Turn the idle mixture screw out until it starts to run rich then in until it starts to falter then turn half way between the two. Adjusting it like you said could make it idle fast but still be too lean. If pulling the choke out a little at a time makes the popping go away you could try turning the idle mixture screw out a little at time and see if that makes it go away as well. Then bring it back to idle and see if it idles ok. Slight popping and surging is most often caused by a lean condition in the idle circuit.