DU Tech Folks--Help Please?

[kaitykaity]

Having problems with computer memory.

While I'm on the Internet, it uses up all the memory on my hard drive until I get "low resources" message and have to shut everything down.

:wtf:

I have deleted temporary internet files, adjusted my security settings, installed a RAM booster, added 8162 to the system.ini vcache entry, and the problem persists.

What have I not done?

Thanks!!

[Padraig18]

1. Defrag...

You also want to update and run your AV software, because some viruses/trojans can eat up memory. Finally, remove anything you don't need or use much from your startup menu.

That should help.

[kaitykaity]

2. Ran Norton anti-virus and it found nothing.

And defrag just sits there, or it restarts itself after 8% or so.

[Padraig18]

3. Try this

Shut down absolutely EVERYTHING not essential for system operation using ctrl+alt+delete, and then run it. You may have programs running in the background that you're not aware of, causing defreg to be unable to complete its task.

[OneBlueSky]

13. this actually works . . . I use it every time I run scandisk or defrag . .

using ctrl+alt+delete, shut down every program that's running EXCEPT Explorer and systray . . . disable your anti-virus and your screen saver . . . THEN run scandisk and defrag . . . shouldn't have any problems . . .

[sabbat hunter]

9. defrag and

scan disk should be ran in safe mode. that usually prevents it from restarting itself after 8-10%.

what version of windows are you running.

also run disk clean up. you will be amazed how much disk space you can clear up.

after that download either ad-aware or spybot. both will remove spyware and related programs, that hide on your computer. just be careful using them, because they sometimes detect needed windows programs as spyware


peace
david
*hippie*

[mr blur]

5. memory-eating crap

If you check here:

http://www.answersthatwork.com/home_page.htm

you'll find lots of advice for cleaning up your system and getting rid of memory-resident programs.

[Reciprocity]

4. Maintenance

This is from Homesteading Today
http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/vb/
Here is a list of routine maintenance you should be performing on your computer --in the order they should be performed-- each and every month. If you use your computer on a daily basis or surf the net everyday, you should perform this maintenance weekly. There are other things that many people do on a monthly basis, but here is what EVERYONE needs to do, at least monthly and how to do it:

Clean out all temporary files - you don't need any of them and they just take up valuable hard drive space1. At the bottom of the screen on the left, click on "Start";

2. Click "Search";

3. Choose "For Files Or Folders";

4. In the box on the left where it says "Search For Files Or Folders Named:" you want to type in *.tmp -- that is astrick, period, tmp

5. Then hit "Search Now";

6. It will bring up a whole bunch of files on the right ending in .tmp;

7. Highlight them all by highlighting the first one, hold down the shift key, and then use your page down key;

8. Hit your delete key. And they will be gone.
Clean out your "cookies" - the things that lead internet trackers back to you1. In Internet Explorer 6, at the top of the page, click "tools";
2. Click "internet options";
3. Under temporary internet files, click "delete cookies";
4. Click "OK" to confirm you want to delete them;If you have an older Internet Explorer version or are using Netscape the easiest way clean out your cookies is:1. Go to your desktop and click "My Computer";
2. Click on your "C" drive;
3. Click on the "windows" folder;
4. Click on the "cookies" folder;
5. Highlight all the cookies you want to delete;
6. Hit the "delete" key;
7. Click "yes" to confirm you want to delete them.
Remember that if you clean out all your cookies, you will have to log back into any sites you set up to log you on automatically - such as this site.

Empty your trash can/recycle can - again taking up valuable hard drive space

When you delete a file, cookies, etc. they really aren't gone - they have just gone to the dumpster. You need to empty out your trash can/recycle bin in order to really get rid of anything you have deleted.

Just a reminder: you also have to delete your email trash can periodically also. Just go to your email trash can delete those.

Think of deleting your files as you would tossing something away. You don't want it so you toss it into the garbage can. It still is around the house. In order to get rid of it you have to send the garbage can off to the county dump! Same principle with the computer junk. You toss it into the trash and then have to get rid of the trash for good.

