BleepingComputer.com: XP will not update

I have just gotten a Compaq Presario, S4020WM, it is used and but not fired up for 2 or 3 years. I was able to download XP3 which surprised me because I couldn't update it. I tried to put IE7 on also and it failed. When I go to Microsoft Update site and click or either express or custom it searches as long as you let it and if I try to close IE or go to another web page it locks up and all I can do is shut the computer off,I can do that much. I can let it search and open another IE. It is about the same with downloading IE7, I can get up to the install page and it locks up, searches as long as you let it. Yesterday I had both going and nothing. I am in the proess of doing a Compaq recovery right now. Anyone have any advice?

hopefully recovery will do it. also i think there was an issue with AMD processors (which you have) and SP3. there is a patch you install if the system is continually rebooting. you may want to look into that before installing SP3. let us know how the recovery went.

So far recovery is going good. I have updated Installer 3.1 and 3 others that Microsoft told me were necessary. Right now I am installing XP service pack 2 than maybe 3. I would like to get to Service Pack 3 and IE7. I couldn't jump from XP1 to XP3, is that the way it has to work.