To reduce the amount of time WR needs you can remove as much files as possible:
- Temporary internet files (IE, Firefox, Chrome, .....). With e.g. Piriform's CCleaner.
- Run WR's repairs #13 & 16 first. #16 deletes Windows Update (WU) related files and over time A LOT OF files can accumulate in one or more specific WU related folder.
If you're sure you don't want to un-install XP updates in the future then you can do the following:
- Delete files in "C:\windows\$hf_mig$" (I do it every time and it never had a bad impact).
- There're also can be A LOT OF subfolders in the "C:\windows\" folder that are displayed in blue and that start with "KB.........". These folders are created by the Windows updates.