Computer slows down and CPU usage is at 100% when I view animated gifs in IE

[AznRyda]

When there are a couple animated gifs on a webpage, my cpu usage goes to 100% and the gif plays very choppily and my computer becomes very slow. I can alleviate this problem by right clicking on the image, and then select properties. after that, the cpu usage goes back to normal, but only for that particular page. if I go somewhere else or if I reload the screen or something, the problem arises again.

My system specs are

p3 1ghz
radeon 8500
320 mb sdram cas 2 ram
120 gig hd
win xp pro
etc etc

I don't know what the problem is? bad processor? software related? I know it happens to a few other people too, but I don't get why. My older computer can view the same gifs just fine and it is much crappier. I don't get it.

Also, I have problems when I right click on links that are '.mpeg' and they get saved as '.mpa' ?

I thought IE was screwy but when I tried to upgrade it said I had the newest version, so I am rather perplexed.

 

[Undertaker2002]

For the second problem, when the saves as dialog appears, select all files in the file type box and it will retain the extension you give it.

Can't help you with the first

 

[Auric]

It's the Radeon drivers.

 

[AznRyda]

they are the newest drivers. Should I install the old ones?

 

[Auric]

I do not know when the problem first appeared. It could be all NT drivers or just the xxx6xxx series.

I was not aware of this 'till doing a quick search:
To disable animated GIFs, select "Internet Options" from the Tools menu and then click the Advanced tab. Scroll down to the Multimedia section, deselect the "Play Animations" option and click OK. From now on, you should only see the first frame of each animated GIF that loads.

 

[AznRyda]

I downloaded the new ATi drivers and they still don't work... :-\ I guess I'll have to try a reformat in the future. So its not my cpu right? it seems weird that if I right click properties on a gif it'd go back to normal again. oh well.

 

[MadRat]

I have the same problem. Its not the Radeon or the speed of your PC, its IE.

 

[Auric]

This did not happen with my Radeon and W98. I think I used up to IE55 on that. So if it is not the Radeon drivers it must be NT itself. If so, it is queer the problem would go unfixed for so long.

 

[CZroe]

Probably spyware and/or misbehaving "vampire" browser plugins and helper objects. Could something like Quicktime be rendering your GIFs (It can)? Download AdAware (A spyware remover) and BHOcop (Browser Helper Object removal tool).

 

[MadRat]

Any links to BHOcop?

 

[CZroe]

It's a PCMAG utility. Look for it on ZDnet's utilities site...

 

[JeremiahTheGreat]

newest offical or unoffical drivers? There are brand spanking new 6058's for Radeon series (www.rage3d.com)..

I don't get 100% usage on mine, it tops out at around 30% when viewing animated Gifs.. i think its an IE explorer problem. Tried *gasp* Netscape to see if it happens on another browser?

 

[Strych9]

<< Any links to BHOcop? >>

Here

 

[MadRat]

Acrobat Reader 5.0 was the only plugin I had. We'll see if removing this does anything.

btw - Thanks for the link.

 

[AznRyda]

:-\ I tried the BHOcop and I got rid of all the spyware, it's still busted. What an annoying problem. I hope a reformat will get rid of this problem.

JeremiahTheGreat: They are the newest official drivers. I would try netscape but I don't have it installed.

an example of a choppy gif would be: Animated Gif