Gillian when I was using the Comodo firewall I seem to remember that the computer showed there was none installed. It caused me concern at the time too. However I think if you check the Add/Remove programs feature you will see it listed there. Click Start, click Control panel, click Add/Remove programs. There will be a time delay while the computer is listing all your programs.

Thanks! Still love working w Vista. Re watching TV at work, I work from home evenings and weekends - on other projects unrelated to my corporate exec day job. So the Vista machine is what I chose to keep from co-mingling my personal projects from actual work product. With the hours I spend away from the office (in spite of a 4-hour commute in total each day) I want to know of all the features available w Vista, including the TV/DVR one--have not had time to learn that one yet. Lynne

I highly suggest instead of trying to do it through auto updates you go to the actual page where you can download sp3 to your pc then start your pc in safe mode or with all your antivirus and firewalls disabled try to do the install of the sp3 file you downloaded. You should do a search here for sp3, there were many threads about it and the problems installing it. Service Pack 3 that is where to get the sp3 download file, it is the one everyone uses do not be put off by it saying it is for It professionals. For those that have problems using the auto update this is the one they suggest you use. Once you save the program to your desktop or where ever you save it then disconnect from the internet, turn off your antivirus program as zep instructed and turn off your firewall by going to your control panel and the security center and turning it to off. When you have done that then go to the install file and double click it to begin the install. Once done and rebooted you can turn everything back on.

Don't be paying others to do these tasks. They can be part of the learning curve moving from XP to Vista. This is not a race, you can move forward at your leisure. If you are a nervous type person always remember you can walk away for a few minutes or more at any time. Just be sure to click Cancel rather than OK at those points in the process. Cancel stops things, OK approves the last move. You will not find 'My Documents' as they are now just 'Documents'. Same with My Pictures etc. Other things seem to have been needlessly moved but a few days of playing around will soon acclimatise you to Vista. Decide if you need the installed anti virus, it probably has a free 90 day intro. Vista firewall is 2 way so you can stay with that. Microsoft also provide an anti malware program on Vista, I think it is called Windows Defender and it seems to do the job. Friends have had it on their new HP since May and have stayed clean so it must be a capable program. Remember at some point sooner than later that you need to burn a set of recovery disks. My friend's HP required 3 DVDs to accomplish the task and you can only do this once. (I wonder why the restriction?) Enjoy your new machine. You will have to work very hard to fill that humongous hard drive.