Slow XP preformence and woes

[JaredAck]

*I am not a professional programer, I am a college student*

Alright, where to begin. I recently received Windows
XP Pro from my college(where I will need to do some coding
at home, with Visual Studio .NET 2003) and I installed
yesterday. I selecte to use the "Upgrade" option, which
was recomended, thinking it would work better than the
Advanced aproach.

The software installs fine, restarts a few times,
then the WinXP movie starts. I close the movie and am
taken to a logon screen where I create a user and password
for the computer (I don't want this, can you get rid of
it?) After logging in, I am taken to the desktop.

Now, here is one of the problems. All of my icons
apear normally, the taskbar is snugled at the bottom of
the screen, but I can not do anything. The mouse is an
arrow while on the desktop, but a timer while I hover it
over the Taskbar. The computer remains in this "can't do
anything" mode for at the very least 3 minutes. Windows ME
(which i upgraded from) took less than 5 seconds to load
programs i would be using, WinXP is taking forever.

After I checked online to see what I could do about
slow boot ups, a site recomended I use the Windows Update
feature in the taskbar. I promptly go to the site, where
I am asked to "scan for updates". After clicking
the "scan" button, IE locks up, and it remains frozen for
around 15 seconds. After this time, the site tells me it
can't be accessed. I figure I can try it later.

In the mean time, an icon next to my clock tells me i
should activate WinXP, for piracy issues, I click OK to
activate, and it asks if i want to do it online. Hey why
not, I'm on cable so I'm always connected. I attempt to
connect to activate WinXP but I can not reach the site to
activate it, something must be wrong with Microsofts sites
I thought.

I try to update windows to no avail, again, and
again. So I go to the WinXP homepage and download Service
Pack 1. After installing, the PC needs to reboot. I
click OK to reboot, but it does nothing. I figure it
crashed *again* so I go to manually(in the task bar)
reboot the pc, but alas, that doesn't do anything either.
I try the shut down button, nothing. I am forced to push
the power button.

After minutes waiting for Xp to load, my virus scan
informs me of a virus known as Welchia, AKA Blaster (the
one in the news). I quickly rid my system of the virus,
and download a firewall to be sure I am safe. After
installing the firewall, every 2 seconds someone would try
to ping me. Whats going on? I soon learn that because I
tried to update WinXP I received the virus everyone has
heard of. I quickly say forget this, and go to uninstall
WinXP.

Back to WinME now, arg, it's unstable sure, but it's
acting better than XP was last night. Now, after classes
today, learning that there is indeed MUCH more work I will
be needing to do at home, I am going to need XP. I would
like XP, but I need it to work right. How can I get XP on
my computer, update it, and NOT get the blaster virus?
Can I make it run faster? Would formating THEN installing
be of any help?

"The" Specs
933 mhz
256 ram
40 gb hd
DVD cdrom
Cable connection
Windows XP Pro ( Upgraded from ME )
Norton AntiVirus 2k3
ZoneAlarm Free Version Firewall

My computer can handle XP, but why hasn't it been working?

Thanks for reading my long and boring post, I really need
assistance, and Microsoft won't give it to me(for free
anyways), so I beg of you all to give me a hand and let me
get XP up and running so I can be a success in college.
Thank you

 

[linney]

If you must upgrade from ME read this.

HOW TO: Prepare to Upgrade Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition to Windows XP(Q316639)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q316/6/39.asp

Follow all the suggestions in relation to bios updates.

If you decide to do a clean install of XP (recommended) still read the above article but use this article for help.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."

When you get XP installed then load your Firewall and Anti Virus Software and update the virus definitions. Now update Windows. You have 30 days to Activate Windows.


After you get XP running visit the following site to learn about Services and fine tuning them.

http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

 

[cjr62]

Try checking the following items, if you haven't already:

Check all of your hardware to be certain that it is compatible with XP.

Check you BIOS to make certain you a current version that is compatible with XP. If not upgrade it.

If you check these and find that there are no problems. Take a look at your event viewer. Then searching google or Microsoft technet for the event id(s) that you find.

 

[JaredAck]

Thank you for the FAST reply. Let me see if I understand-

After XP is installed, (while my modem is disconnected) I should install my firewall, and antivirus software. After those are installed, connect myself to the net, then update the anti virus. Next should I install service pack 1 (or another SP?), OR go directly to windows update? Again I thank you.

 

[yamcha]

Does you Windows copy is Original?

If you are using a copy of windows XP without Licencing and you have active the update of windows, after you install the copy, you must to desactivate the automatic updates, cause microsoft sends a spy software and it block your computer, so you must to register your copy.

Good Luck.