I just had to redo my whole computer after getting hit with a virus... I had windows xp service pack 2 before my PC crashed and then we had to install service pack 1 back on it because we couldn't find out disk from dell. When I go to the microsoft update website and search for the service pack 2, it isn't there in my updates.. it just has a bunch of updates for service pack 1 which won't even take the update.. is there anything I can do to get service pack 2?

Service Pack 3 is NOT out yet. That is the OVERVIEW!!! I had to do this too. You have to go through all of the automatic updates before Windows Update searches for service pack too. At one point it wouldn't even search for it, so I found this:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/5/165b076b-aaa9-443d-84f0-73cf11fdcdf8/WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe
It's the direct download link for windows xp service pack 2. It is not spammy or spywarish - I have that version on my computer. Should work fine. Just download and double click on the installation file.

Go to Best Buy.

Don't worry. That's not a problem.

Just goto Windows Update site. Install whatever it gives you. If it needs restart, fine, if not reload the page again. There should be more updates.

Updates are just like school classes. You need to complete class 1 to get admission for class 2. Same thing, you install update #1 and then update #2 and so forth. When you have all necessary updates for SP2 to be installed, it will be shown as an option.

Service Pack 3 is out now, go to the following link and download it. This will have everything u need.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=68c48dad-bc34-40be-8d85-6bb4f56f5110&displaylang=en

u might find it if u search it on the web or u might not get a choice and have to buy it but when i restarted my comp coz of a virus i borrowed the disk of my friends so maybe ask ur friends if they have the disk hope this helps

You HAVE to do all the service pack 1 updates before service pack 2 for some reason. I had to do that many many times, until I just went out and bought service windows with pack 2 in the first place.