Windows XP SP2 problems, things wont open

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cfuss247

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Wannabe Geek

Topic # 23147 20-Jun-2008 01:21

hi,have just installed sp2 and things are running slowly. one of the main problems is that when i try to open "my computer" i get the flashlight and it takes a few minute to open. i have looked thru ms knowledge articles relating to sp2 but nothing fits the bill. any ideas? thanks

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
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Reply # 139301 20-Jun-2008 08:29

Heaps of possibilities.

Need to start with some basics:

System specifications (RAM, CPU, HDD etc)
How many programs installed?
Windows legitimate, or pirated?
Anything else on the go slow?
Do applications load quickly?
In Task Manager, much free memory?

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freitasm

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Reply # 139303 20-Jun-2008 08:36

I would go a step further. Windows XP SP2 has been out for a few years and it provides the fastest Windows these days. It also provides lots of security fixes. If you don't had those then I had to ask if you had any antivirus and antispyware running and when was the last time you ran a full system scan?

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cfuss247

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 139320 20-Jun-2008 09:55

ok, have had full system scans with spybot, avg free 8.0 and c cleaner- no problems . avg and spy run in real time. i am 99% sure anti spy was off when i installed sp2. i have dell 4550, pent 4 -2.4 G, 35% of 100 G hard drive used 750 ram, legit windows xp home w/ sp2. i run firefox and have about 40 programs inslalled. i run perfect disk daily. foldeers are very slow to open- my computer, control panel etc. drop down menus are slow. internet and things associated w/ firefox work fine. downloaded programs like ewido download and install ok after waiting for the drop down menu.what would i have to do if anti spy was running when sp2 was installed? thanks in advance

freitasm

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Reply # 139321 20-Jun-2008 10:03

cfuss247: i have dell 4550, pent 4 -2.4 G, 35% of 100 G hard drive used 750 ram, legit windows xp home w/ sp2.

Did you have Windows XP Home with SP2 before or was this a typo?

Have you installed SP2 or the new just now released SP3 from Windows Update?

Antivirus and antispyware shouldn't have any influence on installing the service pack.

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cfuss247

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 139359 20-Jun-2008 12:01

i just inslalled sp2 about 3 weeks ago for the first time. i got it from the ms update site.

freitasm

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Reply # 139394 20-Jun-2008 14:40

And you have updated your display drivers and any drivers since then?

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Vorbis

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Reply # 139456 20-Jun-2008 18:37

Would be sp3 wouldn't it? I doubt ms are still offering sp2 as an update?

cfuss247

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 139514 20-Jun-2008 23:43

once again, it is SP2. I have updated motherboard driver pkg. am now checking conflict between spybpt and avg free-
thanks!

cfuss247

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 139518 21-Jun-2008 00:17

wow, I restarted after taking tea timer off the start up list and ...bam! everything opens properly! thank you all for your time and effort with this problem-cfuss247

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Reply # 139527 21-Jun-2008 08:04

Good to know. You should uninstall any program you are not using because some programs may have services and libraries that are loaded and since you are not using them these will using the system resources.

Also update the video drivers. These are not updated with Windows Service Packs. These are released by the manufacturer.

And I suggest you do a complete backup of your data - and install Service Pack 3.

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cfuss247

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 139655 22-Jun-2008 00:43

thanks, but i think i'll stay away from sp3

Tarq57

156 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 139729 22-Jun-2008 14:56

thanks, but i think i'll stay away from sp3

Just out of interest, why?
If you have SP3 (the full installer) downloaded, it makes it a great deal less time (and bandwidth) consuming to install updates. There have been a great number of updates released since SP2. The full installer is a 310MB ~ download, but should you ever need to re-install Windows, well worth having it saved somewhere. I think it can be installed over SP1 from memory..you don't need to have SP2 installed prior.
FWIW, SP3 was a straightforward install for me, with only a few things I needed to sort out.

cfuss247

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 139829 23-Jun-2008 06:40

you know, i'm a newb and i am frightened of having this machine not start, having to spend days to get it back to proper order, etc. when i dont have a need to mess with it. if it aint broke- dont fix it! thanks anyway