Could you use something like Tiny Personal Firewall or Zone Alarm to block Windows XP from sending out stuff? Or, would it start complaining that it couldn't send "vital" information? I wouldn't expect Windows XP's own firewall to block it, so it would surely be a third party one. Or, you could put it behind a Linux box and have it block the crap it is trying to send out. I had heard rumors about Windows XP doing this sort of stuff, so that's why I've avoided it. I'm still dual booting with Windows 95. Does Windows 2000 send out all your serial numbers and track you like that?