Pls Help. Weird IE 5/5.5 (Win2k) problem where it freezes for 30 sec everytime I use a form or drop down bar.

[sxr7171]

Whenever I enter any information into any internet form (for example the one that you enter you message title and message text to start a thread) it allows me to type in the first field, but when I try to switch to the second field either by hitting "Tab" or by clicking in the second field IE 5 just freezes for literally 30 secs. This is in Win 2k.

I updated to IE 5.5 to see if the problem would go away and it didn't. It also happens when you use a drop-down bar like the "navigation" bar on the upper right hand corner of this forum.

I made some recent changes to my system:

1. I changed from a GeForce 4 4400 to a Radeon 8500LE retail, running at default clock.

2. I changed my Win 2k services to the minimum I require for my system.

3. I installed ATI MMC version 7.7


However, I think that the same thing happens in Win 98 so that may rule out the changing of services causing the problem. I will provide a definite update on that soon.
It really drives me crazy since it affects me everytime I post a message or do a store lookup or a search.

Does anyone know what may be causing this weird behavoir?

Sorry if I haven't provided enough information, if anyone needs the full list of services running and disabled I will post it.

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[bacillus]

If your PC is freezing regularly, and you are on PPPoE, your computer may be looking around for a DHCP server that does not exist. Check the following: (windows)

Open control panel

Open Network

Look for the first entry in the scroll box marked TCP/IP, that is associated with a hardware ethernet card (ignore dialup, AOL and VPN type bindings).

Select it and press properties

Select IP address from the tab

Is Obtain IP address automatically checked? if so, change that to Define IP address and enter 192.168.1.10, and 255.255.255.0, into IP address and subnet mask fields respectively
This assignment of a harmless local IP address to the TCP/IP settings bound (connected) to your network adaptor, will stop the in-built DHCP services from waking up every 10 minutes to look for a DHCP server so that it can "fill in the blanks".

 

[sxr7171]

Thanks for your response. Just to be sure I would like to give you some more information. I am running only a modem, and I have disabled my ethernet card. When I open up Network and Dialup Connections I only have my ATT Worldnet Service there. In the networking tab there I have my TCP/IP component. Under properties I have "Obtain an IP address automatically" checked. I also have "obtain DNS server address automatically" checked as well.

The next part might sound a little stupid: I set to manual startup both my DNS client and my DHCP client under "Services." They both did not start up.

I manually started the DNS client and the problem still exists.
Then I also manually started the DNCP client and the problem still exists.

Maybe I need to restart?

But one thing is that the freezing occurs only in the particular instance of IE 5.5 that I tried to use a drop down box or form in. It only occurs when I do either of those things.
When I check under task manager it shows only that particular IE 5.5 window as "Not Responding" for about 30 seconds.

Should I still try what you said, I just wanted to make sure since you said to ignore dialup?

Another characteristic I noticed was that once it freezes on a particular form, that particular instance of IE 5.5 will not freeze again on that same form, but it will on another form.

I will let you know for sure if it happens in Win98, if it doesn't, then I think we have narrowed down the problem.

Again, thanks a lot for your help!

 

[sxr7171]

I just checked in Win98, the problem doesn't occur there. I also set DNS client and DHCP client to automatic startup in Win 2000 and the problem still exists. At least we know that it is likely that my meddling with services caused this mess. I always feel pain when I try to slim down Win 200, by cutting unecessary services, I thought this time I had it right.

Any way I think I should list my services and their status.

My services for 1280x1024 resolution

Services in Full Detail


EDIT: I did the decent thing and sorted those services:

Services 1280x1024 Sorted

 

[sxr7171]

I think I should more specific about these freezes. It doesn't happen on drop-down bars anymore.

It happens like this:

1. I go to a search box.
2. Type in my search term. - Everything's fine.
3. I click on 'search' it freezes for 30 seconds and shows 'not responding' in task manager.
4. After about 30 secs it completes the search.

Another way it happens:

1. I go to a user name and password box.
2. I type in my user name. - Still fine
3. I switch to password box - it freezes just like above for 30 seconds.
4. After 30 secs the cursor shows up in the password box and I can type my password and click on submit - and it works.

I really don't know what to do.

 

[sxr7171]

Okay guys. Case Closed!

I disabled Auto Complete and it seems that my problem is gone!

I really liked having auto-complete, but I'll live without if it means having to wait 30 secs for every form I use.

 

[sxr7171]

Sorry for sending this up again. But I think that this might be useful information for those who like to get rid of extra services on your Win2k/XP.

It turns out that the services did have a role in this situation. See this thread on Tek-Tips.com for the problem and its solution:

Tek Tips Thread

I just started "protected storage" and re-enabled auto-complete and everything now works fine!

This is even better my problem is solved and got to learn something from it all.

So the moral of this story is to avoid shutting down protected storage if you want to use auto-complete.

This whole thread looks like I'm talking to myself.