WinXP Home and IE8

Hello Kees.The problem that I am having is that I had to wipe the HDD because I had a window open up that sais to the effect that Windows/Microsoft could not read/identify my OS key.Tried several times to boot the machine.I then used the Microsoft Cd to wipe and then reinstall XP Home and used the activation key on the green box that the CD came in.Once the os was installed aftyr some hassel,including Error Code 0x8ooo9ooo6 I then proceded to try to download all of the updates.NO JOY.NO SP3.NO IE8.and NO to a bunch of other security updates To say the least,this sucks.And yes,I have tried to do the updates without anti virus and firewalls disabled.That does`nt work either.Getting MORE than a little bit aggrevated.AND thats being REAL nice about it.And help is greatly appreciated.Sorry I did`nt get back sooner.NO email notification of responses to posts.
Thanks.
Leo

Thats sucks. I'd do something about that first.

As Windows comes without antivirus and only a basic firewall (why do you use "firewalls", which is more than one?) your configuration isn't standard. I'd do a new clean install and immediately - before adding your own software - let it update. What happens? "No" doesn't tell anything.

Kees