What's wrong now? internet pauses constantly

Robert A. Macy · External Since: Jan 08, 2006 Posts: 124

Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem

Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
1 minute doing nothing!

Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.

These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
doesn't even move.

I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X

Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
seemed to have a vestige left in Control

Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
pausing?

Robert

MEB · External Since: Jul 16, 2009 Posts: 17

On 07/16/2009 07:41 PM, Robert A. Macy wrote:
> Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> doesn't even move.
>
> I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> pausing?
>
> Robert

Uhm, did you check your firewall logs?

Not sure what you are using but if you can, turn on all logging
capabilities. In case your wondering why the suggestion:

* You likely have lurkers on your ISP, phone connection ISPs are
notorious for that activity. My secondary phoneline caused me to added
over two dozen network block address ranges to the firewall rules.
* JAVA has a couple of really dangerous issues [generally], and a couple
causing similar issues on some sites.
* If you're using FireFox, depending upon the version, you may have an
exploit being used [and yes even the 3.5 version {not available in 9X}
has issues].

Beyond those, are there any prior indications before the apparent pause.
Did you check for usual virus and SpyWare stuff [the run-through
always recommended]?

As for OE [Outlook Express, the mail program], it is a default install
during most IE6 installations [or rather was] and was generally
installed at some point in 98FE [IE5+].
What are you referring to as being in the Control Panel?
IIRC in 98FE - Internet Mail? MS Exchange. Been a long time so I'm
likely wrong on that...

--
~
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
_______

glee1 · External Since: Dec 15, 2003 Posts: 3749

"Robert A. Macy" <macy.TakeThisOut@california.com> wrote in message
news:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
> Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> doesn't even move.
>
> I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> pausing?

Does the clock lose time also, WHILE Windows is running?
I have in the past seen issues where the clock in the Taskbar will lose time
(although the system clock does not, and a reboot restores the correct time setting)
AND the periodic pauses/freezes you describe will also occur.

Windows Clock on Taskbar and in Date/Time Tool Loses Time
http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=189706

The System Clock Slows If You Run a Program That Uses Sound Extensively
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309296

--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+
http://dts-l.net/
http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm

Robert Macy · External Since: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 32

On Jul 16, 7:24 pm, MEB <MEB-not-h... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> On 07/16/2009 07:41 PM, Robert A. Macy wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> > Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> > 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> > Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> > These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> > doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> > doesn't even move.
>
> > I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> > Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> > seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> > Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> > pausing?
>
> > Robert
>
> Uhm, did you check your firewall logs?
>
> Not sure what you are using but if you can, turn on all logging
> capabilities. In case your wondering why the suggestion:
>
> * You likely have lurkers on your ISP, phone connection ISPs are
> notorious for that activity. My secondary phoneline caused me to added
> over two dozen network block address ranges to the firewall rules.
> * JAVA has a couple of really dangerous issues [generally], and a couple
> causing similar issues on some sites.
> * If you're using FireFox, depending upon the version, you may have an
> exploit being used [and yes even the 3.5 version {not available in 9X}
> has issues].
>
> Beyond those, are there any prior indications before the apparent pause.
> Did you check for usual virus and SpyWare stuff [the run-through
> always recommended]?
>
> As for OE [Outlook Express, the mail program], it is a default install
> during most IE6 installations [or rather was] and was generally
> installed at some point in 98FE [IE5+].
> What are you referring to as being in the Control Panel?
> IIRC in 98FE - Internet Mail? MS Exchange. Been a long time so I'm
> likely wrong on that...
>
> --
> ~
> --
> MEBhttp://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
> Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networkinghttp://peoplescounsel.org
> The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
> _______- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you for replying.

Do lurkers transfer any data? If I hit the icon to look at the
connection, and it decides to even come up, I see absolutely NO
activity on the link, zip. No bit changes at all! But, a few bits
and then the screen changes.

At first I thought someone was 'raiding' my computer, but during these
freezes no data transfers. Also, no innappropriate cookies. Even the
temorary folders aren't flooded.

Also, at any time I have very few programs running. ctrl-alt-del
lists:
'IE6 name'
Explorer
Rnaap
Osa

and, that's it. Nothing else comes up. But sometimes I can't even
get the "What's running program" to come up. It is as if the CPU is
frozen.

The timing seems to be always when I ask for something. It's as
though IE6 doesn't send it upstream. Just sits there staring at me,
until I ask again, or take it off desktop and put it back, but even
then sometimes Win98 won't do anything with the image on the screen -
frozen CPU(?) Can't even get the screen to change.

