Service Pack 2

[Arcuivie]

So, I installed SP2 today, hoping to solve my network problem, and everything just...fell apart. I couldn't see my windows, backgrounds; my system idle process was 99 throughout the time I was on XP (even after numerous restarts). Anyway, I did a system restore (I felt blind, guessing where certain buttons were) and things became semi-normal. My system-idle process is still really high, but it seems to be running ok. What could have caused this? Is it just because my hard-drive is pretty cluttered and numerous changes have been done to my system?

 

[yadda]

Unfortunately with a 250MB "patch" have seen horror stories myself. The best protection is to do a restore point before you start like you did. I have a very complicated setup on my (lots of apps installed) and I had no problem with the SP2 install (in fact I was running it in beat this summer). My boss has a limited setup with virtually no apps and we had loads of problems.

For a start make sure you close down all running apps (virus, printer drivers etc. )

I am sure others will have more suggestions.

W?ho knows you might run it again and it will work fine.

Y

 

[Arcuivie]

I'll give it another go, I'll be back to post the results.

 

[mechBgon]

My system-idle process is still really high, but it seems to be running ok. What could have caused this?

If you fire up a distributed-computing project such as Folding@Home or something, I bet you will totally pwn that darn System Idle Process and send it right down to 0% :evil: Head on over to the Distributed Computing section and they'll get you set up.

 

[boshuter]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

My system-idle process is still really high, but it seems to be running ok. What could have caused this?

If you fire up a distributed-computing project such as Folding@Home or something, I bet you will totally pwn that darn System Idle Process and send it right down to 0% :evil: Head on over to the Distributed Computing section and they'll get you set up.

 

[boshuter]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

My system-idle process is still really high, but it seems to be running ok. What could have caused this?

If you fire up a distributed-computing project such as Folding@Home or something, I bet you will totally pwn that darn System Idle Process and send it right down to 0% :evil: Head on over to the Distributed Computing section and they'll get you set up.

LOL..... you got that right, but he'd have to run two instances with that P4.

Your Idle Process is supposed to be close to 100%..... at 99% that means you are only using 1% of your cpu

 

[Arcuivie]

Oh, I had it backwards then. Well, what is making my computer lag so much all of a sudden?

Edit:
Installed again. All my themes are screwed up (all black) and the startup time has increased enormously. Computer is running a tad slow too.

 

[mechBgon]

If a fresh install is an option, then can I suggest that.

Unplug your network cable

Start Windows Setup from CD-ROM, delete the existing partitions, then press F3 twice to exit Windows Setup

Start Windows Setup again, install Windows, and then install SP2.

On reboot, install your latest mobo drivers, then reboot, then your video drivers and reboot again.

Install your antivirus software, enable DEP for all software, plug in your network cable and get your antivirus software updated, then hit Windows Update for the latest patches and follow that up with a Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer scan to see if there's more stuff to work on.



Good luck

 

[Arcuivie]

Thanks mechBgon, I'll get on that as I finish my backup. I have a question though, how would I create a partition for XP and then one for storage programs upon the installation of XP? Also, how much space should I allocate for the XP partition?

 

[xpoptical]

For An XP Partition:
If You Plan To Use Alot Of Apps: 4-5GB
If Not: 3GB

 

[Arcuivie]

Wouldn't programs and stuff be installed in storage?

 

[MrChad]

What's the point of installing apps on a separate partition? If your Windows install gets FUBARed, you're still going to need to reinstall all of your apps on the second partition once you reinstall Windows.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Arcuivie
Oh, I had it backwards then. Well, what is making my computer lag so much all of a sudden?

Edit:
Installed again. All my themes are screwed up (all black) and the startup time has increased enormously. Computer is running a tad slow too.

Are you running StyleXP or a hacked uxtheme.dll?

 

[Arcuivie]

StyleXP...that is probably it. I uninstalled it though, is that why my computer is running slow though?

About the applications/games/windows partition, if I decide to do it all on one, how do I determine the size then?