Computer not been right since Windows update

Hi there, I'm posting on the 15th of August. No more than 5 days ago my computer was running as sweet as it always has (Dell Studio 17, 2.10Ghz, 3gb RAM) and then I installed a windows update on whichever day. Since then my computer has not been right AT ALL!

It has since been faaaar slower than usual. Before my laptop was always fast, never had problems and breezed through heavy programmes, but now just having my email open browsing files, and having google chrome open means that it slows right down and I have to wait for it to catch up with itself. Opening programs is also very poor when it comes to speed. I could imagine this with an old computer or something but its unbelievable how quickly the laptop went from amazing to slow.
The reason that I posted this in the Windows update section is because I am convinced that the problem has been caused by a windows update because I remember a noticeable difference after restarting from an update.

Since this problem I have ran anti malware, anti virus, defrag, and anti malware again probably, and nothing revealed anything of any seriousness. I also intended on doing a system restore to a few days before the day i though i may have installed this update and I had no restore points sitting there (possibly caused by a file clear-up program, Advanced System Care)

The only thing I have noticed is that my physical memory useage is much higher than it used to be (i noticed because the google desktop bar which has a performance bar on it). From doing nothing strenuous the physical memory sits between 45 and 48% ALL the time and does not move.


At the time this screenshot was taken, the highest use of memory from processes was under 30,000k. I also had 91 processes running which seems high.

There is definitely something wrong but I have no idea what it could be so could someone PLEEEEEEEASE help me out as its driving me mental!!

Cheers,

Sam

No problem Sam

With system restore go back to a few days before the updates
Set update to manual so you can install
Then do one at a time and test. When you find the problem one, uninstall. and then hide it. If you need more help with any of this just post.

Cheers for such a quickly reply. The most annoying thing i have is that there are no restore points from before the update. Once the problems started I ran various programs including Advanced System Care, which may have deleted the earlier restore points (though I can't be sure) and then when i thought to do a system restore there were no restore points from before the update. In fact there were no restore points at all!

The only restore points i have available are from after the problems started.

I think that update that i believe to have started this installed either the 11th or 12th of this month. The earliest restore point i have is from the 14th.

Hope there is another solution to this or at least some kind of explanation as to how its possible for my performance to drop so rapidly.

Since the problems started I have been manually checking for windows updates just to see if there is a new fix or something but I haven't read anywhere that any recent updates have caused anybody any problems.

Cheers

You can uninstall manually.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/24373-windows-update-uninstall-update.html

This is a small problem, trying to correct it with a sledge hammer may make it worse.

Do you mean uninstall the updates?

Yes, I gave you the directions, above

Oh aye sorry, strangely only the first line of your post showed up before.

How can i tell which updates i can uninstall and those i should not uninstall. Accoridng to the link you provided, if i uninstall something that affected important operating system files then i could be in trouble.

Since the 12th i have had 23 updates - 20 of which are marked as important, 2 as optional, and 1 recommended

Can you post a screen shot of the list?

I do not have Vista, I am on Seven

Here you go

For me just a big X. Nice shade of red, though

Did the image not show properly? Shall I reupload screenshot?

Any better? http://j.imagehost.org/view/0806/screenshot2

OK thats better, This is what you do

A few at a time, uninstall defender and for things like word.

Make a system restore point first, just in case.

Set update to manual and then hide the updates as they come in again.

I will slowly let you know abut the others.

See if computer is working properly, if not, uninstall the security updates, after you make a new restore point. Do a few at at time.

Be sure to post again, when you are done, so I do not forget about this.

Ok I will do. Thanks for your help. I am away for the day today but I will do this later on this evening.

One added note, is it normal to have over 6 instances of svchost.exe under the processes tab when i look at processes from all users?

Its hard to explain, but I am sure that you are not really interested in the technical stuff, anyway; the answer is yes. Multiple svchost.exe is normal.

Start with a System Restore
Uninstall the updates that I mentioned. Use the computer for a while. If it did not get any better, let me know and we will remove the next batch. Always start off with a System Restore. When we start with the second batch, if things get worse, we can always go back with the restore point,, without losing the work that we did with the first batch.
Take care, my friend.

I'm going to start the process of uninstalling a few updates at a time, though one things I'm not sure about is once i uninstall updates and I have also set the update to manual, when do i know when to start letting updates install?

Also, should i uninstall 'Security update for microsoft windows' as they make up the most of the updates installed over the last week.

Hey
Set the automatic install to let you install. When working properly we will install a few at a time. If problem happens, again, we will know which not to install.

Before each batch make a SR point.

Dont do the MS security yet. Do the ones that I mentioned.

Right what I've done up until now is uninstall 5 updates. I did 2, then restart and test, another 2 then restart and test and then the final one and the restarted and tested.

Here's what i uninstalled (which were all from the last week and which werent the ones you said not to do) and also how i found my computer after:

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1. Security Update for 2007 microsoft office system (KB2277947)
2. Security update for Excel 2003 (KB2264403) :EXCEL

Memory similar (between 37 and 46%) but was probably more mobile than before. Seemed a little quicker and the RAM wasn't always at a constant percent

3. Security update for microsoft works 9 (KB2092914)
4. Security update for Word 2003 (KB2251399) :WINWORD

Similar memory stats as above. Was able to have itunes, chrome and photoshop all open without problems, though a 'program is not responding' once. Was a tad slow to start but was much quicker than it has been.

5. Update for outlook 2003 Junk E-mail filter (KB2279246) OUTLFLTR

RAM stats again are similar but feeling much slower. Free physical memory is very low, dropping to 0. Programs taking a long time to open and not quick to respond either.

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the computer was running best after 3 and 4 were uninstalled so not sure why it would be worse after 5.

The other thing i dont get is why the RAM would still be similar around the 40% region all the time or higher.

The only updates remaining installed from the last week are either 'Security updates for microsoft windows', 'update for microsoft windows' or a 'windows management framework core' which has been installed too recently for me to think its got anything to do with my problems.

What do you make of this?

Since I am not there, I am going with your lead that the problem started around the update time. Lets give this test a try.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7