Safe Mode screw UP?

[OSXtasy]

Hi all, a couple days ago I downloaded 10.4.7 and 10.4.8 combo updates (been running 10.4.6 since I got my MBP cause I heard stories about updates screwing up stability, etc) and just set them on my NAS for the time being so that I would have them(I have auto update turned off). I then proceeded to surf various discussion forums about 10.4.8 forums and found that alot of people were having HORIBLE problems since updating. I read alot say to reboot into safe mode (hold down shift key after boot sound) and then do a repair permissions and then reboot again for them to fix the problem. To make a long story short I had hear that this also clears caches, etc. So i decide to boot into safe mode (by the way my MBP has been running fine since I bought it with 10.4.6) just for sheets and grins, to see what it looked like etc. Well after I rebooted it after safe mode, now programs are slow as {censored}, the whole machine is sluggish, and I've had a few errors or abnormal program/os feature terminations that generate an error report. This happened once when I went to change my wallpaper, once when I launched System Preferences, and on other time when i was just doing normal system operations. I ve since rebooted probably 5 more times, repaired disk permissions about 4 times(no problems are EVER found), and I've also noticed once I first booted back into normal mode that all my icons in the top menu bar for my running programs (Menu meters, desktop manager, core duo temp, and even my wifi icon) are now located in a different location/rearranged from where they were (which ones were beside each other in other words). Now I've noticed that it seems to be getting faster the more I use it, but what caused this other than just booting into safe mode, and will everything return to normal?? Good thing it's backed up(super dooper trial). Now I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and install 10.4.8, or wipe and start over with 10.4.6 (on install discs) and immediately install 10.4.8 combo. Only thing is, i dont wanna lose my Winxp/bootcamp install. Suggestions?????