I do have 500K of HOSTS, but I thought that would require transferring
bits between ISP and me. And, again, during these freezes there are
no bits transferring.

I don't know why, but this seems to match my wife's computer's
problems after I visited non-technical websites [although they should
be well behaved websites, too] that automatically installed new
features to the IE6? Her computer exhibited this 'hanging' before
mine did, and she was constantly complaining at how rude some of the
websites she went to were, in the way they would hang her computer to
the point of a power OFF reboot.

I just can't figure how to put back the IE6 to the way it was.

Robert

Robert Macy · External Since: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 32

On Jul 17, 4:28 am, "glee" <gle....DeleteThis@spamindspring.com> wrote:
> "Robert A. Macy" <m....DeleteThis@california.com> wrote in messagenews:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> > Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> > 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> > Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> > These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> > doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> > doesn't even move.
>
> > I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> > Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> > seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> > Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> > pausing?
>
> Does the clock lose time also, WHILE Windows is running?
> I have in the past seen issues where the clock in the Taskbar will lose time
> (although the system clock does not, and a reboot restores the correct time setting)
> AND the periodic pauses/freezes you describe will also occur.
>
> Windows Clock on Taskbar and in Date/Time Tool Loses Timehttp://support.microsoft.com?kbid=189706
>
> The System Clock Slows If You Run a Program That Uses Sound Extensivelyhttp://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309296
>
> --
> Glen Ventura, MS MVP Windows, A+http://dts-l.net/http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you for your reply. I never thought to check the clock during
these times. But, from memory it never shifted enough to notice
before a reboot. Will watch that.

Sound card losing time? Hmmm. This computer has no ability to make
sound [except the beeper]. I think a sound feature is unsuccessfully
installed, but I mute. Hate to hear those obnoxius sounds. I wonder
if there's some kind of conflict that 'confuses' the CPU if it tries
to make a sound? Where would I look for that? Perhaps a website
added sound to my IE6, or such and the updated interface to sound is
causing all this. Is that possible?

Robert

MEB · External Since: Jul 16, 2009 Posts: 17

On 07/17/2009 10:33 AM, Robert Macy wrote:
> On Jul 16, 7:24 pm, MEB<MEB-not-h....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> On 07/16/2009 07:41 PM, Robert A. Macy wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>>> Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
>>> 1 minute doing nothing!
>>> Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>>> These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
>>> doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
>>> doesn't even move.
>>> I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>>> Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
>>> seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>>> Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
>>> pausing?
>>> Robert
>> Uhm, did you check your firewall logs?
>>
>> Not sure what you are using but if you can, turn on all logging
>> capabilities. In case your wondering why the suggestion:
>>
>> * You likely have lurkers on your ISP, phone connection ISPs are
>> notorious for that activity. My secondary phoneline caused me to added
>> over two dozen network block address ranges to the firewall rules.
>> * JAVA has a couple of really dangerous issues [generally], and a couple
>> causing similar issues on some sites.
>> * If you're using FireFox, depending upon the version, you may have an
>> exploit being used [and yes even the 3.5 version {not available in 9X}
>> has issues].
>>
>> Beyond those, are there any prior indications before the apparent pause.
>> Did you check for usual virus and SpyWare stuff [the run-through
>> always recommended]?
>>
>> As for OE [Outlook Express, the mail program], it is a default install
>> during most IE6 installations [or rather was] and was generally
>> installed at some point in 98FE [IE5+].
>> What are you referring to as being in the Control Panel?
>> IIRC in 98FE - Internet Mail? MS Exchange. Been a long time so I'm
>> likely wrong on that...
>>
>> --
>> ~
>> --
>> MEBhttp://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
>> Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networkinghttp://peoplescounsel.org
>> The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
>> _______- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Thank you for replying.
>
> Do lurkers transfer any data? If I hit the icon to look at the
> connection, and it decides to even come up, I see absolutely NO
> activity on the link, zip. No bit changes at all! But, a few bits
> and then the screen changes.
>
> At first I thought someone was 'raiding' my computer, but during these
> freezes no data transfers. Also, no innappropriate cookies. Even the
> temorary folders aren't flooded.
>
> Also, at any time I have very few programs running. ctrl-alt-del
> lists:
> 'IE6 name'
> Explorer
> Rnaap
> Osa
>
> and, that's it. Nothing else comes up. But sometimes I can't even
> get the "What's running program" to come up. It is as if the CPU is
> frozen.
>
> The timing seems to be always when I ask for something. It's as
> though IE6 doesn't send it upstream. Just sits there staring at me,
> until I ask again, or take it off desktop and put it back, but even
> then sometimes Win98 won't do anything with the image on the screen -
> frozen CPU(?) Can't even get the screen to change.
>
> I do have 500K of HOSTS, but I thought that would require transferring
> bits between ISP and me. And, again, during these freezes there are
> no bits transferring.
>
> I don't know why, but this seems to match my wife's computer's
> problems after I visited non-technical websites [although they should
> be well behaved websites, too] that automatically installed new
> features to the IE6? Her computer exhibited this 'hanging' before
> mine did, and she was constantly complaining at how rude some of the
> websites she went to were, in the way they would hang her computer to
> the point of a power OFF reboot.
>
> I just can't figure how to put back the IE6 to the way it was.
>
> Robert

What sites?

