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Windows update drastically slows down my computer

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by cap'n billy

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After an automatic Windows Update on 03/12 my XP Home SP2 system slowed to a crawl, and now it's almost impossible to get anything done. When this first happened I used System Restore to take it back to before the update and it ran normally. Unfortunately I neglected to turn off the automatic update feature, so it soon did it again when I wasn't looking. After that happened I got the bright idea of removing the updates via the Add/Remove programs feature instead of System Restore. Big Mistake. It didn't solve the problem, and now when I attempt to run System Restore it is unsuccessful. I've tried numerous times, including after I have run Windows Update and installed all the latest updates again, and it still fails. So now I'm stuck with a snail for a computer. Any ideas on how I can correct this problem? Thanks.

20 replies

by rob miners

Restart your computer and press [F8] during the initial startup.
When you see the Windows Advanced Options Menu, select the Safe Mode with a Command Prompt option.
Select the Windows XP operating system.
Log on to your computer with an administrator account or with an account that has administrator credentials.
Type the following command at a command prompt:
C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
Follow the onscreen instructions to restore your computer to an earlier state.

How and Where System Restore Points are saved:

Restore points are saved in under x:\system volume information\_restore{558C94FD-3C7F-4954-A02D-
26679E6D849E}. Each restore point's files are saved in a folder named RPXX where XX is a two digit number
corresponding to the restore point.

by l-mo

Why command line? Is there a difference? Will this produce a different result than running the GUI?

Wil there be additional restore points or something?

by thumbsup2

.... a screwed up system runs a screwed up GUI. ;)

by cap'n billy

Thanks for the suggestion. I performed that procedure but got the same result. It also occurred to me to try to undo the restoration I did on 3/12, which I did but was also unsuccessful. I'm currently in the process of backing up my files, and if I'm not able to correct this I'll do a repair install, and if that's not successful I guess I may be looking at a full reinstall. I can't live with the current situation. Meanwhile if you or anyone else has any additional suggestions I'd be glad to hear them in hopes of avoiding the final solution. Thanks for your help.

by rob miners

hope the inplace repair does the trick for you. You could try sfc /scannow first, if you have the time.

by cap'n billy

I ran the SFC scan, restarted and saw no difference. I then decided to run Detect and Repair of Office, and after that was complete my computer suddenly started running normally, and that is the situation as I write. However, during all this my automatic Windows updates got turned on and 3 updates got downloaded. I stopped them from installing and they are sitting there waiting. Also sometime during this episode all my restore points got wiped out (not that they were doing me any good). I suppose I can install those 3 updates and restore my system if the same thing happens again (making sure to insert a manual restore point in case good ol' MS fails to do it automatically). It worked the first time I tried if, before I tried to delete the updates via the Add/Remove programs panel. Thanks again to you all.

by cap'n billy

that command. Is that something I would type in the "Run" box? Or is that another Safe Mode command?

by rob miners

the run box and have your XP CD handy. Or depending on your system point it to the I386 folder.

by computercookie

as you've been around for a while!

You can read the whole KB here;
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341,

you need to use the following method;

Method 2: Repair install of Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP CD
To reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP CD, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD drive or DVD drive, and then restart your computer.
2. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on the screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.

Note Your computer must be configured to start from the CD drive or DVD drive. For more information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD drive or DVD drive, see your computer's documentation or contact your computer manufacturer.
3. You receive the following message on the Welcome to Setup screen that appears:
This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation by using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
4. Press ENTER to set up Windows XP.
5. On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
6. Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.

Note If Windows XP was preinstalled on your computer, and you do not have the Repair option, contact your computer manufacturer to make sure that you have the installation CD for a repair install.
7. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to reinstall Windows XP. After you repair Windows XP, you may have to reactivate your copy of Windows XP.

Hope it works, Jeff

by cap'n billy

as I said in a reply to TrueBlue, I'm familiar with the repair install procedure, but I appreciate your posting the info. I hope I can solve the problem with the SFC command, but if not perhaps rolling back to IE 6 will do it. Repair installs haven't worked very well for me in the past, but there's always the first time!

by cap'n billy

talking about SFC, and I'll try it. I decided last night to get some sleep while my machine was backing up and saw these replies this morning. I'm quite familiar with the repair install procedure, but thanks anyway to the person who went to the trouble of posting the info. I suspect my trouble is in my IE 7 browser, so since Microsoft says that it is necessary to roll back to IE 6 before doing a repair install that may solve my problem. Repair installs haven't worked very well for me in the past, but it may in this case, since that will delete all my Windows updates from SP2 onward. We shall see. Thanks again to everyone who contributed.

by cap'n billy

I was completely wrong about the source of my problem. No need to go into the details of all the steps I took, but the bottom line is that the culprit was: nmindexstoresvr.exe. It's a part of Nero 8, and was consuming 98-100% of my CPU resources, which of course is why my computer was running so slowly. So I disabled that process on my Startup tab, and disabled Nero Scout, and will probably soon get rid of Nero 8 all together and either return to Nero 6 or get some other CD/DVD burning software. Live and Learn!

by boxfiddler

I always like to make a note of solutions to a variety of problems for future reference.

by rob miners

do they have to put extra crap in software. If you are unaware of what Scout gets up to as it is automatically installed and unless you select the configure on first run to be able to disable it, the bloody thing takes over.

I normally use a test PC for installing new software. I run the standard install first time around to see what gets added. Then I uninstall and then I do a Custom install to remove the baggage. If you don't have access to a test PC, that is where Virtual PC comes in handy.

Unfortunately there are a lot of users out there who wouldn't even realise what was happening in the background. Another one is the Java update if you are not careful you end up with an unwanted Toolbar. Messenger software always sets itself to run on startup. I am constantly asked how to disable that feature. I can see it getting worse as new software is developed. How anyone can put up with Incredemails constant Popups has got me beat.

Anyway Cap'n I'm glad that you found the culprit.

by seanferd

I really love having 75 objects in the system tray. I mean tray notification. Whatever they're calling it this week.

by rob miners

having access to all those things that someone has decided that you want. :)

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