Re: IE7 crawls after SP3 Update

[*Now* crossposted to IE General newsgroup. <doh>]

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> [Crossposted to IE General newsgroup]
>
> What a mess! Where to begin?
>
>> I was running XP Pro SP2 with IE7 and WMP11 with no issues. As part of
>> automatic updates, I installed SP3. Since then I noticed that IE7 slowed
>> down drastically...
>> First I tried to uninstall IE7 in the hope that re-installation would fix
>> the issue. I found that I was unable to uninstall as the option was
>> grayed
>> out in Add Remove.
>
> If you install WinXP SP3 after you'd installed IE7, you will not be able
> to
> uninstall IE7 until you've uninstall WinXP SP3. See
> http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...and-xpsp3.aspx
>
>> So I did a repair install using a slipstreamed XP SP3 CD...
>
> Very, very big mistake! To avoid the very problems you're now
> encountering,
> you'd need to uninstall both WinXP SP3 *and* IE7 prior to doing a Repair
> Install.
>
> Proceed as follows:
>
> => YOU WILL WANT TO PRINT OR COPY/PASTE THIS POST INTO NOTEPAD FOR OFFLINE
> REFERENCE!
>
> 1. Your only (and I mean *only*!) recourse now is to format & reinstall
> WinXP. Yes, you can use the slipstreamed XP SP3 CD to reinstall this
> time.
>
> Tip: Reboot twice after reinstalling WinXP!
>
> Tip: Make absolutely certain that the Windows Firewall is enabled!
>
> Tip: Wait until you've got the machine fully patched at Windows Update
> before installing an anti-virus application. As such, don't do ANYTHING
> else online until (a) the machine's fully patched and (b) you've got your
> AV
> app installed & fully updated!
>
> 2. Do Resolution Method 2 here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
> (trust me)
>
> 3. Using IE only, go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com | Install the
> Windows Update-related software the machine will require then click on
> CONTINUE | Select CUSTOM and scan | Accept the install of any critical
> security updates offered | Follow all prompts.
>
> NB: Do NOT accept the installation of IE7!
>
> 4. Make certain the Automatic Updates is enabled and configured per your
> wishes; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
>
> 5a. Install and properly configure an anti-virus application of your
> choice.
>
> 5b. Manually update your new AV app.
>
> NB: Your anti-virus application should be configured to seek and
> install
> updates automatically and daily at a time when the machine is usually
> running and connected to the internet. It should also be configured to
> run
> a full system scan a few minutes after seeking/installing updates, also
> daily. Anything less is simply insufficient these days.
>
> 6. Now you're ready to install IE7 per the following:
>
> Sandi's Installation Tips <= Steps #1-8, #10 & #11; take note of #12, then
> STOP!
> http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html#pre-install
> (ignore any references to Vista)
>
> And I strongly recommend using
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow.../getitnow.mspx as the
> installation source, not Automatic/Windows Update.
>
> Alternately, use this Direct Download link:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...0-081805b2f90b
>
> Tip: Save the installer to your desktop, do not Run it.
>
> Make *certain* that you check in at Windows Update immediately after
> installing IE7 and install any critical updates offered. If Optional
> Updates category offers Root Certificates update, I recommend installing
> it
> to take full advantage of IE7's additional security.
>
> IEBlog : IE7 Installation and Anti-Malware Applications
> http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...lications.aspx
>
> ========================
>
> Those with IE7-specific questions or comments are asked to post to and
> seek
> support in this newsgroup: microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general
>
> On the web:
> http://www.microsoft.com/communities...orer. general
>
> In your newsreader:
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...plorer.general
>
> MSWizard Vinay wrote:
>> IE7 Microsoft Update suddenly started to work and is now trying to
>> install
>> IE7 from there. Why is it trying to install something that is already
>> installed?
>>
>>> Problem:
>>> I was running XP Pro SP2 with IE7 and WMP11 with no issues. As part of
>>> automatic updates, I installed SP3. Since then I noticed that IE7 slowed
>>> down drastically.
>>> Remarks:
>>> I have both IE7 and Firefox 2 and Firefox is normal. I have a very fast
>>> broadband internet and for example downloaded some ISO CD images using
>>> IE7
>>> in just minute before SP3s. However now it wont load Microsoft update
>>> even
>>> after 10 mins. USing IE to access Google is a bit better and just
>>> manages
>>> to load. But Firefox is still very fast.
>>> Steps taken:
>>> First I tried to uninstall IE7 in the hope that re-installation would
>>> fix
>>> the issue. I found that I was unable to uninstall as the option was
>>> grayed
>>> out in Add Remove.
>>> So I did a repair install using a slipstreamed XP SP3 CD which did not
>>> contain IE7 since SP3 doesn't include it. After that, IE6 had no issues
>>> and
>>> was very fast.
>>>
>>> Automatic update kicked in and downloaded and installed a bunch of
>>> patches
>>> including IE7. So again I had the same problem as before. However, I was
>>> able to uninstall IE7 this time.
>>>
>>> After uninstalling IE7 I decided to simply patch IE6 and avoid IE7
>>> temporarily. However after a security roundup update for IE6, the next
>>> time I used Microsft update from the start menu, I found to my surprise
>>> that IE6 was opening as a small blank IE6 Window and Firefox was opening
>>> and going to the update webpage. Clicking on the home button in the IE6
>>> window opened the default MS page in firefox. This is the craziest thing
>>> I
>>> have seen to date...
>>>
>>> After that I uninstalled IE7 and installed IE7 file that I downloaded
>>> instead of from automatic update. This brings me back to square 1. IE7
>>> is
>>> so slow that it is almost unusable. Firefox is absolutely fine. I cannot
>>> do any updates.
>>>
>>> Any pointers would be appreciated. At this point, I have no option but
>>> to
>>> do a repair install using XP SP2 and downgrade my system.