By "ask for something" do you mean via a search engine or via
individual website?

And what was supposedly being installed?
Or was that a question per was there such a tool. Any TOOL which you
might find offered and/or automatically installed would likely be malicious.

What OS is she using?

Did you check your firewall logs?

What are the processing speeds and memories within the respective
computers?

What browser bars and other do you have installed?

What anti-virus and other protections do you have installed?

--
~
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
_______

MEB · External Since: Jul 16, 2009 Posts: 17

On 07/17/2009 12:33 PM, MEB wrote:
> On 07/17/2009 10:33 AM, Robert Macy wrote:
>> On Jul 16, 7:24 pm, MEB<MEB-not-h....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> On 07/16/2009 07:41 PM, Robert A. Macy wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>>>> Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
>>>> 1 minute doing nothing!
>>>> Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>>>> These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
>>>> doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
>>>> doesn't even move.
>>>> I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>>>> Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
>>>> seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>>>> Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
>>>> pausing?
>>>> Robert
>>> Uhm, did you check your firewall logs?
>>>
>>> Not sure what you are using but if you can, turn on all logging
>>> capabilities. In case your wondering why the suggestion:
>>>
>>> * You likely have lurkers on your ISP, phone connection ISPs are
>>> notorious for that activity. My secondary phoneline caused me to added
>>> over two dozen network block address ranges to the firewall rules.
>>> * JAVA has a couple of really dangerous issues [generally], and a couple
>>> causing similar issues on some sites.
>>> * If you're using FireFox, depending upon the version, you may have an
>>> exploit being used [and yes even the 3.5 version {not available in 9X}
>>> has issues].
>>>
>>> Beyond those, are there any prior indications before the apparent pause.
>>> Did you check for usual virus and SpyWare stuff [the run-through
>>> always recommended]?
>>>
>>> As for OE [Outlook Express, the mail program], it is a default install
>>> during most IE6 installations [or rather was] and was generally
>>> installed at some point in 98FE [IE5+].
>>> What are you referring to as being in the Control Panel?
>>> IIRC in 98FE - Internet Mail? MS Exchange. Been a long time so I'm
>>> likely wrong on that...
>>>
>>> --
>>> ~
>>> --
>>> MEBhttp://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
>>> Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networkinghttp://peoplescounsel.org
>>> The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
>>> _______- Hide quoted text -
>>>
>>> - Show quoted text -
>>
>> Thank you for replying.
>>
>> Do lurkers transfer any data? If I hit the icon to look at the
>> connection, and it decides to even come up, I see absolutely NO
>> activity on the link, zip. No bit changes at all! But, a few bits
>> and then the screen changes.
>>
>> At first I thought someone was 'raiding' my computer, but during these
>> freezes no data transfers. Also, no innappropriate cookies. Even the
>> temorary folders aren't flooded.
>>
>> Also, at any time I have very few programs running. ctrl-alt-del
>> lists:
>> 'IE6 name'
>> Explorer
>> Rnaap
>> Osa

Sorry, I quick read the post and overlooked this... why do you have
Office Startup running?
Do you have quick search [e.g., indexing] enabled?
What version of Office?

