Is it time to Format?

[hmmm]

My PC is about four and a half years old. It has not given me a serious problem. But I suppose it is the age now! High CPU problems started 7-8 months ago. I could not find the remedy for it. It is taking ages to boot up. From time to time it is crashing.
I am fanatical about window updates. All recommended security programs I have and update them on regular basis. So I was thinking to format and load XP again.
Big question is I have all those windows updates, SP1 and SP2, how am I going to handle this? I have no idea . I cannot possibly download all these all over again.
I have Mesh XP Recovery CD only.
An advice is more than appreciated.

[SuperSparks]

All you need to do is get hold of SP2. If you can't download it, then you should be able to order it on CD, for just the cost of the postage. I assume that still applies in Turkey anyway. Once SP2 is installed, there will be a few more hotfixes on top of that, but you should be able to download those OK.

[ProfessorU]

I keep a copy of winXP SP2 update on a USB key. That way when I do a new install I can update before I connect to the internet.
I'm a big supporter of a fresh install every one or two years. It's less necessary with XP than other OSes but it still needs to be done occasionally.
You might have the windows files on a partition on your hard drive. I haven't used a Toshiba in so long I'm not sure if you'll need a CD or not.

[hmmm]

Thank you for your answers guys.

ProfessorU, perhaps I have mislead you, but it is my PC not Laptop. I should make my signature clearer. Unfortunately I have no partition on my PC.

I hear people make slipstream CDs. Can one make one with recovery CD?

[SuperSparks]

Possibly. Do you have a folder on the Recovery CD called "I386"?

[hmmm]

Yes I do SuperSparks.

[SuperSparks]

In that case you should be able to slipstream SP2 without any problems, as the I386 folder is all that is required

Creating a slipstreamed CD

Slipstreaming WinXP with SP2

Installing WinXP & SP2 with one CD

[hmmm]

OK!!!I think I managed to burn a Slipstream CD. Is there a way to test it please?

[SuperSparks]

Not that I know of, all you can do is install it, then after installation System Properties should tell you that SP2 is installed.

[hmmm]

Thank you for your answer SuperSparks.
According to R.Maybury's page "You can test that your disc works by ejecting and re-loading it; the ‘Welcome to Windows XP’ box should appear on the screen, click Exit to close the window. If for any reason the disc doesn’t work see this week’s top tip for some troubleshooting advice. If you have a spare XP capable PC you could try installing it for real but do not try to activate it since this copy of XP is already running on your main PC. Now all you have to do is label the disc, keep in a safe place and hope that you never need to use it. "
http://www.rickmaybury.com/bootpages/boot06/429.htm
Unfortunately my disc did not behave as described above. I think I made a mistake as I was burning the CD. I will try again and let you know.