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Lots of folks who have installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 have run into an annoying glitch that causes their PCs to restart repeatedly. Microsoft has a patch to fix the problem, which arises from a conflict between SP2's installation program and an adware application that is lurking on many PC users' hard disks.

Many people may not realize that the adware, Total Velocity's T.V. Media, is on their system. T.V. Media displays ads in Internet Explorer in exchange for letting you download and use a search toolbar, a memory meter, and speed enhancement programs for dial-up Web browsing. You get to use the software for free as long as you watch the ads.

But if you install SP2 with T.V. Media present, your PC gets caught in a maddening cycle of constant restarts. Avoid the aggravation and fix the problem before upgrading to SP2. Pick up Microsoft's patch here. The patch will take care of the compatibility issue, but won't remove or block the adware. If you aren't using the free software (or weren't aware that you had it in the first place), I recommend removing it. Click here to see Total Velocity's removal instructions.

More IE and Windows Fixes

Microsoft has also posted four new patches that take care of six critical security holes in IE and Windows. If you're running Windows XP with SP2 installed, none of the flaws affect you. But if you haven't upgraded to SP2 yet, you should install the patches.

One is a cumulative update for IE that addresses three new critical holes and provides all previous IE security patches. The update is available for all operating systems from Windows 98 through XP SP1, and for all versions of IE from 5.01 forward.

The other three patches do the following, respectively (click on the numbers in parentheses to download): (1) fix security flaws in the way Windows 2000, NT, and XP SP1 start applications found on a malicious Web page; (2) update how Windows XP without SP2 handles zipped files; and (3) mend the way in which Windows versions 98 through XP SP1 will render Windows Metafiles and Enhanced Metafiles, which are graphics data embedded in graphics files.

Sure, these are a lot of bugs to patch. But a clever interloper could exploit any of these flaws to take over your PC, perhaps even stealing files or erasing your hard disk.

Bugged? Found A hardware or software bug? Tell us about it via e-mail at bugs@pcworld.com.

Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing editor for PC World. Click on the link for more Bugs and Fixes columns.