>>
>> and, that's it. Nothing else comes up. But sometimes I can't even
>> get the "What's running program" to come up. It is as if the CPU is
>> frozen.
>>
>> The timing seems to be always when I ask for something. It's as
>> though IE6 doesn't send it upstream. Just sits there staring at me,
>> until I ask again, or take it off desktop and put it back, but even
>> then sometimes Win98 won't do anything with the image on the screen -
>> frozen CPU(?) Can't even get the screen to change.
>>
>> I do have 500K of HOSTS, but I thought that would require transferring
>> bits between ISP and me. And, again, during these freezes there are
>> no bits transferring.
>>
>> I don't know why, but this seems to match my wife's computer's
>> problems after I visited non-technical websites [although they should
>> be well behaved websites, too] that automatically installed new
>> features to the IE6? Her computer exhibited this 'hanging' before
>> mine did, and she was constantly complaining at how rude some of the
>> websites she went to were, in the way they would hang her computer to
>> the point of a power OFF reboot.
>>
>> I just can't figure how to put back the IE6 to the way it was.
>>
>> Robert
>
> What sites?
>
> By "ask for something" do you mean via a search engine or via individual
> website?
>
> And what was supposedly being installed?
> Or was that a question per was there such a tool. Any TOOL which you
> might find offered and/or automatically installed would likely be
> malicious.
>
> What OS is she using?
>
> Did you check your firewall logs?
>
> What are the processing speeds and memories within the respective
> computers?
>
> What browser bars and other do you have installed?
>
> What anti-virus and other protections do you have installed?
>

--
~
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
_______

Jeff Richards · External Since: Mar 14, 2004 Posts: 1333

Why not contact your ISP? This sort of troubleshooting is what you pay them
for. They can monitor activity while you are on line and look at the actual
data flows. They can also take you through your configuration settings to
confirm they are correct.

It is unlikely that you have some other network activity taking over your
communication session, as the symptom is quite different - you would not see
Windows become unresponsive, but you would see activity continuing at the
same rate, while your pages drew slowly and with frequent short pauses.
You should use a CPU activity monitor to confirm this - I believe you will
find that the CPU is actually idle during these pauses.

You should also do some analysis aimed at finding a pattern in these pauses
associated with the sites being visited or the content of those sites. For
instance, does the pause occur once a site is loaded or only while finding
new pages?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert A. Macy" <macy.TakeThisOut@california.com> wrote in message
news:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
> Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> doesn't even move.
>
> I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> pausing?
>
> Robert

No Alternative · External Since: May 07, 2009 Posts: 8

On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:33:49 -0700, Robert Macy wrote:

> On Jul 16, 7:24 pm, MEB <MEB-not-h....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> On 07/16/2009 07:41 PM, Robert A. Macy wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>>
>> > Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
>> > 1 minute doing nothing!
>>
>> > Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>>
>> > These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
>> > doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
>> > doesn't even move.
>>
>> > I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>>
>> > Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
>> > seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>>
>> > Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
>> > pausing?
>>
>> > Robert
>>
>> Uhm, did you check your firewall logs?
>>
>> Not sure what you are using but if you can, turn on all logging
>> capabilities. In case your wondering why the suggestion:
>>
>> * You likely have lurkers on your ISP, phone connection ISPs are
>> notorious for that activity. My secondary phoneline caused me to added
>> over two dozen network block address ranges to the firewall rules. *
>> JAVA has a couple of really dangerous issues [generally], and a couple
>> causing similar issues on some sites. * If you're using FireFox,
>> depending upon the version, you may have an exploit being used [and yes
>> even the 3.5 version {not available in 9X} has issues].
>>
>> Beyond those, are there any prior indications before the apparent
>> pause. Did you check for usual virus and SpyWare stuff [the
>> run-through
>> always recommended]?
>>
>> As for OE [Outlook Express, the mail program], it is a default
>> install
>> during most IE6 installations [or rather was] and was generally
>> installed at some point in 98FE [IE5+].
>> What are you referring to as being in the Control Panel?
>> IIRC in 98FE - Internet Mail? MS Exchange. Been a long time so I'm
>> likely wrong on that...
>>
>> --
>> ~
>> --
>> MEBhttp://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm Windows Diagnostics,
>> Security, Networkinghttp://peoplescounsel.org The *REAL WORLD* of Law,
>> Justice, and Government _______- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Thank you for replying.
>
> Do lurkers transfer any data? If I hit the icon to look at the
> connection, and it decides to even come up, I see absolutely NO activity
> on the link, zip. No bit changes at all! But, a few bits and then the
> screen changes.
>
> At first I thought someone was 'raiding' my computer, but during these
> freezes no data transfers. Also, no innappropriate cookies. Even the
> temorary folders aren't flooded.
>
> Also, at any time I have very few programs running. ctrl-alt-del lists:
> 'IE6 name'
> Explorer
> Rnaap
> Osa
>
> and, that's it. Nothing else comes up. But sometimes I can't even get
> the "What's running program" to come up. It is as if the CPU is frozen.
>
> The timing seems to be always when I ask for something. It's as though
> IE6 doesn't send it upstream. Just sits there staring at me, until I
> ask again, or take it off desktop and put it back, but even then
> sometimes Win98 won't do anything with the image on the screen - frozen
> CPU(?) Can't even get the screen to change.
>
> I do have 500K of HOSTS, but I thought that would require transferring
> bits between ISP and me. And, again, during these freezes there are no
> bits transferring.
>
> I don't know why, but this seems to match my wife's computer's problems
> after I visited non-technical websites [although they should be well
> behaved websites, too] that automatically installed new features to the
> IE6? Her computer exhibited this 'hanging' before mine did, and she was
> constantly complaining at how rude some of the websites she went to
> were, in the way they would hang her computer to the point of a power
> OFF reboot.
>
> I just can't figure how to put back the IE6 to the way it was.

