XP Lagging

[boneburner]

Just in the last couple of days my PC running win XP home has been lagging when I start any apps. The delay is not affecting the operation of the system, but it is annoying to go from instant program startups to a 3-5 second delay. This includes opening windows and expanding subdirectories, but no delay on closing. Any ideas what is wrong or how I can discover what is up? I have looked at my processes list to see that explorer.exe is running about 20,000K, up from a usual 11-12,000K. SpybotS&D shows nothing unusual in the startup list, and no spyware is showing up.

[jabarnutcase]

You didn't by any chance just download critical update 811493 did you?

If not, run a virus scan if you havn't. Also be sure DMA is enabled.

[jabarnutcase]

BUMP. (Double post)

[Budfred]

Have you seen the thread about the recent XP update:

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread...threadid=21916

[jabarnutcase]

HeHe- Yes, did you notice that was my first question?

Figured I'd wait and see before I supplied that link. Now I wont have to.

[Budfred]

Jab,

I noticed, but I was setting it up while you were posting, so I didn't notice until after I posted.... You are quicker on the reply than I obviously....

[jabarnutcase]

The suspense is killing me.

[boneburner]

If you mean, did windows update load the aforementioned critical update and install it a few days ago, the answer is yes. I will now look over the links provided in an effort to educate myself. Further input still appreciated. Thanks.

[Budfred]

When you read that other thread, you probably won't need any more ideas. Apparently you need to uninstall that update unless you have the actual need for it in which case you may have to put up with some delays until M$ fixes it....

[boneburner]

Perhaps love is too strong a term, but I AM significantly less annoyed having uninstalled the offending critical update. Thanks for the heads up, and a big fat raspberry to MS for so poorly testing their code! PHLLLLLLBBBBT!!!!!!!! Enable DMA? Isn't that a BIOS setting?

[Budfred]

I believe most DMA settings are in Device Manager and he is probably talking about enabling it for your hard drive.

[mjc]

It isn't a bug...it's a feature!!!!!!

[jabarnutcase]

Bingo! Another survivor of the ol' Q811493 "feature".

Should we start a club?

"We survived the 811493 update support group"
The sad thing is I'll bet there are a bunch of people out there looking just about anywhere but to a M$ "critical" update as the source of the problem.

It's "critical" alright...."Critical" that you don't install it!

[skhips]

Have seen to XP machines with a virus that effects the explorer.exe and gives the same symptoms as what youre describinng, make sure yuore AV is up to date.

[Mark Miller]

811493 strikes again. Like MJC said it's not a bug it's a feature
Come on Bill I'm your biggest fan you can do better than this.
Mark

[jabarnutcase]

Yes Mark...Thanks again for posting that. I know you saved at least a few people here from some possible extensive troubleshooting.

And skhips....Certainly keeping AV up to date is very important. In this case though, I don't think a scan would have found it!

Although, popular AV software programmers ought to consider it for automatic quarantine and removal!

[boneburner]

Well, as explorer.exe is back to it's previous resource gobbling level, I expect that a virus is not the problem. =) I have McAfee 7.0, and it has yet to intercept a virus for me, tho I must interject that I am extremely cautious about what I do online. As for the 811493 club, I am sure it would soon be competing for membership with clubs commiserating over future MS screw-ups! BTW, my hard drive DMA setting IS enabled and set to ultra DMA mode 5. Kudos to all who helped me solve this problem, as a MS update was the very last thing I would have thought of. Thanks!