the people that have problems with Win XP are most likely LAME! sorry, but it's true.
i have zero issues with XP Pro SP2 and Win Server. rock solid. i reboot on average ONCE per month...just 'because', and not because i have to. i'm running among other things...SQL Server Enterprise, Exchange Server, Sharepoint, IIS, Apache, MySql, php, AND perl. and i have NO ISSUES!!!
for a home box...you need...
1. SP2...it's bascially a new OS vs SP1.
2. enable the built in firewall. it does the job fine. get a router. i use D-Link Wireless, DI-624, and lock it down.
3. enable auto-updates. i was reluctant to do this, but you must now.
4. get avast! virus protection...the free version. it's the best out there and works with SP2 perfectly. in fact, M$FT recommends it on their web site (somewhere).
5. get CCleaner, "Crap Cleaner". it's nice and gets rid of unwanted junk in the registry.
6. schedule a defrag once per week.
7. get at least 512mb of memory. 1gb is better.
8. get a secondary hard drive for all of your data. NO DATA FILES on primary hard drive. NONE. EVER, unless you're running RAID.
9. not necessary, but i do it...once the OS and your base applications are installed, create an image of the hard drive...once per year, wipe it clean and reinstall everything. if you know what you're doing it should take an hour. bfd?
10. RTFM!
it's not that hard. if you spend your time on a P2P, downloading porn 24-7, i wish you luck, with any system you're running.