I don't know how to check lurkers, but I do know something about stoppin
it. Turn security up to high in Internet options and make exceptions for
sites you visit frequently under trusted sites. Use a mozilla based
browser with the noscript addon. Mozilla suite and K-meleon support 98.
Also think about opera browser. Installing poledit will help too.

http://www.zisman.ca/poledit/

Make administrative and user accounts. Do most all of your work in a
user account. Just use administrative to install things and make
changes to your system.

Also consider a linux made for windows 98 computers like u-lite . check
out my sig. It comes in a live cd so you can try it out before you
install it.

--
http://english-158465906205.spampoison.com
http://u-lite.org

Jeff Richards · External Since: Mar 14, 2004 Posts: 1333

If you can associate the pauses with sites that play sounds then that would
be a good pointer to the cause of the problem (as also for animations). If
Windows thinks there is a sound capability in the system but it is not
working properly then that could explain the pauses. It might be hanging
the whole system until it thinks that the sound has completed playing, which
would also explain why the pauses vary in length.. It would be simple to
unmute your sound and see if there is any connection between playing sounds
and pausing.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert Macy" <macy.RemoveThis@california.com> wrote in message
news:b6d59b24-03cc-447e-a96c-408b094505e2@c2g2000yqi.googlegroups.com...
On Jul 17, 4:28 am, "glee" <gle....RemoveThis@spamindspring.com> wrote:
> "Robert A. Macy" <m....RemoveThis@california.com> wrote in
> messagenews:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>
> snip <

Thank you for your reply. I never thought to check the clock during
these times. But, from memory it never shifted enough to notice
before a reboot. Will watch that.

Sound card losing time? Hmmm. This computer has no ability to make
sound [except the beeper]. I think a sound feature is unsuccessfully
installed, but I mute. Hate to hear those obnoxius sounds. I wonder
if there's some kind of conflict that 'confuses' the CPU if it tries
to make a sound? Where would I look for that? Perhaps a website
added sound to my IE6, or such and the updated interface to sound is
causing all this. Is that possible?

Robert

Robert Macy · External Since: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 32

On Jul 17, 10:57 pm, "Jeff Richards" <JRicha....DeleteThis@msn.com.au> wrote:
> If you can associate the pauses with sites that play sounds then that would
> be a good pointer to the cause of the problem (as also for animations). If
> Windows thinks there is a sound capability in the system but it is not
> working properly then that could explain the pauses. It might be hanging
> the whole system until it thinks that the sound has completed playing, which
> would also explain why the pauses vary in length.. It would be simple to
> unmute your sound and see if there is any connection between playing sounds
> and pausing.
> --
> Jeff Richards
> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)"Robert Macy" <m....DeleteThis@california.com> wrote in message
>
> news:b6d59b24-03cc-447e-a96c-408b094505e2@c2g2000yqi.googlegroups.com...
> On Jul 17, 4:28 am, "glee" <gle....DeleteThis@spamindspring.com> wrote:
>
> > "Robert A. Macy" <m....DeleteThis@california.com> wrote in
> > messagenews:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>
> > snip <
>
> Thank you for your reply. I never thought to check the clock during
> these times. But, from memory it never shifted enough to notice
> before a reboot. Will watch that.
>
> Sound card losing time? Hmmm. This computer has no ability to make
> sound [except the beeper]. I think a sound feature is unsuccessfully
> installed, but I mute. Hate to hear those obnoxius sounds. I wonder
> if there's some kind of conflict that 'confuses' the CPU if it tries
> to make a sound? Where would I look for that? Perhaps a website
> added sound to my IE6, or such and the updated interface to sound is
> causing all this. Is that possible?
>
> Robert

LOST TIME: had the analog clock displaying as the 'pauses' occurred
the clock kept right on running, no lost seconds

SOUND: UNMUTED: if I double click on a .wav file this system appears
to try to play the sound, but plug in in the speakers into any outlet
there is no sound coming out. [These speakers work in the rarely used
WinXP machine]. Unmute seems to only turn on the piezo beeper.