Get rid of all Spyware
To do this, you will need to download a program at:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
This is a safe program that will delete all the spyware from you computer. Spyware often interrupts the functions of your computer and, besides, it "spys" on you. For information about this. Here is a link to a previous thread on the subject:
http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=3206


Run A Virus Scan
It is very important to run a virus scan each month (even better - every single week!). If you have a virus scan program be sure you update it at least once a month so that it is catching all the new viruses.

If you don't have a virus scan you can do a safe through scan online at the following site. Give it time to gear up and download/update on all the new virus. Your going to swear your stalled, but it isn't. It just takes a long time the first time you scan:
http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_corp.asp


Shake out and clean your keyboard
1. Pick up your keyboard and turn it upside down;
2. Hold it up high so you don't bang your desk, etc.;
3. Shake it hard and let any debris or donut crumbs ( fall out;
4. Either use canned air or a vacuum to blow or suck out any remaining debris.
5. Clean up any finger prints, etc. with plain rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth.
Run a scandisk to check for any errors1. Click on "Start";
2. Click "Programs";
3. Click "System Tools";
4. Click "Scandisk";
5. Click "Standard" (or once a month you should check "Through" to do a full standard scan plus a surface scan of your hard drive);
6. Click "OK".
Run a Defrag
Here is what happens when you do a defrag (the short version!): as files and information are being written to your hard drive, they are being written one right after the other and on different sections of the hard drive. You might be working in Word and then go to the internet and then on to some other task, etc. so it there is part of the same type of info here...some more of that info across the disk, etc. Defragging organizes your info into a much neater, cleaner, and organized manner. It puts "like" things together. In essence does some housekeeping. Kind of like cleaning out the closet! It makes many applications run smoother and quicker and frees up valuable disk space. Here is how to defrag:
1. Be sure all programs are closed and click "Start";
2. Click "Programs";
3. Click "System Tools";
4. Click "Disk Defragmenter";
5. Be sure that the "C" drive is chosen;
6. Click "OK".If you can't get through a scandisk because it wants to keep restarting. Do on to the following to resolve the problem:1. Hit ctl-alt-delete one time to bring up the "Close Program" box;

2. You can then see what is running. The only thing you need to have there is Systray and Explorer. You SHOULD leave systray running and Explorer. Go ahead and close all the others.

3. Try running your defrag now.
If it does not work, then in almost all cases it is caused by two things: anti-virus software and/or screensavers. These are running in the background even though it says they aren't and even though you can't see them.

So let go in order to determine the little culprit and get him outta there!

First thing is to be sure there are no screensavers running. Go to your desktop and do the following:
1. Right click on your mouse;

2. Choose "properties";

3. Choose the "sreensaver" tab at the top;

4. In the little box where it says "screensaver" you want choose "none".

5. Click "ok".
Try running defrag again, if you still have the same problem then it is usually the anti-virus software and we will need to stop it from running automatically. To do so:
1. Click "start";

2. Choose "run";

3. Type in the box: msconfig

4. This will bring up your System Configuration Utility;

5. Click on the "Start Up" tab;

6. You will then see a bunch of things that automatically start up when you fire up your computer. You will then find your anti-virus program and click to remove the check mark.

7. Click "OK";

8. Then restart your computer.
Run your defrag and you should be good to go. If not, then there is another program running there that is a renegade (usually a spyware program you don't even know you have). Write down all the others that are checked and let us know what those programs are and we can determine which one is the bad guy.

Clean Your Mouse

When you run your mouse over the desktop it picks up all kinds of debris, gunk, and goo that can get drawn up into the mouse and keep it from working well. You should add "mouse cleaning" to your computer monthly maintence list.

Symptoms of a dirty mouse include a pointer that jumps around on the screen or won't move at all. If you've got a pointer problem, it's probably time to clean your mouse.

Here is how to clean it:


1. Start by removing the mouse ball. Turn your mouse upside down, turn the disk that's holding the ball in place, and let the ball drop out. Clean the ball with a dry cloth.

2. Look inside the mouse. You'll see two rollers: One is for horizontal movement and the other is for vertical movement. That's where most of the gunk usually ends up. Use a cotton swab and some alcohol to rub away the residue. You won't need much alcohol -- just moisten the cotton swab. Rub the rollers and turn them until you get all the residue off.

