However, they are working on some type of e-mail registration and executable patching thingy that will allow people without Impulse/internet to patch the game. In a neat way, I mean, as they can already do it now by installing the game on a computer that has Impulse/internet, patching it, then carrying the game files over to the target machine by a flash stick or a DVD or whatever.

You can just use stardock central instead. Google should be able to tell you where to find it.

[Removed by moderator: We will not tolerate users encouraging the use of pirate downloads. Consider yourself warned.]

was just trying to help those with legit copies... oh well i guess u guys with updating problems just gotta wait till servers are up and pray impulse works as its intended to.

Never ever never ever never update your Windows XP to a new service pack. Never ever do that. Always download all the updates and service packs and format your install. Seriously. I've seen such ridiculous things that result from updating an existing XP with a service pack that you wouldn't believe. Heck, I've experienced one, too! Way back when SP1 came out, I made the mistake of updating my XP instead of just formatting it and reinstalling everything. Among the things it seriously FUBARed are my internet connection, which somehow got bridged with the printer port, graphics card drivers(it somehow believed I had some nVidia card for some reason, while I had an ATI 9600 XT), and remapped all my drive letters other than C:.

So the lesson here is: never update. Format.

Have an Windows XP SP2 installation disk. Failing that, have a Windows XP SP1 installation disk and the full SP 2 somewhere safe, like on a CD or a different partition. Failing that, have a Windows XP installation disk and both SPs somewhere safe, like on a CD or a different partition. Install in logical order. Apply the usual firewall/antivirus/antispyware. Dance the jigg.