Under multimedia shows the modem as an audio device with its own
codecs, This modem card is capable of being an answering machine, but
is not used.

Robert

Robert Macy · External Since: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 32

On Jul 17, 8:30 pm, No Alternative
<noalternat... RemoveThis @REMOVETHISSTUFFoperamail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:33:49 -0700, Robert Macy wrote:
> > On Jul 16, 7:24 pm, MEB <MEB-not-h... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> On 07/16/2009 07:41 PM, Robert A. Macy wrote:
>
> >> > Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> >> > Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> >> > 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> >> > Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> >> > These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> >> > doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> >> > doesn't even move.
>
> >> > I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> >> > Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> >> > seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> >> > Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> >> > pausing?
>
> >> > Robert
>
> >> Uhm, did you check your firewall logs?
>
> >> Not sure what you are using but if you can, turn on all logging
> >> capabilities. In case your wondering why the suggestion:
>
> >> * You likely have lurkers on your ISP, phone connection ISPs are
> >> notorious for that activity. My secondary phoneline caused me to added
> >> over two dozen network block address ranges to the firewall rules. *
> >> JAVA has a couple of really dangerous issues [generally], and a couple
> >> causing similar issues on some sites. * If you're using FireFox,
> >> depending upon the version, you may have an exploit being used [and yes
> >> even the 3.5 version {not available in 9X} has issues].
>
> >> Beyond those, are there any prior indications before the apparent
> >> pause. Did you check for usual virus and SpyWare stuff [the
> >> run-through
> >> always recommended]?
>
> >> As for OE [Outlook Express, the mail program], it is a default
> >> install
> >> during most IE6 installations [or rather was] and was generally
> >> installed at some point in 98FE [IE5+].
> >> What are you referring to as being in the Control Panel?
> >> IIRC in 98FE - Internet Mail? MS Exchange. Been a long time so I'm
> >> likely wrong on that...
>
> >> --
> >> ~
> >> --
> >> MEBhttp://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htmWindows Diagnostics,
> >> Security, Networkinghttp://peoplescounsel.orgThe *REAL WORLD* of Law,
> >> Justice, and Government _______- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > Thank you for replying.
>
> > Do lurkers transfer any data? If I hit the icon to look at the
> > connection, and it decides to even come up, I see absolutely NO activity
> > on the link, zip. No bit changes at all! But, a few bits and then the
> > screen changes.
>
> > At first I thought someone was 'raiding' my computer, but during these
> > freezes no data transfers. Also, no innappropriate cookies. Even the
> > temorary folders aren't flooded.
>
> > Also, at any time I have very few programs running. ctrl-alt-del lists:
> > 'IE6 name'
> > Explorer
> > Rnaap
> > Osa
>
> > and, that's it. Nothing else comes up. But sometimes I can't even get
> > the "What's running program" to come up. It is as if the CPU is frozen.
>
> > The timing seems to be always when I ask for something. It's as though
> > IE6 doesn't send it upstream. Just sits there staring at me, until I
> > ask again, or take it off desktop and put it back, but even then
> > sometimes Win98 won't do anything with the image on the screen - frozen
> > CPU(?) Can't even get the screen to change.
>
> > I do have 500K of HOSTS, but I thought that would require transferring
> > bits between ISP and me. And, again, during these freezes there are no
> > bits transferring.
>
> > I don't know why, but this seems to match my wife's computer's problems
> > after I visited non-technical websites [although they should be well
> > behaved websites, too] that automatically installed new features to the
> > IE6? Her computer exhibited this 'hanging' before mine did, and she was
> > constantly complaining at how rude some of the websites she went to
> > were, in the way they would hang her computer to the point of a power
> > OFF reboot.
>
> > I just can't figure how to put back the IE6 to the way it was.
>
> I don't know how to check lurkers, but I do know something about stoppin
> it. Turn security up to high in Internet options and make exceptions for
> sites you visit frequently under trusted sites. Use a mozilla based
> browser with the noscript addon. Mozilla suite and K-meleon support 98.
> Also think about opera browser. Installing poledit will help too.
>
> http://www.zisman.ca/poledit/
>
> Make administrative and user accounts. Do most all of your work in a
> user account. Just use administrative to install things and make
> changes to your system.
>
> Also consider a linux made for windows 98 computers like u-lite . check
> out my sig. It comes in a live cd so you can try it out before you
> install it.
>
> --http://english-158465906205.spampoison.comhttp://u-lite.org- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you for your reply

I think 'lurking' would involve bit transfers, and there is NO
activity during these pauses. And the pauses seem to originate more
from my side. It's as though something does not get sent. Asking
twice makes it happen. And, this is only if I can get control of my
system.