3. When the rollers are clean, let them dry out for a moment or two. Return the ball into place and turn the disk securely. Your mouse should be as good as new.


You should disconnect the mouse from the computer before you do the cleaning (although once you know what your doing it really is not necessary - but I had to add that so you will know the "right way" to do it..LOL! )

If you have not cleaned your mouse in a while (if ever??) then you'll be surprised at how much gunk there is in there!

Clean Out Your Internet Cache
In Internet Explorer:

Click "tools";
Click "Internet Options"
Click the General Tab;
Click "Delete Files";
Click "ok" to confirm.
In Netscape:
1. Click the "Edit" menu bar;
2. Choose "Preferences";
3. Click on the plus sign (+) by "Advanced" and choose "Cache";
4. Click "Clear Memory Cache" and then click "OK";
5. Click "Clear Disk Cache" and then click "OK";
6. Click "OK"

[Deja Q]

6. Ad-Aware and Spybot

You've got adware and spyware on your system. Google 'em both but www.lavasoftusa.com will take you to adaware and when looking for spybot, look for the URL starting with www.pcworld...

[TahitiNut]

7. "shut everything down"?? How much is "everything"?

This doesn't sound like a disk space problem; it sounds like you're running too many resident tasks ... and one or more may have "memory leaks".

Judging from the message you say you're getting, I assume you're running some version of Windoze. I'm guessing '98 or NT? I strongly suggest you run only those resident tasks you really, really need ... and ones from reputable sources only. There's a LOT of crap out there.

Second, if you've got a pretty hi-rez graphic on your desktop, stop. Run a plain desktop. Those pretty desktop pictures consume a lot of some valuable (and very limited) memory resources.

It's not so much about the total amount of RAM you have as it's about some limited parts of memory that Windows uses for very specific internal system purposes.


Thoreau's advice holds true for Windoze users too: Simplify, simplify, simplify.

[kaitykaity]

8. All is fine unless I'm on the 'Net.

After I'm on for about 30 minutes, it eats up about a gigabyte of memory.

'Everything' is a total reboot.

[Don_G]

10. Here's A Free Utility That Closes Everything Unneeded

I use it every time I install a new program or do routine maintainence on my system and have for several years.

It's called "EndItAll2" and, again, it's freeware. I've had no problems with it since I've been using it.

Maybe that will help with your Defrag problems.

[kaitykaity]

11. Defrag worked, thanks.

Still getting a fill up on the memory, but am installing adware now.

Thanks to all!!

[LTR]

12. Good diagnostics program

Go here (if you can)

http://www.pcpitstop.com

It'll tell you all about what you have going on in your system and make suggestions.

[kaitykaity]

15. I ran this, the suggestions were way above my

pay grade.

Nothing catastrophic, though.

:shrug:

[LTR]

18. Pay grade

It's all free. Skip the stuff they want to charge you for.

They do like to throw ads at you. Ignore that stuff.

[huellewig]

14. Do you use IE?

It might be a good time to switch to FireFox. Pop-up blocking and Tabs. Also, I was wondering what your browser cache is set to. It might cause this type of problem if it is set to large. I'm on a Macintosh so I can't give directions on how to check that. But, it sounds like you know more about Windows then I do.

Good Luck..

[kaitykaity]

16. I think I might try this.

I've heard modzilla and Opera are good, too. On the list of things to check. Thanks.

(I wouldn't know a browser cache if came up and bit me on the toe.)

[sabbat hunter]

19. browser type

which browser did you use? if it was IE and you uninstalled it you could be looking at other problems as IE is SOOOOO intrigated with windows that it causes problems if it is uninstalled.

i use opera as my main browser. has a built in pop up blocker, plus allows you to get rid of cookies when you close it out

(under file, preferences)

i only use IE when i hit a website that requires the use of it. (there are a whole lot out there designed for IE, you cannot get full functionality at if you dont use IE)


peace
david
:hippie:

[LTR]

20. correct

I say go to Windows Update and they'll update security concerns and reinstall IE.

Keep IE, but get a good, more secure browser like Avant Browser:

http://www.avantbrowser.com/

Or go with Mozilla.

Make your browser of choice your default.

[kaitykaity]

17. I uninstalled my browser, and viola'!!

You guys rock. :yourock: