Should I enable Windows XP Automatic Updates?

Turn it off and download them manually. Sometimes MS releases updates which soon turn out to be faulty for want of a better word. Then based on user feedback they release and updated version of that update. If you want to be a guinea pig for the MS updates as and when they're released then go ahead. Otherwise just wait until they're stable (no bad reports have been made) and then go ahead and download them. No version of Windows is that poor that you have to have the update on the day of release - if you think that then stop using Windows.

If you do there is a risk that an automatic update will give you problems.

If you don't there is a risk that your computer will be attacked by a virus (malware) that exploits a fault that has been fixed by an automatic update. So using automatic updates gives you immunity to some computer viruses.

Both risks are small but I think the second risk is, for the average computer user, greater than the first.

There could be. I had my computer set on automatic updates and because of this SP3 downloaded and played hell with my computer to the point that I had to do a system recovery.

Yes this is extremely important that you enable this as this can download important software automatically. It will update your security and drivers frequently. So you should have this enabled.

There is no risk from this, as its run from the same company as your operating system.

You should leave it on, because it includes important bug fixes and such to keep your system safe from hackers or anyone else trying to take over your computer. What I do is select the "Notify me but don't actually download and install them" button so I can select and choose what updates to install and when to do it. I normally let all updates install, but sometimes I will stop, say, sp3 or IE7 (not security patches) from installing because I don't need or want them yet.

Of course, there's no point in not having updates and to have it update automatically you never have to worry about it.

I never come across any issues with enabling automatic update, provided that your hardware capable enough. For example, you cant afford to update XP SP2 on x386 machine. it will crash!!

It gave me problems,I had a pack coming in my computer trough the update that f**cked it up completely.So from now on,I´m not updating.

It saves you the trouble of remebering to do the update your self

I update on my own actually.I never had a problem either way.