XP slowdowns

[djIhcoro]

My comp seems to hate sp2 whenever I attempt to update to it. I figured "why the hell not" and attempted it again yesterday and it slowed my comp to about a 2 second delay between mouse clicks. EVERYTHING lags. I uninstalled sp2, and the slowdown was still active.
I tried uninstalling the fixes I had also installed before updating to sp2, but it still didn't go away.
Anyone have an idea on how to fix this?

EDIT: I did notice that my system idle process has been rather high and doesn't fall back down to normal levels. It stays around the 90s.

 

[imported_Phil]

Seriously?

Your system idle process is called that for a reason.

 

[Leros]

System idle process is the percentage not being used. If your current programs are using 10% of your CPU, then the system idle process will be at 90%.

Before you go blaming SP2, have you tried checking for spyware/adware? Try Ad-Aware and Spybot.

 

[djIhcoro]

The comp was perfectly clean. I did the spyware/adware checks + virus scan before updating to sp2. 2 second lag on a comp that was perfectly fine before updating isn't right.

 

[whistle]

Check your fragmentation levels and run a defrag if needed.

 

[imported_BikeDude]

So, if your idle thread is only getting 90%, which process is eating the remaining 10%?

Perhaps this article will help you track down the culprit: http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/07/case-of-periodic-system-hangs.html

I recommend you upgrade all drivers (specially chipset drivers) and see if that helps. Also see if you can be a bit more specific. If you only start Notepad, will it too stall with every mouse click? Have you disabled all background tasks (specially antivirus software -- IMO AV software cause more problems than they prevent, atleast for experienced users)?

There are a couple of 'not so obvious' ways of causing freezing. E.g. if your XP box is part of a domain, then it will periodically panic/freeze if it can't update the DNS server with its information (always use the active directory's DNS server). If a process releases many thousand user handles, Windows will freeze while it destroys those handles (and you'll be left with no clues in Task Manager -- it'll simply stop updating while handle clean-up takes place).

 

[corkyg]

Before attempting to install SP2, disconnect all peripherals and add them later - afterwards.

Also, as part of the pre-prep, do a full drive optimization.

 

[djIhcoro]

Thanks for the all help
In the end I backed up my stuff, reformated and reinstalled xp pro. Then updated via the Automatic Update to sp2. This, in the end, worked out and my computer is working like it used to, but now with the extra security of sp2.
I feel kinda stupid about the idle thing. >_>;