Is this an AMD machine? If so did you install the 4 in 1 drivers? Like one of the posters in that thread, i've found that NOT installing the 4 in 1 drivers results in better, more stable performance (XP only, VIA KT333 chipset). XP comes with its own VIA drivers.
I've got a Ti4600.
Edit: Seems like the board doesn't like that link.
Just goto Groups.google.com and search for "XP slow 2D graphics". I don't think this is the games fault.
[ March 12, 2003, 00:14: Message edited by: baetis ]
I have a dual-boot system with WinXP Pro and Win98. The ships definetly move faster under Win98 than under WinXP. It's a dual-boot system, so it's all the same hardware.
It's annoying more than anything, although I furrow my brow mightly when I play under Win98 and see the ships zipping across the screen...
I run se4 on two systems under XP. one is a high-spec 2.something desktop (work) and the other is a 1.4 Sony Vaio laptop (my own, my precioussss). On the laptop I've played se4 both before and after installing the 4 in 1 drivers.
Never noticed any irritating slownesses on either machine at any time.
You can try to use Win 98 compatibility mode. This is how to do it:
Make an icon of SE4 - right click on it - select properties - select compatibility - check "Run this program in compatibility mode for" box - select Win 98/Win ME - click apply.