WinXp is messed up/very slow

[Guest]

I just reinstalled and formated my hdd bc a file in windows was corrupted and
it wouldnt start up and bc i needed a format. My computer was running
perfectly with xp. 2.25ghz pentium 4 and 512 ram. after the format/install,
i went on the internet with no protection and i got about 5 trojans/ads/ or
viruses. it slowed down windows like crazy so i did another format and
installed it again. i then first installed nod32 and spysweeper. now,
windows is still slow and buggy. i updated until right before sp2. doing
any windowxp thing is slow and will usually freeze like going to control
panel or even closing a program through task manager. clicking programs is
slow, literally any medium intensive work will take a long time or freeze and
when it freezes it doesnt unfreeze. even ending process from task manager
sometimes doesnt work. when i installed sp2, in the middle it said access
denied and i had to uninstall everything. How did this happen, i dont know.
fresh copy of windows, with two adminstrative accounts. any help appreciated.

 

[pintu]

I just reinstalled and formated my hdd bc a file in windows was corrupted and
it wouldnt start up and bc i needed a format. My computer was running
perfectly with xp. 2.25ghz pentium 4 and 512 ram. after the format/install,
i went on the internet with no protection and i got about 5 trojans/ads/ or
viruses. it slowed down windows like crazy so i did another format and
installed it again. i then first installed nod32 and spysweeper. now,
windows is still slow and buggy. i updated until right before sp2. doing
any windowxp thing is slow and will usually freeze like going to control
panel or even closing a program through task manager. clicking programs is
slow, literally any medium intensive work will take a long time or freeze and
when it freezes it doesnt unfreeze. even ending process from task manager
sometimes doesnt work. when i installed sp2, in the middle it said access
denied and i had to uninstall everything. How did this happen, i dont know.
fresh copy of windows, with two adminstrative accounts. any help appreciated.

 

[DL]

After installing Win, you installed motherboard chipset & other hardware
drivers from their sites, or drivers cd supllied with your PC, NOT
winupdate?

PS Its rarely neccessary to format because of a 'currupt' win file.
See Win Help; system File checker, or a repair installation.
WinXP has a built in Firewall, if this had been activated, and you then
updated win from MS, its unlikely your PC would have been infected unless
you specifically downloaded files.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I just reinstalled and formated my hdd bc a file in windows was
corrupted and it wouldnt start up and bc i needed a format. My
computer was running perfectly with xp. 2.25ghz pentium 4 and 512
ram. after the format/install, i went on the internet with no
protection and i got about 5 trojans/ads/ or viruses. it slowed
down windows like crazy so i did another format and installed it
again. i then first installed nod32 and spysweeper. now, windows
is still slow and buggy. i updated until right before sp2. doing
any windowxp thing is slow and will usually freeze like going to
control panel or even closing a program through task manager.
clicking programs is slow, literally any medium intensive work will
take a long time or freeze and when it freezes it doesnt unfreeze.
even ending process from task manager sometimes doesnt work. when
i installed sp2, in the middle it said access denied and i had to
uninstall everything. How did this happen, i dont know. fresh copy
of windows, with two adminstrative accounts. any help appreciated.

You likely got infested/infected anyway - not to mention you haven't
mentioned ever installing the hardware drivers for your motherboard chipset,
network card, video card, sound card and so on. It could be partially an
issue with not having the correct drivers for your hardware - I suggest you
get those downloaded and installed first thing *after* you manually install
SP2 next time..

When you install from scratch it is best that you have as many updates
installed *as possible* before that machine ever touches the Internet. In
particular - you should have SP2 installed because that automatically turns
on the Windows Xp Firewall and would prevent things from just 'installing'
on your PC when you did connect tot he Internet.

Download your hardware drivers and SP2 and get them on some external media
and redo that machine once more. Right after the initial install is done -
install the hardware drivers (chipset first, video, network, sound...) and
then install SP2 - rebooting whenever asked. Then - and only then - should
you consider connecting to the internet to visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ to get the 85+ updates you will still
need after that. (Rebooting as needed and revisiting until you have the
updates they say you need. *NOTE* - do NOT get the hardware updates from
Microsoft. It is highly unlikely you have much Microsoft hardware *in* your
PC. Get the hardware drivers frm the actual manufacturer's web sites...

 

[Guest]

Thankyou for all your help. I got the trojans i think from a website that
google said it wasnt safe. i know i shouldnt have gone there but in the past
it used to be safe. The only driver i manually installed was my nividia
driver. I thought winxp automatically updated everything when i did windows
update. i do have a cd and the reason that i formated is bc when windows got
corrupt, i reinstalled winxp and then it started to get buggy and slow so i
formatted it. but everytime i try to install service pack 2, it says access
denied. even on the administrator name. i hope this doesnt happen again.
hmmm format for the 3rd time, 3rd times a charm!

 

[Guest]

I just realized you said to get my drivers(which i have from dell) and sp2
on a disk. Right after the drivers are done after my 3rd format i install
SP2??? What baout the other 64 updates? Wont it mess something up. I have
winxp pro service pack 1a cd.

 

[DL]

After installing win you installed chipset & other hw drivers from suppliers
cd's/sites or did you rely on Winupdate?