Appreciate the suggestion of linux, will look into that

Not knowledgeable here, but it seems like if my system is pausing from
response, separate systems, administrator/user, would help; but if the
pauses is caused by something going out, then I don't see how separate
would help.

Robert

Robert Macy · External Since: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 32

On Jul 17, 3:50 pm, "Jeff Richards" <JRicha... RemoveThis @msn.com.au> wrote:
> Why not contact your ISP? This sort of troubleshooting is what you pay them
> for. They can monitor activity while you are on line and look at the actual
> data flows. They can also take you through your configuration settings to
> confirm they are correct.
>
> It is unlikely that you have some other network activity taking over your
> communication session, as the symptom is quite different - you would not see
> Windows become unresponsive, but you would see activity continuing at the
> same rate, while your pages drew slowly and with frequent short pauses.
> You should use a CPU activity monitor to confirm this - I believe you will
> find that the CPU is actually idle during these pauses.
>
> You should also do some analysis aimed at finding a pattern in these pauses
> associated with the sites being visited or the content of those sites. For
> instance, does the pause occur once a site is loaded or only while finding
> new pages?
> --
> Jeff Richards
> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
> "Robert A. Macy" <m... RemoveThis @california.com> wrote in messagenews:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> > Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> > 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> > Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> > These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> > doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> > doesn't even move.
>
> > I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> > Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> > seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> > Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> > pausing?
>
> > Robert- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you for that suggestion. Never thought to include the ISP.
Just 'assumed' it's one of those 'your system problems'. Finger
pointing and all that.

Where is the 'activity' monitor on the Win98? I've used it on the
WinXP, but never saw the euivalent here?

I have the feeling that nothing malicious is going on because of the
lack of bit transfers during the pauses. To me [and this could be an
erroneous assumption] It's more like the CPU is taking a long time to
sort out what it has been asked of it. Whether that request comes
from me, or whether that request has just come in from a web page. It
seems like MY system has turned suddenly stupid.

I'm tempted to uninstall IE and install again, but this machine is the
main internet connection and hate to muck it up.

Robert

Robert Macy · External Since: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 32

On Jul 17, 3:50 pm, MEB <MEB-not-h... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> On 07/17/2009 12:33 PM, MEB wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 07/17/2009 10:33 AM, Robert Macy wrote:
> >> On Jul 16, 7:24 pm, MEB<MEB-not-h... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>> On 07/16/2009 07:41 PM, Robert A. Macy wrote:
>
> >>>> Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
> >>>> Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> >>>> 1 minute doing nothing!
> >>>> Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
> >>>> These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> >>>> doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> >>>> doesn't even move.
> >>>> I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
> >>>> Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> >>>> seemed to have a vestige left in Control
> >>>> Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> >>>> pausing?
> >>>> Robert
> >>> Uhm, did you check your firewall logs?
>
> >>> Not sure what you are using but if you can, turn on all logging
> >>> capabilities. In case your wondering why the suggestion:
>
> >>> * You likely have lurkers on your ISP, phone connection ISPs are
> >>> notorious for that activity. My secondary phoneline caused me to added
> >>> over two dozen network block address ranges to the firewall rules.
> >>> * JAVA has a couple of really dangerous issues [generally], and a couple
> >>> causing similar issues on some sites.
> >>> * If you're using FireFox, depending upon the version, you may have an
> >>> exploit being used [and yes even the 3.5 version {not available in 9X}
> >>> has issues].
>
> >>> Beyond those, are there any prior indications before the apparent pause.
> >>> Did you check for usual virus and SpyWare stuff [the run-through
> >>> always recommended]?
>
> >>> As for OE [Outlook Express, the mail program], it is a default install
> >>> during most IE6 installations [or rather was] and was generally
> >>> installed at some point in 98FE [IE5+].
> >>> What are you referring to as being in the Control Panel?
> >>> IIRC in 98FE - Internet Mail? MS Exchange. Been a long time so I'm
> >>> likely wrong on that...
>
> >>> --
> >>> ~
> >>> --
> >>> MEBhttp://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
> >>> Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networkinghttp://peoplescounsel.org
> >>> The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
> >>> _______- Hide quoted text -
>
> >>> - Show quoted text -
>
> >> Thank you for replying.
>
> >> Do lurkers transfer any data? If I hit the icon to look at the
> >> connection, and it decides to even come up, I see absolutely NO
> >> activity on the link, zip. No bit changes at all! But, a few bits
> >> and then the screen changes.
>
> >> At first I thought someone was 'raiding' my computer, but during these
> >> freezes no data transfers. Also, no innappropriate cookies. Even the
> >> temorary folders aren't flooded.
>
> >> Also, at any time I have very few programs running. ctrl-alt-del
> >> lists:
> >> 'IE6 name'
> >> Explorer
> >> Rnaap
> >> Osa
>
> Sorry, I quick read the post and overlooked this... why do you have
> Office Startup running?
> Do you have quick search [e.g., indexing] enabled?
> What version of Office?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >> and, that's it. Nothing else comes up. But sometimes I can't even
> >> get the "What's running program" to come up. It is as if the CPU is
> >> frozen.
>
> >> The timing seems to be always when I ask for something. It's as
> >> though IE6 doesn't send it upstream. Just sits there staring at me,
> >> until I ask again, or take it off desktop and put it back, but even
> >> then sometimes Win98 won't do anything with the image on the screen -
> >> frozen CPU(?) Can't even get the screen to change.
>
> >> I do have 500K of HOSTS, but I thought that would require transferring
> >> bits between ISP and me. And, again, during these freezes there are
> >> no bits transferring.
>
> >> I don't know why, but this seems to match my wife's computer's
> >> problems after I visited non-technical websites [although they should
> >> be well behaved websites, too] that automatically installed new
> >> features to the IE6? Her computer exhibited this 'hanging' before
> >> mine did, and she was constantly complaining at how rude some of the
> >> websites she went to were, in the way they would hang her computer to
> >> the point of a power OFF reboot.
>
> >> I just can't figure how to put back the IE6 to the way it was.
>
> >> Robert
>
> > What sites?
>
> > By "ask for something" do you mean via a search engine or via individual
> > website?
>
> > And what was supposedly being installed?
> > Or was that a question per was there such a tool. Any TOOL which you
> > might find offered and/or automatically installed would likely be
> > malicious.
>
> > What OS is she using?
>
> > Did you check your firewall logs?
>
> > What are the processing speeds and memories within the respective
> > computers?
>
> > What browser bars and other do you have installed?
>
> > What anti-virus and other protections do you have installed?
>
> --
> ~
> --
> MEBhttp://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
> Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networkinghttp://peoplescounsel.org
> The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
> _______- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you for your reply.

