Hi everyone,

I've recently installed Windows XP Professional SP2 on my computer, and I had immediately a problem with my DVD-drive (Ricoh RW5240). Every time when XP starts and finds this drive, the process Services.exe jumps to 98-100% CPU. This happens just in the moment where XP recognizes the drive. I might ad that XP recognizes the drive correctly, but then the Services.exe kick in and take all power.

Since this drive was rather old anyway, I bought a new DVD-drive this morning - a NEC AD-7173A drive. I just installed it, the bios accept the drive without a problem, but then the same thing again with XP. As soon as the drive is recognized by XP, the Services.exe jumps to 98-100% CPU.

The strange thing though, is that when I install my older CD-drive in the computer, it's recognized by XP without any hitch.

PS! Before I installed this latest version of Windows, I used a XP Pro. SP1 - with which I never ha any similar problem. Can this be another typical SP2 fault?

Can anybody help me resolve this issue before I tear my hair out!

I have the similar problem. I have Pentium 4 processor with two threads so CPU usage rises to 50%. And my DVD drive is installed without problems. Problem occurred when I installed virtual drive ( I tried Nero, Alcohol, Daemon Tools and the results were same -services.exe CPU usage goes to 50%). Just installed SP2 with all updates, run NOD antivirus, ADAWARE, Spybot S&D several times they didn't find anything. Formatted computer 3 times result was same again. Is this a memory leak caused by some SP2 update?

Thanks damienhc for your input!

I also tried to install a virtual CD/DVD drive besides the physical DVD-drive - ending up with the same problems. As I mentioned in my first question, have I also suspected the SP2 update to be the origin to the problem. I tried to re-update the computer with SP2 and all other new updates - with no luck.

Two days ago I reinstalled Windows XP again (with SP1) and then updated the PC with a newly downloaded SP2. Now everything worked flawlessly.

So I think we can blame this on some error in the earlier SP2 packages!

MONELLO,

I am experiencing a high cpu usage and page file usage. I tried most of the things suggested for improving memory and performance. But, your suggestion of reinstalling windows and the SP2 is something I'm moving towards. Thanks for the suggestion.

Another problem that is showing up that I'm not sure if it is related is the hourglass keeps popping up in Word which stops you until it goes away which is only for a few seconds.

Monello,

I tried the removal and reinstallation of SP2 (I didn't remove and reinstall XP first). System became nearly useable and had to go back to a system recovery point.

Any suggestions on getting good copy of Windows XP since my current copy seems messed up and we didn't back it up when we bought it? No XP cds came with computer.

Hi pastorjdgray,

I'm not familiar with your Word hourglass problem, but often a complete reinstallation is the best (and fastest) thing to do when having major problems with Windows.

As to a good XP copy - what I did it the end was first to reinstall with an older XP Pro coming with SP1, then I had Windows Autoupdate itself with SP2 and a whole lot more. The first time I installed the SP2, I got it as a copy from a friend, a rather old copy...

I really think it's best to let XP autoupdate - then you are a 100% sure to get all the latest changes and updates.

Of course - if you don't have any other good XP copy at home, do like most others - borrow or steal (e-mule) :-) But remember then that you probably will not be update XP manually through Microsoft, but just let XP autoupdate, and you will after a couple of hours have your PC up to date!