slow start-up following latest updates windows xp

[rkhleung]

Hi,

After the latest set of window security updates, the startup time has
increased by an order of magnitude. Previously, it would take about 30
seconds before I can run a program from booting up windows. Now it
takes over 3 min. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced
signifcant increases in startup time following the latest set of
updates or after creating a limited user account? Below is a summary of
the changes to my system since the previous reboot and other relevant
info.

With the recent installation of updates/patches from aug 8, the startup
time has significantly increased. After logging into windows (to either
the limited user account or the admin account), it takes about 3 min
for the icons and desktop to appear. Then it takes about 5-10 secs
before I can run a program. Looking at the task manager during these 3
minutes, windows appears to be doing nothing with CPU usage at close to
0%.

I have since done a complete AV scan of my computer and used adaware
to check for malware. I doubt that it is malware as I use firefox for a
browser and putty and pine to access my email and I dont install stuff
from torrent sites. I also looked into msconfig and there are no new
services (at least from 3rd parties) that were not there before the
latest update.

There have been 2 major changes since the last time I rebooted the
computer. I have created a limited user account. Also when the system
1st rebooted following the installation of the latest patches, I got a
config is corrupt error and the system refused to boot. I used the
console recovery which did nothing. I was asked for the admin password
but I did not use one and hitting return 3 times causes the console to
exit. Then it started up but with a lengthly delay of 3 min or so
(after logging in) between the background picture and the icons and
rest of desktop appearing. This has remained the case since then.

If anyone has experienced similar sypmtoms or has any advice, it would
be appreciated. Thanks in advance,

Ron

 

[Guest]

I have about 100 PCs running XP and a number have suffered from problems like
this. Once the user has logged on the machine runs dead slow and I found that
there was a process using the SVCHost.exe which was hogging the CPU varying
between 95 and 99% usage. Whatever this process is it doesn't appear to
access the hard drive.

Having done the usual search for viruses and coming up with nothing I saw
that this problem didn't occurr when I was logged on as the Network Admin.
Only when logged on as a user who is setup as a 'Power User' on the local PC
did the problem occur. When I changed the user to an Admin user on the PC and
logged back into them I was able to delete the process and no ill effects.

I suspect that there was a bug in one of the downloads, possibly the WGA
downlaod as it was released again a day or two later and the problem seemed
to have gone away after that was installed.