Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very slow
opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times. No malware or
viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)
2 GB of ram and almost 210 GB of free disk space, so I can't blame hardware.
Running Process Explorer while opening a browser doesn't show anything
unusual, so I am at a loss.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Cefoxtrot

Cefoxtrot wrote:
> Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very
> slow opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times.
> No malware or viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
> It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)
> 2 GB of ram and almost 210 GB of free disk space, so I can't blame
> hardware. Running Process Explorer while opening a browser doesn't
> show anything unusual, so I am at a loss.
> Any ideas?

Yes. Uninstall that update (please let us know which one it was) by
using Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs (make sure the "Show
updates" box is checked). Reboot. Does the problem go away?

Assuming you only recently install IE8 or installed it after installing the
April 2009 updates, see this related discussion:
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...9478566ac1ee9b

Also see:

Internet Explorer 8 takes longer than expected to start:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969938
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

Cefoxtrot wrote:
> Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very slow
> opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times. No malware
> or viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
> It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)
> 2 GB of ram and almost 210 GB of free disk space, so I can't blame
> hardware.
> Running Process Explorer while opening a browser doesn't show anything
> unusual, so I am at a loss.
> Any ideas?
> Thanks,
> Cefoxtrot

No, my IE7 died, that's why I have IE8 now. I believe I installed it before
the last Windows updates, on April 15th.

I think the problem is not with IE8 but with Windows, because Firefox is
just as slow, if not worse, than IE8. I assume a fix or update to IE8 would
not affect Firefox.

I'll go and have a look at the thread you suggest. Maybe something will give
me a clue.
Thanks!

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Assuming you only recently install IE8 or installed it after installing the
> April 2009 updates, see this related discussion:
> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...9478566ac1ee9b
>
> Also see:
>
> Internet Explorer 8 takes longer than expected to start:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969938
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
>
> Cefoxtrot wrote:
> > Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very slow
> > opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times. No malware
> > or viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
> > It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)
> > 2 GB of ram and almost 210 GB of free disk space, so I can't blame
> > hardware.
> > Running Process Explorer while opening a browser doesn't show anything
> > unusual, so I am at a loss.
> > Any ideas?
> > Thanks,
> > Cefoxtrot
>
>

There are six updates posted that day. If I follow your suggestion, I should
do them one at the time, so it would take a while... I'll report back as soon
as I have some news.
Thanks!


"Daave" wrote:

> Cefoxtrot wrote:
> > Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very
> > slow opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times.
> > No malware or viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
> > It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)
> > 2 GB of ram and almost 210 GB of free disk space, so I can't blame
> > hardware. Running Process Explorer while opening a browser doesn't
> > show anything unusual, so I am at a loss.
> > Any ideas?
>
> Yes. Uninstall that update (please let us know which one it was) by
> using Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs (make sure the "Show
> updates" box is checked). Reboot. Does the problem go away?
>
>
>

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with
security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is related
to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g., KB999999).

Support for Windows Update:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available through
your usual support contacts.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.net

Cefoxtrot wrote:
> No, my IE7 died, that's why I have IE8 now. I believe I installed it
> before
> the last Windows updates, on April 15th.
>
> I think the problem is not with IE8 but with Windows, because Firefox is
> just as slow, if not worse, than IE8. I assume a fix or update to IE8
> would
> not affect Firefox.
>
> I'll go and have a look at the thread you suggest. Maybe something will
> give
> me a clue.
> Thanks!
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Assuming you only recently install IE8 or installed it after installing
>> the
>> April 2009 updates, see this related discussion:
>> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...9478566ac1ee9b
>>
>> Also see:
>>
>> Internet Explorer 8 takes longer than expected to start:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969938
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
>>
>> Cefoxtrot wrote:
>>> Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very
>>> slow
>>> opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times. No
>>> malware
>>> or viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
>>> It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)
>>> 2 GB of ram and almost 210 GB of free disk space, so I can't blame
>>> hardware.
>>> Running Process Explorer while opening a browser doesn't show anything
>>> unusual, so I am at a loss.
>>> Any ideas?
>>> Thanks,
>>> Cefoxtrot

Per Cefoxtrot:
>Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very slow
>opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times. No malware or
>viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
>It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)

Understood that there are probably dozens, if not of hundreds of
possibilities.... I've got two machines on which I've been
wondering what the heck happened to performance - beginning
roughly in that time frame.
--
PeteCresswell

Deleted all updates, one at the time, and tested IE and Firefox in between.
Still slow as snails, so I can't blame the updates anymore. Not sure what to
look for.

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote:

> Per Cefoxtrot:
> >Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very slow
> >opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times. No malware or
> >viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
> >It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)
>
> Understood that there are probably dozens, if not of hundreds of
> possibilities.... I've got two machines on which I've been
> wondering what the heck happened to performance - beginning
> roughly in that time frame.
> --
> PeteCresswell
>

[One does not delete updates, one uninstalls them.]

Internet Explorer 8 takes longer than expected to start:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969938


Cefoxtrot wrote:
> Deleted all updates, one at the time, and tested IE and Firefox in
> between.
> Still slow as snails, so I can't blame the updates anymore. Not sure what
> to
> look for.
>
> "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
>
>> Per Cefoxtrot:
>>> Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very
>>> slow
>>> opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times. No
>>> malware or viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
>>> It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)
>>
>> Understood that there are probably dozens, if not of hundreds of
>> possibilities.... I've got two machines on which I've been
>> wondering what the heck happened to performance - beginning
>> roughly in that time frame.
>> --
>> PeteCresswell

Well, excuse me for using the wrong terminology... I "unistalled" all updates.
That article you quote again, 969938, does not shed any new lights on the
matter. The problem is not just with IE8, it's with all browsers, as I
mentioned before.
I am working with one of the support persons at MSN. I'll post the final
outcome here.
Thanks!

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> [One does not delete updates, one uninstalls them.]
>
> Internet Explorer 8 takes longer than expected to start:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969938
>
>
> Cefoxtrot wrote:
> > Deleted all updates, one at the time, and tested IE and Firefox in
> > between.
> > Still slow as snails, so I can't blame the updates anymore. Not sure what
> > to
> > look for.
> >
> > "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
> >
> >> Per Cefoxtrot:
> >>> Running Windows XP SP3, using IE8 and Firefox. Both browsers are very
> >>> slow
> >>> opening up a page: from 18 seconds to almost a minute at times. No
> >>> malware or viruses found, after multiple scans with varied tools.
> >>> It seems to have started with the last Windows update, last week(?)
> >>
> >> Understood that there are probably dozens, if not of hundreds of
> >> possibilities.... I've got two machines on which I've been
> >> wondering what the heck happened to performance - beginning
> >> roughly in that time frame.
> >> --
> >> PeteCresswell
>
>