Browswer for Win98?

[Gurck]

Having a problem with a cousin's PC, which is using gay-OL, and I want to check if the problem persists in a different browser. It's a slow PC though (p3-?, 64mb ram), so no shot at installing xp, and apprently firefox doesn't work with 98 - I installed it, but the PC acts as though it's not there. Is therre something free I can download for testing purposes? Fwiw, the problem is that she can't play Pogo.com games; either the gay-OL browser fails to initiate java (~75% of the time) or it does, but takes 5-10 full minutes to load the game, which even on such a slow computer is way too long, far longer than it used to take.

 

[vailr]

Try installing Sun's Java, in place of the MS Java Virtual Machine.
MS has a tool for completely uninstalling the MS Java VM.
Also, check for updated ISP software; free CD's can be found at electronics or office stores;also at your local USPS facility.
Upgrading the memory to 256 Mb, would make the user experience "less painful".
Try running "Belarc Advisor", which will give more exact information on memory, CPU, installed hotfixes, etc.
http://www.belarc.com/End-User_Products.html

 

[nweaver]

minimize aol and try IE?

Opera and Mozilla are both options to try

 

[Gurck]

I've tried both MSJVM and Sun's, no dice. I'll have to look into the removal tool for MS's I guess. I can't upgrade AOL because the newest version (9.0) brings the computer to its knees... talk about bloat... So I have to stick with 6.0. IE isn't an option, opening the game window will open a new browser window in AOL instead. I'll have to try Opera I guess, or see if Mozilla has a '98 version. I figure with what a 128 or 256 mb stick of sdram would cost, it'd be better to get a ~$300-$400 internet & email Dell cheapie, and it's probably what I'll recommend, as I cant' take much more of this. Problem started when she got the win98 defrag bug (with too little ram, win98 will start using the swap file during a defrag, then recognize the disk contents as having changed, and so start over, and loop that process - GJ M$ on never bothering with a fix :roll: ), somehow thought it was AOL's fault, and had their tech support walk her through installing the latest AOL version, 9.0. Prior to that, Pogo games worked well, I guess. I tried telling her AOL wasn't necessary, but for many anti-tech people such as her, AOL = the internet the way kleenex = tissue for some. My suggestion was met with a blank stare and a change of subject. She then went on to say how she had talked them into giving her a discount because of the problem - only $21.95 this month! Can you tell this is pissing me off?

 

[xgsound]

I also have a cousin that insists on using AOL on a 400 Mhz dell with 64 Meg of memory.

After AOL 5 or so, I couldn't keep the machine clean enough of spyware and bloat (teenagers!) for them to use. That Dell with 64 Meg couldn't pull the load, and they wanted AOL.

I found no solution until someone left a 800 Mhz machine at one of our rental houses, so I put XP on it, upped the memory to 256; and it now works for them. They have the bloat of AOL 9 and still get spyware, but it works for them.

AOL still doesn't play nice with other browsers, even when minimized.

So that newer dell or some machine with at least 256 Meg might be the right answer for them and get you off the hook .


Jim

 

[Gurck]

Odd, the firefox installation process ended last time I tried as if it had installed when it hadn't... this time it went in no problem, and works on the machine. Not surprisingly, pogo.com games work flawlessly on it... Could it be that she had an older & les resource-intensive (or friendlier with AOL) version of java on the PC prior to calling their tech support & getting screwed? After walking her through installing AOL 9.0 (optimized!!1!1), they had her install the newest java revision as well... Where could I find an older one? I can't seem to find it at java.com, and oldversion.com doesn't have it either. I figure it'd be better to get this going with aol than teach her to use firefox and such. p3-733 btw.

 

[mechBgon]

What about IE6SP1? Or am I missing something here

 

[mechBgon]

Oh, and the other thing I can remark on: if she's running the McAfee VirusScan that comes with AOL, be aware that McAfee's engine wubs tew chew and chew and CHEW on .jar and .chm files, as well as several of the things that Mozilla browsers are made of. Which means Java can take forevar to get rolling because McAfee is pouncing on it and tearing it to pieces first. Try disabling McAfee as a fact-finding step if the problem persists.

 

[Gurck]

Yeah, I got rid of mcafee and aol 9, put aol 6 back in. Pogo games are now halfway working, the AOL browser is initiating java pretty reliably. Games still take a bit to load, but I think it's just that the PC is aging and has a newer, more resource-intensive version of Java on it. Defrag is still pretty fubar, not sure why it used to work... at any rate, she's getting the PC back working a little better than when I got it, getting her $$ back & getting a Dell recommendation. I'm beyond sick of this thing. Thanks everyone.

 

[ugh]

Have you tried d/lding the ZIP version of FF and try loading it?

 

[Rottie]

Firefox works well with win98se I am using with laptop but upgrade to 128MB or more will help.
Try old version of AOL lke 4.0 or less will work with win98se and 400MHz.

And Vailr is correct you need to install Sun's Java it works for me.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Some computers are just better when they're put out to pasture.

Glad you got it resolve though.