XP slow to get up to full speed...

[Pixelwhip]

I made a good "clean" upgrade to WinXP without a hitch several weeks ago. Now, I am experiencing quite a long delay after booting up, logging in before I can actually launch anything. Mainly my internet connection, (which is a DSL in a USB port).

A few minutes ago, I rebooted and clicked on "My Computer" to locate and move some files but I got a blank window with the panning flashlight.

Usually what I experience with my internet connection is that it will finally pop up the window to "Dial" after about two or three mins AFTER I click on the icon. As soon as I click on "Dial", it rocks.

Any suggestions???

[nullCRC]

Have you used task mamager to see if anything is hogging the processor 100%? Any needless apps running in the systray?

[Pixelwhip]

Yes, that's the first thing I checked. The CPU usage is idle at 1% or under and I don't see any programs running that are large enough to be slowing everything to a halt.

Everything I mentioned above happened again this morning. It took almost five minutes for my local drives to show up. During that time, nothing can be done. It's almost as if it's locking up.

I am starting to think about trying to boot with the XP disk to see if it has a repair option.

[nullCRC]

Have you disabled all of XP's frillware and set it to look like W2K? Are you running any themes?

During the "flashlight", can you do a Task Manager and see what it's searching for?

[Pixelwhip]

I am not using any themes but I am using the XP style. I can ctrl/alt/del to get the task manager up while the flashlight is moving but it doesn't show anything irregular.

The one thing that is different to me is the NewsUpd.exe is always running. I did some research on that last night and it seems to be some kind of spyware that I will be getting rid of asap.

I'm stumped.

[nullCRC]

You can kill that. Comes with a lot of Creative Labs software. How many processes are running?

[Pixelwhip]

Quite a few but the percentage of CPU usage is nothing.

When I looked at the processes, I didn't see any that should or could be removed/stopped. I will check to see if there are any new driver releases for any of my hardware. That's highly doubtful though.

[nullCRC]

I mean tlike needless services (remote registry service, MS remote repair crap, etc.)

[Pixelwhip]

Some of that junk "may" be running. I am at work now on a good 'ole 2k machine. I will check for those processes when I get home.

When I have a program that shuts down following an error, it asks if I want to report the problem to Microsoft. Is this something I can remove? If so, how? Add/Remove progs, Windows comps?

Thanks a lot for your help.

[Pinky]

Had exact same issue lately when I added a PC to route through/share my internet connection. Two things ended up happening: 1 -- went back to a prior/slower Radeon driver, and 2 -- I ran windows update and downloaded a new Intel patch/driver. Once I did these things and had my network properly installed it worked/works fine.

[nullCRC]

Originally posted by Pinky
Had exact same issue lately when I added a PC to route through/share my internet connection. Two things ended up happening: 1 -- went back to a prior/slower Radeon driver, and 2 -- I ran windows update and downloaded a new Intel patch/driver. Once I did these things and had my network properly installed it worked/works fine.

You think it may be trying to finalize network settings, in that it's slightly off kilter?

Is it DHCP or Static for the DSL?

[Pixelwhip]

Honestly, the more I think about it, it could be the modem driver. I had to install/uninstall/re-install it several times when I upgraded. I am curious to see if there could be some misc. debris from one of the failed installations.

It's DHCP. The modem is an Alcatel USB. I'm going to their site now to check for an update.

[mrpcman]

just a long shot....http://www.cyberwizardpit.com/article2.htm

[Pixelwhip]

ARRRGGGHHH...thanks but that didn't fix it either. I've spent the last six hours working on this one problem and it's still here.

I have combed through all of the trouble shooting files included with XP and still no dice. I've even tried to use the XP disc to "Repair" the installation but that wouldn't work either. All I could get after logging into the recovery console was "C:\windows\" . Of course a cursor was after the last slash but only dos comands would take. I don't know what to do from there.

FYI, my hardware is:

T-Bird 1gig
512 crucial mem
40 gig Maxtor 7200rpm HD
Abit KT7A (no RAID installed)

This is crazy. It just sort of crept up on me. I don't know what else to try.

[Pinky]

Originally posted by Pixelwhip

This is crazy. It just sort of crept up on me. I don't know what else to try.

Are you using IIS? I forgot to mention I also reinstalled this since for whatever reason people just couldn't connect to me anymore... I did many things at the same time and honestly can be sure which worked, but I saw immediate returns when I updated the Intel NIC drivers with windows update.

I still think this is networking slowing you down, it was for me and I know i was having the exact same issue... try running the home networking wizard again(?)...

[Pixelwhip]

I'll try the networking wizard next. If nothing else works, I'll just have to resort to a re-install. I have my HD partitioned so that C is only Windows and D contains most if not all of my other software. The thing I'm worried about is losing my docs, images, etc...

Oh, and I'm not running IIS on that machine. (it's the home version)

Thanks guys. (the lack of sleep is starting to fog up the old brain gears....)

[Pixelwhip]

Just ran the Network Wizard after re-installing XP and I'm STILL having the problems.

Anyone else have a suggestion????

[nullCRC]

A reinstall or a wipe and install?

[Pixelwhip]

Well, it treated it like "an upgrade" but I can't tell one ounce of difference.

I was trying to avoid a wipe/install but it's looking like that's going to be the only way out.

[Pinky]

Originally posted by Pixelwhip
Well, it treated it like "an upgrade" but I can't tell one ounce of difference.

I was trying to avoid a wipe/install but it's looking like that's going to be the only way out.

Reinstalls without fdisk and lowlevel format is almost always a waste.