Wow, Gary, that's about the most extreme response to Windows security flaws I've ever heard of. But, I guess if Linux is your primary OS, you're not actually missing out on much. For that matter, since the majority of patches have addressed security holes, you don't urgently need updates, either.

I'm not sure whether there will ever be another formal Service Pack for Win2K. I think Microsoft's switched over to continual, incremental, patching through Windows Update. XP's SP2 is an anomaly because of its extraordinary size and the interrelatedness of the security fixes; we probably won't see another XP SP for a long time.

I once had that little toolbar update icon, and got so sick of it I removed it long ago. Seems to have been an interim step in the move to Windows Update. Unfortunately, it was so long ago I have no idea how I got rid of it. I vaguely recall that I had to edit the registry, and some not-very-helpful references I found on the Net made the allusion without the instructions. Damn, I'm stuck. You might have better luck in an extended search. Try terms like "windows update" (enclosed in quotes to make a phrase), "toolbar", "icon", "removal", "registry", and so on.

Good luck, man!