Problem with Microsoft Update http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

I followed all of your instructions. When I ran the Custom Install the first time, all that came back was KB967715. I hid it and then installed KB971029 manually. When I ran the Custom Install again, nothing came back marked as a critical update. None of the optional, non-security updates that you mentioned were offered.

After that, I turned Automatic Updates on so that it would download and let me pick the ones to install. I re-booted and now I am down from a 5 minute response time to a 3 minute response time when I hit enter. But, after the Automatic Update scan finishes, in about 15-35 minutes, I am able to use the PC. 

I downloaded the MSRT that you recommended to someone else in another thread and ran the full scan. It came back clean. I don't know why MU uses all of the RAM to do the search, or if there is anything I can do about it. Do you have any other suggestions, other than logging on 30 minutes before I want to use the PC?

[1] I followed all of your instructions...When I ran the Custom Install again, nothing came back marked as a critical update...

[2] ...now I am down from a 5 minute response time to a 3 minute response time when I hit enter. But, after the Automatic Update scan finishes, in about 15-35 minutes, I am able to use the PC...I don't know why [Microsoft Update] uses all of the RAM to do the search, or if there is anything I can do about it. Do you have any other suggestions, other than logging on 30 minutes before I want to use the PC?

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP ("Let me fix it myself" section)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

A1. I think you may be confusing Automatic Updates (see above) with updating manually via Microsoft Update website. If the CUSTOM scan did not offer any criticial security updates and Automatic Updates is working properly, you really don't need to update manually anymore.

A2. I suspect you're telling me that the computer starts quicker now but Automatic Updates (which starts & runs in the background every time you start your computer) appears to be "hogging" system resources for the first 20-30 minutes or so & making everything else slow to a crawl.

First of all, it's simply a fact of life that Automatic Updates takes longer to run (check for updates) when Microsoft Update is your default update source, especially on lower-end WinXP computers.

Now please read:

<QP>
What are the differences between Windows Updates, Automatic Updates, and Microsoft Updates?

While Windows Update provides you with updates specifically for Windows, Microsoft Update expands the service to download and install updates for other Microsoft software, such as Microsoft Office and Windows Live Essentials [as well as Silverlight & Microsoft Security Essentials]. Automatic updating is a feature that allows you to set your PC to automatically download and install updates using either service, making it easy and convenient for you to keep your Windows PC current.
</QP>
Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/FAQ.mspx

If and only if no MS Office and/or Windows Live Essentials applications (e.g., Windows Live Messenger; Windows Live Mail) are installed, you can "flip" the default update source back to Windows Update. After doing so, it will take much less time for Automatic Updates to run at boot. (Details available upon request.)

The above notwithstanding, there are many other things which may be causing the slow-down when you first start your computer. So let me get the ball rolling by reposting some of the diagnostic questions fromyour other thread which remain unanswered:

1. What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your subscription current?  What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?  What third-party firewall (if any)?

2. Has a(nother) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the computer?

3. Did a Norton or McAfee free-trial come preinstalled on the computer when you bought it? (Doesn't matter if you never used or Activated it.)

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~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

My answers are in italics below your questions.

[1} How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP ("Let me fix it myself" section)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

I read this and did not learn anything new. I may not be using the most correct terms in my responses, and for that I apologize.

[2] A1. I think you may be confusing Automatic Updates (see above) with updating manually via Microsoft Update website. If the CUSTOM scan did not offer any criticial security updates and Automatic Updates is working properly, you really don't need to update manually anymore.

I only did the manual update for KB971029 as you instructed me to do.I know I do not have to update manually unless the update is not offered automatically.

[3] A2. I suspect you're telling me that the computer starts quicker now but Automatic Updates (which starts & runs in the background every time you start your computer) appears to be "hogging" system resources for the first 20-30 minutes or so & making everything else slow to a crawl.

Yes, that is what I am saying.

[4]What are the differences between Windows Updates, Automatic Updates, and Microsoft Updates?

I do have MS Office on the PC and I am using Automatic Updates for Microsoft Updates.

[5] 1. What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your subscription current?  What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?  What third-party firewall (if any)?

The Anti-virus application is BitDefender 2010 and the subscription is current. I also use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.The only firewall is Windows firewall.

[6] 2. Has a(nother) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the computer?

Live OneCare was installed but did not protect the PC. Norton or McAfee has never been installed.

[7] 3. Did a Norton or McAfee free-trial come preinstalled on the computer when you bought it? (Doesn't matter if you never used or Activated it.)

