Two XP problems

[King Karl]

I just did a fresh install of XP Pro as it had been a couple of years and I
was having some mysterious problems such as the desktop vanishing, etc. I
downloaded and installed SP 2 all the latest updates, have added my
software including anti-virus anit spyware, etc and the computer is now
clean.

Things are running fine but I'm having to constantly restart the Windows
Installer service everytime I install a new application, it seems to be
turning itself off everytime and I can't install the next program until I
manually turn the service back on. (The windows installer service is set
to automatic). Not critical but annoying.

The other issue is boot time, it is super slow, much slower than before.
Not sure if this is a BIOS issue or windows issue but I see a black screen
for several minutes after post, then it finally goes into the orange
Windows logo and on into the login screen as normal. I have changed no
hardware on this computer and it used to boot up just fine.

 

[JS]

Since this is a clean install I'd start by checking the Event Logs
There are three things you can check.
1) Event Viewer, look at only those events (errors) that are dated and time
stamped during the first minutes during and after Windows starts. Click on
Start/Control Panel/Administrative tools/Event viewer.
2) Services: Start/Control Panel/Administrative tools/Services
3) For Driver issues: Right click on the My Computer icon, select
Properties, then click on the Hardware tab, Device Manager.

More Info:
Event Viewer: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us
Services: http://www.beemerworld.com/tips/servicesxp.htm
Drivers: http://labmice.techtarget.com/drivers/default.htm

Windows Installer Info:
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_reinstall_the_windows_i.htm

Also:
Common Windows Installer Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=555175

And: Windows Installer clean up
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301/

JS