How to help protect your computer if you decide to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your Windows XP-based computer or from your Windows XP Tablet PC 2005-based Tablet PC (878454)

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To help protect your computer or Tablet PC if you decide to remove Windows XP SP2, follow these steps:

1. Disconnect any Internet or network connection that you have on your computer including any "always on" connection such as DSL. For example, unplug the network adapter cable that is connected to your computer.
2. Remove Windows XP SP2 from your computer or from your Tablet PC.
   
   For additional information about how to remove Windows XP SP2 from your computer, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   875350 How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your computer

3. After you remove Windows XP SP2, restart your computer or Tablet PC.
   
   Note Make sure that your computer is still disconnected from any Internet or network connections.
4. After your computer has restarted, turn on Internet Connection Firewall in your earlier version of Windows XP. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
   2. Click Network and Internet Connections.
   3. To make sure that the Internet Connection Firewall is turned on for all your Internet and network connections, follow the appropriate steps for your computer:
      • For an Internet connection such as a dial-up connection, follow these steps:
        1. Click Internet Connections.
        2. On the Connections tab, click your connection that is located in the Dial-up and Virtual Private Network settings box.
        3. Click Settings.
        4. In the Dial-up settings area of the Settings dialog box, click Properties.
        5. On the Advanced tab, click to select the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box, and then click OK.
        6. Click OK to the following message: The changes will be effective the next time you use this connection.
        7. Click OK to close the Settings dialog box.
        8. Click OK to close the Internet Properties dialog box.
      • For a network connection, follow these steps:
        1. Click Network Connections.
        2. Right-click your connection icon, and then click Properties.
        3. On the Advanced tab, click to select the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box, and then click OK.
5. Reconnect your Internet or network connection that you disconnected in step 1, and then connect to the Internet.
6. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer, and then visit the following Windows Update Web site:

   http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com

7. Click Scan for updates.
8. Click Review and install updates.
9. In the list of updates to be installed, click Remove to remove the update for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).
10. After you remove Windows XP SP2 from the list of updates to be installed, click Install Now.

After you update your Windows XP-based computer or your Windows XP Tablet PC 2005-based Tablet PC with the most current updates that are available from the Windows Update Web site, leave the Internet Connection Firewall turned on as described in step 4. We recommend that you reinstall Windows XP SP2 by using the Windows Update Web site.