Annoying Windows 98 problem...

**PuddingShorts** · June 30th, 2002, 06:45 PM

I've got a problem with Win 98. Everything's been working smooth with minimal "blue screens of death" and now I have this wierd problem. Anytime I click on My Computer or Internet Explorer, it takes damn near 30 seconds for the window to open. If I want to surf around online, I basically have to click the shortcut icon, then sit forever waiting for the window to open.

What could cause such a delay? I have a Pentium 4 333MHz, well over 128MB of RAM too. I know for a fact it's not my hardware, but I have no idea what could cause this.

Anyone have a similar problem or at least know what system settings to look at to fix this? I tried a Microsoft Update but it did nothing to help.

**Redwolf** · June 30th, 2002, 06:49 PM

Heres some ideas:

Defrag it (This can take a while unless you have some software. One is www.powerdefrag.com . The other is the ME defragger. PM me for that one, It's hard to find on the net).

Tweak IT! www.pureperformance.com

Does it do this right after you've closed an explorer window?

**bigblue77** · June 30th, 2002, 06:50 PM

When was the last time you de-fragged the HDD?

Jer

**osprey4** · June 30th, 2002, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by PuddingShorts
I have a Pentium 4 333MHz, well over 128MB of RAM too.

There's your problem. You've slowed down your P4 to 333 MHz! And "well over 128MB of RAM" is what?

john

**Redwolf** · June 30th, 2002, 07:21 PM

333Mhz? Do you mean 3.33 GHz?

**TOAD6147** · June 30th, 2002, 08:37 PM

Is 333Mhz the FSB?

**PuddingShorts** · June 30th, 2002, 10:08 PM

Sorry, I meant a Pentium TWO. I was daydreaming about a nice new 2.4GHz and typed out the wrong CPU type.

About defragging, I did that not too long ago but I can try it again and let you guys know if it helps any.

And my RAM is 192MB.

It's just My Computer, Explorer, and Internet Explorer that take too long to open up. Every other program I have works fine though. I can launch Quake III the same speed it always launched as well as Paint Shop Pro, etc. etc.

I'm going to try the agonizingly long process of defragging and hope it helps. I'd still appreciate any other ideas though.

**eagle1** · June 30th, 2002, 10:54 PM

Do you have something running at 100% cpu power.
Sometimes that happens to me (with explorer and my computer) but it happens because I run eccp or some other program that takes all the cpu cycles.!

**Inanis** · June 30th, 2002, 11:02 PM

Does the Hard Drive make clicking sounds during this period? Does the hard drive light go solid during this period?

Im thinking: Possible hard drive problem?

**MaxVal** · July 1st, 2002, 08:21 AM

Are you running anti virus software with current pattern updates?
I've seen this happen with multiple infestations.
MAX

**osprey4** · July 1st, 2002, 12:21 PM

Are you mapping any network drives? Or anything that the computer thinks is a network drive?

John

**SickPup404** · July 1st, 2002, 12:33 PM

Try IE6 - My IE5.5 was doing the same thing.....

**Richard Cranium** · July 1st, 2002, 12:56 PM

Boot to SAFE mode to do the defrag, this'll make it lots faster.

Boot to DOS to do Scandisk.

Go into Msconfig and minimize the startup programs.

Run 'sysedit' and under System.Ini drop down under [386Enh] and type in
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1

Go Device Mgr and under Performance, File System, change it to Network Server.
Uncheck 'check for new floppy drives on each boot'

Do the tune up at least once every 2 weeks or so on a heavily used machine.

Last but prolly most importantly, the HD may be on its last legs, or it may be a very slow drive.
On my HP Pavillion when I removed the Quantum Slowfoot 4400 rpm drive and replaced it with a IBM 20g 5400 rpm ATA 100 drive, the performance shot through the roof, well it got lots faster anyway

)

**PuddingShorts** · July 1st, 2002, 04:29 PM

OK, the problem "magically fixed itself" I guess. I went to open My Computer and it popped right up. I tried Internet Explorer and it too opened right up.

I did NOTHING either. No defrag, no system editing. I'll keep an eye on things though. At least now I can keep track of everything I do from now on, then I'll have a idea what went wrong if this happens again.