My PC is a rebuild. Something wiped out the hard drive. Norton may have been delivered with the PC, I do not remember.

[1] [Windows] Live OneCare was installed but did not protect the PC.

[2] My PC is a rebuild. Something wiped out the hard drive.

[3] Norton may have been delivered with the PC, I do not remember.

A1. Explain. Did you computer become infected while OneCare was installed or...?

When (approx. date) did your OneCare subscription expire?

When (approx. date) did you first purchase & install the BitDefender application?

Did you uninstall OneCare and then download/run the OneCare cleanup utility BEFORE you installed the BitDefender application?

A2. What "wiped out the hard drive" and how did you resolve the problem (i.e., replaced the hard drive)?

A3. If a Norton (or Mcafee) free-trial came preinstalled on the computer when you bought it, the free-trial would have been reinstalled, but invalid, when you reinstalled Windows. If you did not uninstall the free-trial AND THEN download/run the appropriate removal tool BEFORE you installed OneCare, chances are that OneCare never installed properly and therefore was never working properly. If such is the case, the BitDefender application's probably not working properly either.

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~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

[1] A1. Explain. Did you computer become infected while OneCare was installed or...?

Yes OneCare was installed at the time.

[2[ When (approx. date) did your OneCare subscription expire?

About 1 year ago. It was active at the time the PC was infected. I had many other problems with my other PCs (three desktops) when using OneCare. It seems like it was always a "day late and a dollar short" on taking care of current problems. I was always on the phone with MS Support trying to fix one of the PCs. So when the subscription expired I did not renew.

[3] When (approx. date) did you first purchase & install the BitDefender application?

I purchased the 2009 version before the OneCare expired. This year I renewed with the 2010 version of BitDefender.

[4] Did you uninstall OneCare and then download/run the OneCare cleanup utility BEFORE you installed the BitDefender application?

Yes, on my three desktops. There was nothing to uninstall on the laptop after it was wiped out.But if my memory serves me correctly, I was still using OneCare when I started "fixing" the laptop. I re-installed OneCare after installing Windows XP. Then, before installing BitDefender, I uninstalled OneCare and ran the cleanup utility. I knew about the cleanup utility because I had spoken to MS Support so many times while using it and they had me uninstall, clean-up and then re-install.

[5] A2. What "wiped out the hard drive" and how did you resolve the problem (i.e., replaced the hard drive)?

I don't know if it was infected or if my grandchildren had it near a magnet or what. Just one day when I went to turn it on, the Windows screen would come up and then the PC would immediately turn off. I could not even hit PF8, PF2 or PF11.

I resolved the problem by putting in the Windows XP Install Disk and after it was installed, installing OneCare. Then I had to re-install MS Office, Adobe Reader, etc. When OneCare expired, I uninstalled it, ran the clean-up and installed BitDefender. I did not use the laptop for months. It was only used when we had the kids over and they played solitaire on it.

I started working on getting it performing its best when my oldest Granddaughters desktop stopped working and I decided to give her the laptop. The PC had not been connected online during all of that time. When I logged online, their were many, many updates to download and yet I did not have a problem until it automatically installed SP 3, IE8  and .NET 3.5 like I said before.

The sound was not working and I logged on to HP downloads and got all of the appropriate drivers. Then I uninstalled SP 3, IE8 and .NET 3.5 and could  not get the updates hidden.... that is what started our communication.

[6] A3. If a Norton (or Mcafee) free-trial came preinstalled on the computer when you bought it, the free-trial would have been reinstalled, but invalid, when you reinstalled Windows. If you did not uninstall the free-trial AND THEN download/run the appropriate removal tool BEFORE you installed OneCare, chances are that OneCare never installed properly and therefore was never working properly. If such is the case, the BitDefender application's probably not working properly either.

Before the computer was infected I removed whatever was on there and followed the instructions online about removing it. It was OneCare that was on it when it was infected, but there was no trace of OneCare when I reinstalled Windows XP.If there had been, from past experience, I would not have been able to install it.

Thank you for taking the time to help me. If I have any further problems I will start a new thread as you suggest.

You're welcome & thanks for your feedback...especially since I spent close to two hours researching & composing my previous reply! Good luck!

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~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

Bless you for the research you did. I followed the first thing you listed (http://miekiemoes.blogspot.com/2008/02/help-my-computer-is-slow.html). Most of it I had already done, but I used StartUpLite by Malwarebytes and then set the Cache size in Internet Explorer to 100 MB, re-booted and the difference in speed is tremendous. 

I intend on running through everything you sent, but I wanted you to know your research was very well received and that I am using it.