I totally agree with you. Ever since I downloaded SP2 all sorts of mysterious things happen to my PC. 'Bout time, I think, that Microsoft or DELL come clean about this because clearly the SP2 has not matured as yet.
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.
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.
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.
Very good response and all so true. I have 4 PCS all running SP2 with no problems.
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.
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.com
Run 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.
I am confused, what does this mean? "Dell states that the 9100 will support your computer" Do you mean that the 9100 supports sp2? Also the prefetch folder looks pretty scary. Do you just delete all the files in it? What does the folder do?
Also, ran qfecheck. My computer does not seem to have a name so I don't understand instructions where it says how to create a log file. When it runs at the end it says something that I can't read because it clears from the screen too fast. Belarc Advisor is a little confusing. (But pretty cool!) It lists that some hotfixes lack data to allow verification. One says it failed and needs to be reinstalled. When I checked that hotfix Q817472 it says to install with next service pack and should only be installed before that if my computer is really having problems with it. To my knowledge I'm not. I double checked the Windows Update for any critical updates (the non-express option) and there are no updates listed except for sp2. I think all I have left to dry run with are testing system restore, running the scan now thing, and clearing out prefetch. Then I start the real thing when I can afford to have my computer down for awhile. The agony of dreading this is really awful.
Message Edited by tbracer44 on 11-03-2004 03:21 PM
Forget my "supported" comment; execute all the preparations mentioned and you'll likely be ok. If you ran the install from a cd or the available downloadable file instead of from the update site you'd increase your odds of a good install.
Yes, delete all the prefetch entries in the folder. Read this:
Run the qfecheck from the Command Prompt(in Accessories); just enter this:
qfecheck
Definitely uninstall the Hotfix Belarc said had failed and reboot. Do the same for any failed installs that show up when you run qfecheck.
If you're using a 3rd-party firewall like Zone Alarm I would (for the purposes of the WindowsUpdate install, if you go that way) use the command msconfig to prevent it from running at startup. Enable the XP (ICF) firewall instead.
I ran the qfecheck from command prompt (rather than run, like a dummy) and it says the same thing Belarc said about the hotfix Q817472, to reinstall. I can't find anything to suggest I have ever had this on this computer. It is not in add/remove. Microsoft's support site says not to install this patch but wait for next service pack. I am wondering if this is a holdover from uninstalling sp2 or the sp2 hotfixes Dell had me uninstall. If it is not in add/remove how can I remove it, and the other question is do I need to remove it? All the other stuff seems fine.
Thanks for the link about the prefetch folder. That makes me feel more reassured about cleaning it out. I do have the cd, I will not install from auto updates. This is so ironic because my daughter's Inspiron 1100 automatically downloaded sp2 to her machine and installed it all on its own. She did spyware sweep it regularly and used auto updates on her McAfee (my general advice), but she had tons of software downloaded from internet sites and she had absolutely no trouble with her computer, and I am hysterical about reloading sp2. It ain't fair!
I'm not sure about 817472; you either had to request the hotfix directly from MS or, and more likely, SP2 tried to install it and failed. I'm guessin that you use standby a lot. Take a look at this article. Pay special attention to the work around directions. I would think you would want to make this change to the Primary IDE Channel for our purposes. I'm over my head but I don't think resetting it to its default would do any harm.
I had seen that link but hadn't checked further. I just did what it suggested and checked the IDE controllers in the Device Manager Advanced settings and it said it was running in DMA mode not PIO. It also says that this is fixed in XP sp2 which is what I am going to be reinstalling. I am really leery of doing anything with this if I don't know it is a problem.
Primary IDE Channel Properties
Device 0: Auto Detection (greyed out)
Transfer Mode:DMA if available
Current Transfer Mode: Ultra DMA Mode 5
Device 1
Device Type: Auto Detection
Transfer Mode: DMA if available
Current Transfer Mode: Not Applicable
Secondary IDE Channel Properties
Device 0: Auto Detection (greyed out)
Transfer Mode: DMA if available
Current Transfer Mode: Ultra DMA Mode 2
Device 1: Auto Detection
Transfer Mode: DMA if available
Current Transfer Mode: Not Applicable
Don't know why I have that icon in my message, I didn't put it in and can't seem to find it in editing!
Message Edited by tbracer44 on 11-04-2004 09:27 PM
Message Edited by tbracer44 on 11-04-2004 09:30 PM
edgrpuchta
1 Message
0
November 1st, 2004 19:00
jjohnson985
11 Posts
0
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
simpswr
2 Intern
•
3.2K Posts
0
November 1st, 2004 22:00
Hmmm . . so far, every machine I have installed SP2 on has run more nimble that with SP1 . .
wrs
maxd
2 Intern
•
2.4K Posts
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November 2nd, 2004 00:00
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
0
November 2nd, 2004 02:00
Very good response and all so true. I have 4 PCS all running SP2 with no problems.
jjohnson985
11 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2004 12:00
jjohnson985
11 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2004 12:00
maxd
2 Intern
•
2.4K Posts
0
November 2nd, 2004 15:00
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.
tbracer44
43 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2004 22:00
maxd
2 Intern
•
2.4K Posts
0
November 3rd, 2004 14:00
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.
tbracer44
43 Posts
0
November 3rd, 2004 18:00
Message Edited by tbracer44 on 11-03-2004 03:21 PM
maxd
2 Intern
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2.4K Posts
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November 4th, 2004 00:00
Forget my "supported" comment; execute all the preparations mentioned and you'll likely be ok. If you ran the install from a cd or the available downloadable file instead of from the update site you'd increase your odds of a good install.
Yes, delete all the prefetch entries in the folder. Read this:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1684578,00.asp
Run the qfecheck from the Command Prompt(in Accessories); just enter this:
qfecheck
Definitely uninstall the Hotfix Belarc said had failed and reboot. Do the same for any failed installs that show up when you run qfecheck.
If you're using a 3rd-party firewall like Zone Alarm I would (for the purposes of the WindowsUpdate install, if you go that way) use the command msconfig to prevent it from running at startup. Enable the XP (ICF) firewall instead.
tbracer44
43 Posts
0
November 4th, 2004 20:00
maxd
2 Intern
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2.4K Posts
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November 4th, 2004 23:00
Sometimes it appears ignorance is bliss.
I'm not sure about 817472; you either had to request the hotfix directly from MS or, and more likely, SP2 tried to install it and failed. I'm guessin that you use standby a lot. Take a look at this article. Pay special attention to the work around directions. I would think you would want to make this change to the Primary IDE Channel for our purposes. I'm over my head but I don't think resetting it to its default would do any harm.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;817472
PS If there's someone that knows hardware please jump in with corrections.
After you do this and 1 registry edit I bet you will be good to go.
tbracer44
43 Posts
0
November 5th, 2004 01:00
Message Edited by tbracer44 on 11-04-2004 09:27 PM
Message Edited by tbracer44 on 11-04-2004 09:30 PM