I just downloaded the newest version of my AV software (McAfee) and immediately afterwards got a message saying files within XP had been replaced with unrecognised ones, please insert the XP SP2 CD. I downloaded SP2 so no CD is to hand. Any suggestions or should I download SP3 which may well sort it?

should I download SP3

I’m no expert, but that would be my first step.

you should definitely do the following:

install SP3/get Windows Updates up to date!

get rid of McAfee and replace with Microsoft Security Essentials instead.

ta!

SP3 here i come.

what xherbivorex said.

Dump McAfee, install MSI.

FYI, if you’ve got a dodgy copy of XP, the SP3 installation will fail.

Other than that, what Herby said. Then keep running Windows Update until it stops giving you “important” updates. This will give you far more protection than any AV product.

I’d be tempted to run “sfc /scannow” and perhaps do a malwarebytes scan too. If it thinks system files have been replaced, that could be indicative of an infection.

XP Installation is legit.

I’ll do a scan as soon as I can.

Thanks for the advice y’all! 🙂

(sorry about the trans-Atlantic colloquialism just used it for a change…..)