IE 5 problems

[gardeness]

I've been having a few problems that may (or may not) be IE5. It's usually when I'm gaming (heavy graphics). Windows freeze, or buttons do not respond and then I have to close the window (often through the three finger salute as the window stops responding). It seems to me that if I play a game for a while I have to close IE and reopen else I will reach that point of freezing or freeky response. Under Java I have everything checked except Java Console Enabled.

I'm running a PIII/450 with 192 megs ram, and a rage128 video card. I do occasionally get that message (when gaming) of running low on system resources.

I've been reading about limiting the swap file (defrag 1st, then change the swap file to approx. 2x the size of my ram??). Can I undo that if it messes up my system? I'm wondering, too, if I have my motherboard configured optimally?? I've got a Soyo SY-6BA+IV.

While I'm on the topic, I have a demo of nortons utilities 2000 and symantec pc anywhere 9.0. Anyone think one of these would help in diagnosing/optimizing??

Thanks!

[Paleo Pete]

Can't tell you much about the blue screen without seeing the exact error message. Write it down and post it. Is this online gaming? If not, shut down internet explorer before playing games...

It might also have something to do with the settings within the games.

I would leave the swap file alone and let Windows manage it, that's one thing Windows is good at. You can change it and can later undo the changes if you wish. Go to Start\Control Panel\System\Performance tab and click the Virtual Memory button.

By default, Let Windows Manage my Virtual Memory is enabled. To change it, click the other box, Let me specify my Virtual Memory Settings or close to that. Most recommendations are to set it 2 to 2 1/2 times the amount of RAM in the machine. to change it back, just click the Let Windows Manage.... button.

I prefer to let Windows handle it. Also always try to keep at least 300MB free space on the drive containing the swap file, usually C. If mine gets under 300MB free space I start cleaning house.

Windows sets the swap file to whatever size it needs at the time, and usually does it well, so it's really not necessary to set it differently.

To find out more about optimizing the system go to my site below and check out the BIOS Survival Guide. Also have a few other good links there that will have optimization info, surf around...

PC Anywhere is a program designed to allow you to connect to your computer from an outside source, and send or retrieve files remotely, I doubt if it would have any overall system optimization features.

Norton's utilities 2000 I don't know much about, but I have read a few posts from people who like it, and a few from people who advise against using it. Guess it's a matter of personal preference.



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Computer Information Links

[gardeness]

I haven't changed the swap file or virtual memory. I'm getting a bit frustrated with this situation. Usually I can reboot my system and it clears up the slowness on IE, but not always. IE is freezing, and sometimes when I start it up it freezes. I tried reinstalling it again (via the internet, I don't have that version on disk).

Does it matter what size my temporary internet file is? I just increased it from about 2000 to 3000. Should it be kept on the small size or larger?

I was blaming the gaming site for most of the problems, but its just the place that seems most affected.

[ReddDogg]

mkay, I assume you have already cleared your temporary internet files, yoru history, and your cookies, along with yoru windows temp directory. If you have not, do those now.

Go to add/remove programs, and highlight internet explorer, click add/remove, and select repair option.

If none of thse work, and you have plenty of free hard drive space, and nonthing else works, I would recommend standing on your head and playing the drums while watching andy kaufman on a big screen t.v..... wait, no, that is what I would do to relax.... as for the computer, try those things, see what they do.

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Joe Redd
MCP