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Win XP Pro / IE 6 / What the heck?

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0pt3r0nG33k

Junior Member
I think, (note the key word THINK) this started happening after Norton 2002 (just Antivirus) was installed on this system - but ever since, no matter what I've tried, whether it's a System Restore or even Last Known Good configuration, the damn computer acts like it's from 1990. It's so slooooooooooow.

Let me put it into perspective for you.

Computer: 1.4 GHz Athlon (266 FSB), 512 PC2100 DDRSDRAM, ATA133 Maxtor 7200 RPM (40 GB)

Opening Windows associated with: My Computer, My Network Places or even just Internet Exploder (heh) takes (and I actually timed it with a stop watch) from the time I click on the icon (double or single right click -> open) it takes anywhere from 15 to 20 seconds to open the frapping window. This is TOTALLY unacceptable. I have tried every trick in the XP book I know of, which is probably not too much by some respects, but it's enough to keep me busy for a couple of hours. I'm completely lost on why this can't be fixed. I've tried everything from a complete chkdsk on reboot, to resetting the swap file for my physical ram size, 1.5x and 2.5x, even let Windows manage it - no difference.

Sometimes, maybe 1 in 10, it will work right like it's supposed to. The rest of the time it sucks.

Please, anyone have any suggestions on this? I don't even know what to search for since there's no error messages, so Google or TechNet have no justifyable start here. and it's really ticking me off. I have too much right now to loose to even think about reloading it (which I don't think is neccessary).

FYI - the Antivirus program was preventative. The system was clean before and after the installation & restorations.
 
Have you checked your event logs? (right click My Computer- Manage- Event Viewer) Check the system and application logs for any errors and then go to the Microsoft site for help.
Maybe, try uninstalling Norton and see what happens, maybe it was a bad install.
Try pressing CTL-ALT-DEL and then go to processes, maybe you can find one that's hogging your system recources.
Good luck!
 
If it was all as simple as that, I wouldn't have freaked out. Norton wasn't on the system more than was long enough to get the latest definitions from LiveUpdate and then decide I didn't want it. Doing searches in my registry for "Norton" and "Antivirus" reveals nothing related to Symantec (which I also searched for - nothing) so I'll give them credit - they know how to keep the registry clean - at least in my case they did.

I even tried a swap file defragmenter from a site a friend recommended. I think I'm just going to run the repair option from within setup, because this is pathetic - my Duron 750 is outpacing this system on PC133 SDRAM (they both have 512 MB & both are running XP)

I will still return here after the repair, so if anyone has any more thoughts, please post them.
 
Nope. Never made a dang difference on my laptop, so I sure as hell won't try it on the desktop system and waste 45 minutes of my time.

Does ANYONE have ANY ideas? There has GOT to be a fix for this problem...

To re-iterate:

It happens when I [try to] open Internet Explorer, My Network Places or My Computer. Will take normally 20 seconds before the window shows, there is virtually no hard drive activity before the window opens, then it suddenly realizes "Hey, guess I better get my arse into gear here". and it opens. Once the window is open, I have no problem navigating, it's just that initial time frame that it takes to open the window I need access to. Otherwise the computer works just fine.
 
just checking but is your hdd in pio mode?
look in device manager/ide controllers/properties.
you really want it to be using dma transfers!
 
Just a novice here on forum and a month into Winxp pro on a p4 1.7 asus p4te system

found a lot of good tweaks here: http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakxp/

There are so manyh areas that can be adjusted, but I found the IE6 tweak re: temporary Internet files to make a difference on this machine. Rather than go into a bunch of details, take a look and see if something there might help.

indexing is another "service" that you may not need.

Thanks for listening

Not a fan of norton or macafee...been using Computer Associates EZ antivirus with good results...


tcas

 
Well, #1 I'm on 56K and have no tolerance to sit through a full IE 6 download...

Secondly, no, DMA is enabled. I checked that a looooong time ago. I even uninstalled my 4in1's and tested the system without them, found it to be the same, then reinstalled them. Still the same yet again.

I'll run by that site in a little bit and check to see if they have anything - I just find it hard to believe that I need to "tweak" XP to work since it was working fine in the first place. I can tell you though, I'd rather reformat my entire network than deal with Norton. What a piece of ****.
 
I know that you're not going to like this idea, but it's the only one I have that will almost surely work. Reformat. Of course, I'd also suggest that you use W2K, but that's a personal opinion, and in this instance, probably not very feasible. If you're worried about losing your data (and who wouldn't be in your situation), get another hard drive. It's more than worth the extra money in order to not have to get back all of those MP3s or whatever it is you put on your computer. The best price I found was here, and that IS for a 7200 rpm drive. I'm no expert, but I've worked with Windows for a long time (since there WAS a windows), and I can tell you that Windows has a knack for finding the most inconspicuous places to screw up your comp. It really is the quickest and easiet way to fix this problem. Most tech support people will suggest it before anything else.

