Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Windows XP SP3 Boot Up Too Slow!

Aug 14, 2012 8:42PM PDT

Hi,

I recently "reformatted" my Windows XP SP2 because of a nasty virus. Now, on the reformatted new Windows XP, I wanted to download an antivirus, but the antivirus needed Service Pack 3 for it to be installed, so I installed Windows XP Service Pack 3.

I downloaded all other software which I needed on my XP. And it was just a matter of 2-3 days, when Windows XP's boot up (when the blue bar loads with the XP logo) became TOO SLOW! Sad

It takes the blue loading bar 40-45 rounds for the boot up to complete, and after the login screen, when it shows up the desktop, I have to wait 1-2 before running any app, or I would not respond.

Then I became angry...I removed F-Secure Internet Security 2012 and installed AVG Internet Security 2012. I uninstalled: F-Secure (mentioned above), RealPlayer, Adobe Dream Weaver, FistPage Editor, Nokia PC Suite and the drivers associated with it, deleted the temporary files, other unneeded files and the Recycle Bin contents, and images.

The programs NOW left on my PC are: AVG Internet Security 2012, Mozilla Firefox, Skype, VLC Payer, Java and Adobe crap, some Windows Updates and Service Pack 3, WinRar and Samsung Printer Driver.

Now the blue boot up bar takes 30-35 rounds for boot up to complete, but still, this is REALLY NOW what I want.

I downloaded Windows XP Service Pack 3 from the Microsoft website, and NOT from Windows Update.

I think this is a problem with Service Pack 3, I want your suggestions: can I uninstall SP3, and will SP2 automatically come back, or will I have to download SP2 manually, or will my Windows XP finish up after installing SP3? Becuase now I really don't need SP3 because I have changed my AV, and I just installed is because of the AV.

I have made some changes to the Windows Registry as read on several forums, and have NO startup items checked on MSCONFIG. Defragmentation takes tooooooo much time. Also, I have disabled some services which I think are not important.

Please help!

Regards,
Hassan Rashid
www.superduperproducts.com

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Re: uninstalliing SP3
Aug 14, 2012 9:01PM PDT

Can be done by clicking on the uninstall link in the blue $NTInstall folder in your Windows folder. But don't reckon your antivirus program still runs then. It doesn't only need it for installing, but also for running, otherwise they wouldn't check at install time.

What I would do: accept the situation as it is, and use hibernate in stead of shutdown (shutdown and reboot once a week or so or when needed for Windows updates). That's even faster, while SP3 with antivirus offers much more security than SP2 without. So it's better in 2 ways.

Kees

- Collapse -
Answer
SPAM too?
Aug 15, 2012 1:55AM PDT

Your tagline has spam.

But XP on my HP R3000 laptop boots in about 4 minutes. There is nothing wrong with that.

I see newer folk think that is too slow or broeken in some way but it is the right time for that hardware and what runs on startup.
Bob