Slow W2K on Compaq Presario

[doug]

I recently installed W2K on my Compaq Presario 12XL300
laptop, to upgrade from the original Windows ME system.
Now the machine runs extremely slowly for OS functions
(Examples: 10 seconds to open a folder window, 2 minutes to
uninstall Microsoft Messenger)

Compaq tells me that they don't support W2K on this
machine. Very Helpful! They say I should reinstall ME
(I'd rather throw the machine away). Anyway, some of the
CAB's on my ME install disk are corrupted, and the
reinstall fails.

Any thoughts on where I should begin here?

regards, d.

 

[philo]

I recently installed W2K on my Compaq Presario 12XL300
laptop, to upgrade from the original Windows ME system.
Now the machine runs extremely slowly for OS functions
(Examples: 10 seconds to open a folder window, 2 minutes to
uninstall Microsoft Messenger)

Compaq tells me that they don't support W2K on this
machine. Very Helpful! They say I should reinstall ME
(I'd rather throw the machine away). Anyway, some of the
CAB's on my ME install disk are corrupted, and the
reinstall fails.

Any thoughts on where I should begin here?

regards, d.

How much ram ?

win2k really needs 196megs as a minimum

 

[doug]

-----Original Message-----

How much ram ?

win2k really needs 196megs as a minimum

That's what I have--196 megs
d.

 

[doug]

I jsut noticed something else--a process called svchost.exe
is using a long term average of 75% of my CPU time and a
process called System another 21%. That doesn't leave very
much time for anything else.

 

[philo]

I jsut noticed something else--a process called svchost.exe
is using a long term average of 75% of my CPU time and a
process called System another 21%. That doesn't leave very
much time for anything else.

well, that's the problem i'm sure

you said you upgraded from ME...
unless someone has a better idea...you may want to just format the drive
and do a clean install of win2k

 

[Dan Seur]

The svchost usurpation of resource is almost certainly due to the
MSBLAST virus/worm having infected your system. Check one of the
antivirus sites for info/removal tools. F-secure.com is one such.

Nonetheless, as another reply indicates, a clean install is always best.

 

[philo]

The svchost usurpation of resource is almost certainly due to the
MSBLAST virus/worm having infected your system. Check one of the
antivirus sites for info/removal tools. F-secure.com is one such.

A good observation!

Unless you apply the windows updates *immediately* after installation
win2k is unbelievably insecure!

 

[Dan Seur]

Makes a guy want to install Snort & sit back & watch the bad stuff
happen packet by packet. With a tall glass of something handy.

 

[SaltPeter]

I recently installed W2K on my Compaq Presario 12XL300
laptop, to upgrade from the original Windows ME system.
Now the machine runs extremely slowly for OS functions
(Examples: 10 seconds to open a folder window, 2 minutes to
uninstall Microsoft Messenger)

Compaq tells me that they don't support W2K on this
machine. Very Helpful! They say I should reinstall ME
(I'd rather throw the machine away). Anyway, some of the
CAB's on my ME install disk are corrupted, and the
reinstall fails.

Any thoughts on where I should begin here?

regards, d.

You can't upgrade from WinME to W2K, you'll end up with a damaged
installation since W2K doesn't know anything about WinME (not an upgrade
path). Perform a clean installation instead.

 

[philo]

Makes a guy want to install Snort & sit back & watch the bad stuff
happen packet by packet. With a tall glass of something handy.

One time I had installed win2k on a machine which was connected to a LAN.
The first thing i did was open OE to configure it to *not* automatically
open
messages.
Of course the first thing it did was open an infected message!

 

[doug]

I got BLASTERFIX from Symantec and it did not find Blaster.
I plan on updating my virus software and running a scan, as
soon as I can get it on the net. (The machine is not on
our home LAN, and my wife spends most of the day on the
internet).

What does a "Clean Install" mean? Do I have to format the
hard disk, or is it something less drastic? I sure would
like to avoid reinstalling all my software.

d.

 

[philo]

What does a "Clean Install" mean? Do I have to format the
hard disk, or is it something less drastic? I sure would
like to avoid reinstalling all my software.

d.

Yes a clean install would mean reinstalling your software

I;ve done it and it's not as bad as you might think

 

[doug]

Bowing to the inevitable, I repartitioned (I had a linux
partition) the hard disk and did a clean install. It seems
to work just fine. I am spending the day reinstalling my
software. Thanks for the help all!

Regards,
d.