Ok, i've been using a limited account for normal internet time, an about an hour ago I decided to check the admin account for updates.... There was 1, Sp3 for XP.... No biggie rite.... Well after it finished downloading, it started a windows installation wizard, this normal?
Plus during the wizard there were descriptions of the install, like Performing cleanup??? An when it asked to restart the pc, I clicked the button, only it took a whole lot longer to load everything to the welcome screen.....
On top of all that, since finishing the installation of Win XP yesterday, my GUI blinked, like 3 times so far....... Yep, just like a person's eyes blink, only the screen went all dark, then the regular windows GUI was back........ This can't be normal?
So am I being paranoid, or is this suspicious? Perhaps it's both, or is there's something else going on?
------------------ Me, I sell engines, the cars are for free, I need something to crate the engines in.... Enzo Ferrari....
Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines.... Enzo Ferrari...
Today they are called garage's, yesterday, they were stable's! Eric Jacobsen....
Some people reported some glitches with that SP, and there was a pretty big glitch with a "critical" security update about 1 1/2 month's ago--serious enough that MS issued a removal option for it within a few days.
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10:17 PM
Valkyrie Member
Posts: 1199 From: Vancouver, BC Registered: Jun 2006
Sounds pretty normal to me. I do believe that with most (all?) Service Packs, the Installation Wizard is used for XP.
Performing cleanup for a Service Pack shouldn't be anything to be worried about, this could include things like clean up of the registry by the Service Pack installer to prevent conflicts or things of that sort. And usually, the first restart after a big system upgrade does take longer than a normal startup.
The GUI blink may or may not be a problem/glitch/bug, but I don't think you've been hacked. I know with Vista and 7, there's a kind of DRM feature incorporated into the graphics subsystem that looks at how much resources/what sort of resources you're using to determine if you're doing something like copying/pirating DVD's. If this "feature" thinks that you're doing so, it resets the graphics subsystem in order to "prevent" or interfere with such processes. Unfortunately, this "feature" apparently wasn't written so well and sometimes goes off even when a process like that is even being used. At least, that's my understanding of this "DRM Feature" from what I've heard, I could be wrong. Perhaps with this Service Pack, they've incorporated that into XP, although I'd be weary of this because I imagine it's quite a difficult thing to just "add-in" via a Service Pack.
[This message has been edited by Valkyrie (edited 03-28-2010).]
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10:22 PM
jstricker Member
Posts: 12956 From: Russell, KS USA Registered: Apr 2002
IIRC, I think he just reinstalled XP so he'd need to get SP3 again. You should also have some more updates after SP3. The glitch maryjane was talking about was supposedly fixed in the update after they found it, but I never had any problems with it anyway (although I know people that did). The "blink" might have been a video driver update as well. Go to Start>All Programs and open Windows Update and let it take you to the Windows Update site and see what it finds for critical updates for your system.
John Stricker
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10:23 PM
Mar 29th, 2010
USFiero Member
Posts: 4879 From: Everywhere and Middle of Nowhere Registered: Mar 2002
Man, with all the updates a reinstall of XP takes (even w/ SP2) I'd pull my hair out. Can't believe I'm sayin this, but dump XP. Windows 7 installs so quick, updates less, and has run on this Dell Inspiron 6000 in spite of it not being even Vista certified. Slight issue with the video chipset not being recognized, but it works because of the XP mode. I haven't had to pay for an OS for a long time, but 7 is letting me network all my PCs effortlessly, is quick on old hardware, and has been stable. If it weren't for the games, I'd be running Ubuntu throughout the house.
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07:55 AM
Doug85GT Member
Posts: 10012 From: Sacramento CA USA Registered: May 2003
Man, with all the updates a reinstall of XP takes (even w/ SP2) I'd pull my hair out. Can't believe I'm sayin this, but dump XP. Windows 7 installs so quick, updates less, and has run on this Dell Inspiron 6000 in spite of it not being even Vista certified. Slight issue with the video chipset not being recognized, but it works because of the XP mode. I haven't had to pay for an OS for a long time, but 7 is letting me network all my PCs effortlessly, is quick on old hardware, and has been stable. If it weren't for the games, I'd be running Ubuntu throughout the house.
Win 7 and Vista both install dramatically faster than XP because they are image based installs. The image of the OS is on the install CD and all the installer does is decompress it onto your hard drive. XP on the other hand goes through the full installation process.
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11:35 AM
Doug85GT Member
Posts: 10012 From: Sacramento CA USA Registered: May 2003
Everything that you describe sounds normal. All of the service packs for XP take a while to install both before shutdown and at the next startup. The screen blinking is also a normal thing. I would guess it is the installation updating the screen driver or other parts of the code that handles your display.
I would recommend that you change your update setting the next time you are logged on as an admin. Have the OS automatically download updates and install them when you shutdown. Then you don't have to log into the admin account to do your updates. They will be automatic and will happen when you are not using your computer during the shutdown process.
You need to turn Auto Complete back on. Go to Tools >> Content >> Auto Complete -- Settings.
Check the box next to "User Names and Passwords on Forms" and next to "Ask Before Saving Passwords". Go to the page where you enter the password. Whem prompted select "Yes" to allow IE to save the password.
You should be set after that. You can then turn autocomplete back off or just tell it to stop remembering passwords.
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04:19 PM
pavo_roddy Member
Posts: 4351 From: State with a city named Gotham Registered: Apr 2004
Thanx Doug....... Again, lol.... Also, should I flash my bios even if nothing is going wrong? Instinct tells me to leave it as is, but it's better to ask ya know....
------------------ Me, I sell engines, the cars are for free, I need something to crate the engines in.... Enzo Ferrari....
Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines.... Enzo Ferrari...
Today they are called garage's, yesterday, they were stable's! Eric Jacobsen....
Thanx Doug....... Again, lol.... Also, should I flash my bios even if nothing is going wrong? Instinct tells me to leave it as is, but it's better to ask ya know....
Don't try to fix what isn't broke....
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06:24 PM
pavo_roddy Member
Posts: 4351 From: State with a city named Gotham Registered: Apr 2004
Resurecting this thread, on 3-28-10, I installed XP, a full install not the quick one... Well my montior is still blinking sometimes...... Could this be a sign of a video card going out?
------------------ Me, I sell engines, the cars are for free, I need something to crate the engines in.... Enzo Ferrari....
Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines.... Enzo Ferrari...
Today they are called garage's, yesterday, they were stable's! Eric Jacobsen....
