Don't know what your previous procedure was, but it might have been a miscomprehension of the procedure as you do not fully start the saw on full choke.
From cold- set the saw master control lever to full choke, pull the rope for 2-3 full extensions and you should feel and/or hear a "pop" of ignition, that first initial fire that lets you know fuel vapours are meeting the combustion chamber in correct proportions.
It is at that point you move the master control to half choke and pull the rope again and half choke is the engines actual starting position, once running a blip on the trigger brings the saw from fast idle to normal idle.
Think of it like full choke is the priming position, half choke the actual start position.
Trying to fully start the saw on full choke leads to excess fuel dumping into the combustion chamber and crankcase leading to flooding- which is where I think this all started at.
After some use and a few more starts from cold- it will become second nature to you.
Now go and enjoy your saw.