I will say one thing, be careful when buying a new hard drive for this purpose. I got kind of lost and ended up buying 5 hard drives. All I'm saying is, know when to say when.
 
Well, let me say something - I AM a tech. I just happen to be under a lot of stress (new job starting on Monday, had a LAN Party last night, and had to sit out on quite a bit of it because of this @#^#$@#&!(!! computer.) It was working just fine until I installed Norton Antivirus 2002 on it, and then all hell broke loose. I started a scan with norton, but I have an existing McAfee online account, and it just got done scanning everything on this system and said nothing was found - of course, I'm not much convinced. I never really trust McAfee since it misses a few things sometimes that I've seen Norton pick up, however my laptop also had the same problem (er, is having that is) and I completed a scan with norton on it, so I've got the benefit of the doubt. It is definitely not a virus.

None of the tweaks from that website that someone suggested helped either. It still takes 20 seconds to open a folder, blah blah blah.

FORTUNATELY, I partition my hard drive into two segments so I have a place to store everything in case I do reformat, it's not the cleanest in some respects, but it allows me to get the job done. I'm just whining about the reformat because it still takes forever on 1400 MHz, and I had EVERYTHING where I wanted it (finally!). It would figure though. I can definetely say though, I will never install another Norton product on my system again. It's as bad as everyone says Bonzai Buddy is. *shiver*.

If anyone has suggestions, I won't be able to format my laptop yet, and I can try ideas out on it as well since it's the same problem, otherwise I'm gonna move files across to the D Drive and start the FFR.
 
Did you try several reboots and the problem persisted?
Any CD Media in any of your drives? Windows scans the drives when you open explorer.

Try this:
- Close/Exit all running programs
- Kill explorer.exe using Task Manager
- Once explorer is killed, open up the Task Manager, one by one, go through the list and try to kill any tasks that you can. Most of them you won't be able to kill as the Task Manager will not let you (and it shouldn't)
- Using the task manager->File->New Task->iexplore. This should start internet explorer. See if the load time improves.
- To restore the shell, Task Manager->File->New Task->explorer.

If the above procedure does not work, next step is to identify any 'suspicious' services that may be installed and disable/remove them.
 
FORTUNATELY, I partition my hard drive into two segments so I have a place to store everything in case I do reformat, it's not the cleanest in some respects, but it allows me to get the job done. I'm just whining about the reformat because it still takes forever on 1400 MHz, and I had EVERYTHING where I wanted it (finally!). It would figure though. I can definetely say though, I will never install another Norton product on my system again. It's as bad as everyone says Bonzai Buddy is. *shiver*.
Click to expand...

I don't think it was our (Symantec's) fault, I can't find any similar reports and we don't install any shell extensions that would explain the behaviour you are seeing. I do remember a similar Microsoft problem with the task's folder, but it came into play when browsing a remote drive (not your local one). Did you check if any 'weird' shell extensions have been loaded recently, it sure sounds like something like that was and it's taking awhile to timeout.

Bill


 
Bsobel, do you have alink for no subscribers? I do have the same problem in one of my PCS, which is an AMD XP 1900, and I was thinking that couls be a AMD/Microsoft problem.

Thanks and best regards

Eltano
 
Originally posted by: Eltano1
Bsobel, do you have alink for no subscribers? I do have the same problem in one of my PCS, which is an AMD XP 1900, and I was thinking that couls be a AMD/Microsoft problem.
Click to expand...

You can always just change the word subsriber to forums, I'll go update the links now...


 
did you ever hit ctrl. alt. del to see what was causeing the slowdown? I bet it is some crappy software that is mostlikly spyware!
 
Originally posted by: Dreadogg
did you ever hit ctrl. alt. del to see what was causeing the slowdown? I bet it is some crappy software that is mostlikly spyware!
Click to expand...

I doubt he'll see a specific task listed, it's probably an extension (shell extension) being loaded as part of the shell process he's launching...
 
most likely you are right, although he would see some everyday program like Iexplorer (Internet Explorer) sucking lots of juice which would not be normal or in some cases it will be all alone in its own process! I have seen one that made a big difference in PC performance that was all by its self, I forgott the name hope this helps!
 
Originally posted by: Dreadogg
most likely you are right, although he would see some everyday program like Iexplorer (Internet Explorer) sucking lots of juice which would not be normal or in some cases it will be all alone in its own process! I have seen one that made a big difference in PC performance that was all by its self, I forgott the name hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Possibly, but it I suspect its more likely the app is timing out waiting for something, as such you won't see the CPU spike while this happens. But, should be easy enough to clarify, Opt3rOnG33k, does the CPU spike while your waiting for the window to open?

Bill
 
I seem to like to look more into the processes like the mem usage, I think this dude is like reformatting right now because he has not answered in a long time!
 
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