you don't need to connect the machine to anything to download any updates from microsoft
example, you could download the DX9 full redistributable (Directx 9 Redist), so it can be installed on any machine, that goes for any DX version you search for on microsofts offical download site.. just don't download anything from an unoffical site.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dow...109&751be11f-ede8-5a0c-058c-2ee190a24fa6=True
I would also advize against installing any un-needed updates for the app to run, as *almost ANY update will only make your machine run slower. besides MS's notorious legacy for fubaring updates, and besides seems like your only using it for offline apps... and even IF not, if your not using it for anything important/very personal, still No need for updates.
personally If anything in my opinion, I'd only recommend an aftermarket firewall... which you can enable/disable at will. as long as your willing to read instructions and set it up proper... Otherwise Forget it completely as well, since improperly set firewall is useless.
searching through the bellow link, also use to allow download of any indevidual security update, however I'v not used or looked at it in ages... So I dont know if microsofts sites have altered much
https://technet.microsoft.com/security/bulletin/
but like i said, doesn't sound like you need them. just for your own reference.
If i remember correctly, EpsxE ran fine on al old ~1ghz celeron... Just not at very high settings, and perhaps may need an aftermarket GFX card, not a powerfull one, just so the CPU Bus isn't bogged down with integrated gpu. May or may not tho i don't remember. why you using pSX anyway?
If you deside to reformat you old win2k machine. just FYI, you'l want to install system drivers in this order.
-DirectX
-SMBus (System Bus driver)
-Any other Bridge Drivers such as IDE or Raid, etc if applicable, usually for the diskdrives
-than anything else, i usually did audio and whatever, then video last.
Theres a lot of open source live bootable OS backup imaging software these days as well, just fyi, that can image your OS at any stage so to give you kind of like restore points if you need to go back an change out conflict drivers.