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jjohnson985
11 Posts
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30941
November 1st, 2004 16:00
XP SP2 and Dimension Performance Issues
Ever since I upgraded to XP SP2, I have been experiencing significant performance issues.
For example:
MS Outlook 2003 hangs everytime I load it (Not responding)
System boot now takes 4-5 minutes
Application launching is VERY slow!
Any thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?
j
jjohnson985
11 Posts
711
0
Posted November 1st, 2004 20:00
I agree. Absolutely awful performance on the Dimension. Outlook 2003 hangs whenever it feels like it, plus excel and many of the other Microsoft applications just do whatever they feel like.
A little help from Dell directly would be great!
Is anyone actually there?
j
With all respect to the posters, there are a number of things you could have done to lessen or negate post-SP2 install problems. The major ones in my mind are:
updating BIOS, updated AdAware and AV scans, running System File Checker, running qfecheck and belarc utilities, disconnecting all USB peripherals, installing (from a cd or downloaded) file offline with no programs running, emptying IE Temp files, deleting catroot2 folder followed by a reboot, running disk cleanup, chkdsk, and defrag, clearing out prefetch folder, verifying your System Restore is working and repairing it if it isn't. Having not used a registry cleaner would also give you a better install.
If your system has a 1 next to it (in the link below) you probably have no one to blame but your lack of experience and/or your patience. Trying to be informative, not nasty. I realize there's been numerous SP2 problems but the large majority of these could have been avoided. SP2 is a bomb but I don't know if there was an easy way to drop it, by MS or the PC manufacturers. If computer users took the time to learn how to protect their computers using available mini-updates, firewalls, AV programs, anti-spy programs, the OS, etc. SP2 would not have been necessary.
earthling30
40 Posts
711
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Posted November 2nd, 2004 02:00
Very good response and all so true. I have 4 PCS all running SP2 with no problems.
@maxd wrote:
With all respect to the posters, there are a number of things you could have done to lessen or negate post-SP2 install problems. The major ones in my mind are:
updating BIOS, updated AdAware and AV scans, running System File Checker, running qfecheck and belarc utilities, disconnecting all USB peripherals, installing (from a cd or downloaded) file offline with no programs running, emptying IE Temp files, deleting catroot2 folder followed by a reboot, running disk cleanup, chkdsk, and defrag, clearing out prefetch folder, verifying your System Restore is working and repairing it if it isn't. Having not used a registry cleaner would also give you a better install.
If your system has a 1 next to it (in the link below) you probably have no one to blame but your lack of experience and/or your patience. Trying to be informative, not nasty. I realize there's been numerous SP2 problems but the large majority of these could have been avoided. SP2 is a bomb but I don't know if there was an easy way to drop it, by MS or the PC manufacturers. If computer users took the time to learn how to protect their computers using available mini-updates, firewalls, AV programs, anti-spy programs, the OS, etc. SP2 would not have been necessary.
jjohnson985
11 Posts
711
0
Posted November 2nd, 2004 12:00
Interesting response from the recent posters. Here are the things that I did do on both my machines prior to installing the XP SP2. The Dell laptop works fairly well with the new update - however I am still experiencing e-mail issues and Office 2003 performance concerns.Updated the Bios, Updated AdAware and AV Scans, disconnected all USB periperhals, installed from a download (offline) with NO programs running, emptied the IE temp files (done daily), ran the disk cleanup, chkdsk and defragged the system yesterday. De-installed and re-installed Office 2003.So with all that in mind, and the fact that you really are not speaking to a tech neophyte, are there any other constuctive suggestions you might provide? The Dimension is dog slow right now and takes about 8 minutes to start in the morning (today!) and the performance is awful.jjjohnson985
11 Posts
711
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Posted November 2nd, 2004 12:00
There is no link below to refer to in your post.j- Sorry about the delinquent link. I'll try to get all links in this time.
Sounds like the same thing that's slowing your boot time is degrading your overall performance. If your install(s) went without incident I think you should first look at what's loading.Physically disconnect your system from the internet and all peripherals including HS modem, if applicable. Test boot time.Use msconfig to TS: Uncheck all startups and test with a restart. Add 1 at a time back.Reset services to SP2 defaults and restart. (See BV link.) Then disable XP FWall in services and restart to test.Uninstall any security-taxing software, ie file-sharing.Check your Device Manager for bangs( show "Hidden Devices"). Also, update drivers. Newest drivers for all peripherals as well when re-attaching(one at a time).No redundant firewall, eg ZA. This will be taken care of when you "disable all" with msconfig.Is the Security Center recognizing all your apps ? I trust you take care of them yourself. Might consider reinstalling NAV and temporarily uninstalling 3rd-party firewall or at least resetting all permissions, eg in ZA removing all entries.You mention Office 2003; if you have NAV 2003 that *could* be a problem. May require a patch or upgrade. Check the other programs listed in MS link.Do an online scan at webroot.com and at housecall.trendmicro.comRun the prefetch command and clear the folder out.Dr. Watson and Event Viewer gave no hints ?Did you 'create' a 2nd user and logon ? Try it.Couldn't hurt to run qfecheck, belarc, and SFC (from hard drive preferable).Disable any quick launch apps, eg IE.You could reset winsock as a last resort; don't know if this would have any bearing to startup, unless possibly with HS.These ideas are not necessarily sequential; I suggest *you* make any changes systematically, possibly making a note of each so that you can return easily. - I have an Inspiron 9100 not a Dimension (well, not one I am going to upgrade anyway). I installed SP2 before finding out my computer had the bios problem. Works fine after uninstalling sp2 but I am looking around the forums for installation tips to avoid problems. What is the catroot2 folder? What is a prefetch folder, and what is qfecheck?
The catroot2 folder comes into play when trouble-shooting Windows Updates problems; if you're installing SP2 from a cd or the downloaded SP2 file it shouldn't be that relevant. Unfortunately many people are using the Update site to install SP2, many on dial-up. I wouldn't suggest doing that. To be safe you could rename the catroot2 folder instead of deleting it. When you delete it and reboot a new one is made.
The prefetch folder helps speed up the loading of programs, utilities, etc. Like anything that gets a lot of use it needs to be refreshed. With a major upgrade like SP2 I think it's a good thing to give the prefetch routine a clean start.
qfecheck is outlined in the MS link I gave.
btw, Dell states that the 9100 will support your computer.
edgrpuchta
1 Message
711
0
Posted November 1st, 2004 19:00