[Kosh]

I am finally going to get around to dealing with this. Except for reformatting my computer (which is the only real way to uninstall service pack 2), how can I fix the performance issues?

[Fury]

1. http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp (only useful if you reinstall XP)
2. Update motherboard BIOS. If you've got a brand computer, only get BIOS updates from your computer manufacturer, NOT motherboard manufacturer.
3. Install only latest drivers available. Driver Cleaner will help you if you don't reinstall XP. http://www.drivercleaner.net/
4. Do not let useless programs to start up automatically, run msconfig and check startup-tab.

[pyro-manic]

I'd just reformat to be honest - My 'puter wouldn't work properly until I did that after installing SP2...

Though drivers and suchlike will help some, I would imagine.

[Taristin]

Careful. i reformatted, and in that time, MS decided my auth code was invalid/outdated, and I have been unable to install SP2.

[Martinus]

Careful. i reformatted, and in that time, MS decided my auth code was invalid/outdated, and I have been unable to install SP2.

Go into your internet options in IE and turn off the activeX applet used for updating. Download again and this time it should ignore the authentication.

[Kosh]

1. http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp (only useful if you reinstall XP)
2. Update motherboard BIOS. If you've got a brand computer, only get BIOS updates from your computer manufacturer, NOT motherboard manufacturer.
3. Install only latest drivers available. Driver Cleaner will help you if you don't reinstall XP. http://www.drivercleaner.net/
4. Do not let useless programs to start up automatically, run msconfig and check startup-tab.

I'm not a complete n00b at this. I've already got all the latest stuff. The problem is with Service Pack 2 itself. It only started only after installing that. Basically it seems much less responsive. I think the only way to fix it is to reformat.