Install the service pack 2 (RC) for winXP on top of a win XP Pro installation
SP is available at /net/latte.ireland/export/home/XP_SP2RC/xpsp2.exe

Install an old 1.4.2 jre release. (1.4.2_02b-03)

open java control panel and go to update tab
click on update now button.
after a few minutes an icon appears in task bar saying
new updates (1.4.2_03) are ready to download. A dialog appears
with an option to download. Click this option.
icon stays in task bar for a few minutes but then disappears
without any further actions.

the beta service pack2 seems very buggy on the MS side, networing
features seem affected as a result. This could be a side afffect
but should be verified if so.

Reproduced on two xp pro systems.

###@###.### 2004-05-14

This bug also affects XP Home (with SP 2 RC installed)
###@###.### 2004-05-17