-do-i-need-to-know/252363/22 "2004-08-09T12:13:15Z")

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check out [www.microsoft.com/security](http://www.microsoft.com/security)

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