Will windows firewall protect me enough to update 180 updates?

Since I have to be connected to the internet before I can install MSE, after a clean install, Will the firewall be enough protection?

At my last fresh install, I had to have some .net, a 4.0 installer, and validate my OS, before I could install MSE.

Running xp pro svc pk 3 ie8 32bit.

(Just a note, I have a xp pro svc pk 2 installation cd. No, I do not want to slipstream as various articles have said that I could not validate after slipstreaming svc pk 3 on to a cd.)

I have checked at the Microsoft Update Catalog website, there are over 180 updates. I tried to download them but the website keep saying there was an error and to contact website. Which the website would also not let me accomplish.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

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