Low System Resources..... Heeelp please!

[(RIP) willstatt]

My Win98 Dell PC has suddenly started playing up: This time it keeps running out of memory for no apparent reason? I run very few programmes on it, and it has always run without much trouble.

It normally becomes a problem when online. I have a couple of IE windows open, and probably MS Outlook too, then all of a sudden everything slows down to a standstill, and I start getting messages like ‘the system is dangerously low on resources’ please close some programmes (or messages to that effect)

If I then look at Programmes/Accessories/System tools/System information, the ‘system resources free’ line will say 4% or worse, that window won’t even open because there is insufficient memory!

If however I press CRTR ALT DEL, then there is nothing obviously different running: A normal example list in the CRTR ALT DEL window is as follows:

Microsoft Internet Explorer (probably twice)
Explorer
Avginet
Avgcc
Zlclient
Hotsync
Loadqm
Mswheel
Stimon
Rundll
Qttask
Systray
Starter
Mdm
Rnaapp

The things starting avg are the various antivirus bits; Zlclient is Zone alarm firewall; Hotsync is my Palm PDA synchroniser, all of which have been on this machine for ages without any probs. All the others are ‘normal’ windows processes aren’t they?

So what’s happening? It’s very annoying, and beyond me to solve.

Pleeeeease help

Will

 

[MikeO]

I'd start by loading & running AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy - both free downloads which I run on a weekly basis. The first time you run them you'll be amazed at how much crap, malicious and otherwise, which has ended up on your computer. It may well be that you're getting strangled by this...

Mike

 

[(RIP) willstatt]

any other ideas

thanks Mike. I'm already running Adaware, and run that at least once a week, I don't yet run Spybot, but will down load it today. Any other possible ideas anyone?

Will

 

[Greg McDonald]

Apple

Wintel 98 - says it all. Take a leap into the 21st century and get yourself an Apple iMac G5, with chips! Buy and spec it up on-line and watch its progress from factory in China to Shanghai airport to Rotterdam (to clear customs) and, before you know it, it'll be delivered to your door and ... you're there.

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObj...FqQP02nemlUAe/0.0.13.1.0.6.23.1.2.1.2.0.0.1.0

Wave goodbye to connectivity and memory issues (and probably half of your old software while you're at it!) and welcome in a new spam- and virus-free world of calm!

 

[trotsky]

Will

Have you started using any new programs recently? There is a bit of a tendency in Windows 98 for programs not to clean up after themselves and leave bits of memory roped off for their use and unavailable to other programs even after they have shut down. This can be damned difficult to spot I'm afraid, it doesn't leave much trace other than the "low resources" and "insufficient memory" messages.

It might be a pig to do, but try watching resources while you open and close your usual programs and see if anything looks odd.

It could also be that there is a patch for something you use normally (like windows 98 itself) which has caused this after an install.

When did you last rebuild the machine? Could be time to backup and reinstall - or to get a copy of Windows XP and install that instead...

 

[GrinningGSer]

My Win98 Dell PC has suddenly started playing up

The most useful tool that I have come across to sort out pesky little add ons, trojans, browser hijackers etc is 'hijackthis' which is a small utility which you can download free from download.com. Will show everything running, tick the check box and usually ithas gone, but be careful what you tick. download it, unzip it and place the exe file on your desktop and use it frequently. Soon you will very quickly 'get a feel' for unusual entries.

Of course check for viruses, spyware etc as well. Adaware and Spybot

Also, may be simple, but have you defragmented your drive? You may have what seems like free space, but I believe that Win98 needs contiguous space and you may not have enough large free uninterrupted chunks.

Win98 on the internet is now a minefield cos it is bombarded by attacks and XP with service pack 2 seems, so far to have sorted everything...for a while anyway.

 

[Fanum]

Clean your desktop up.........stuff there sits in Ram and you may accidentally have created or left a flippin big file there.

Clear your caches and temp internet files too.

And empty the recycle bin.......