I was told that osa runs the icons on the tool bar so I did not worry
about it.
Office 97 and NO tool bar, hated that thing, no other tool bars, just
along the bottom
also no quicksearch, just slowed everything down way too much.

System recently defragged with no apparent change in this 'pausing'

System is Win98 FE
Intel pentium III, 600MHz
255MB RAM
8GB free disk

When I'm on line I have running
IE6 [for the access]
explorer
rnaap
osa
systray

that's it.

How do I log activity? How do I monitor CPU/program activity [like
the WinXP plots]

Don't know if this is significant, but I went to System Tools and
looked at TCP/IP and found two complete and identical listings. One
was 0000 the other 0001, but every entry was identical. Shouldn't
there only be the one?

Jeff Richards made an excellent and, in retrospect, obvious suggestion
to contact my ISP and make certain all the settings are correct. It
is possible that my ISP has 'improved' their system without telling
me. I just assumed settings were correct because everything works
when I'm only on their site. But, recently, even that has been
balking.

Robert

MEB · External Since: Jul 16, 2009 Posts: 17

Your discussion with Jeff appears to producing the most useful info...

The issue with the sound MAY be the major issue [or at least until you
get that cleared up].

You have essentially 2 sound devices fighting for control of sounds
[or at least wave and other base sounds]. Even though neither {the modem
and its voice capability, and the never properly installed sound card}
are actually producing sounds they have, none the less, likely been
PRE-assigned IRQs and memory address space.
Try installing and activating the proper driver for the modem AND for
the sound card. I have had "voice answering" modems which would conflict
with properly installed sound cards, which, in FE, would require
MANUALLY setting the IRQ and memory ranges of ONE of the devices to
remove the conflict. 98FE/Gold had PNP, but its implementation was
buggy, and was touted as ONE of the reasons Microsoft offered as reason
to purchase 98SE {niftily that was the same reason used for upgrade from
95 to 98FE,, and the same for 98SE to XP}.
Leaving them uninstalled {either both or just one} would still cause
conflict as the PNP aspects would HOLD/reserve the intended settings
pending my supposed soon to be installation of proper drivers for the
device.
I could always tell when either of these drivers got corrupted or its
registry settings, as the type of issue you are experiencing would occur
though at ANYTIME a sound was to be made, such as Window openings,
startup, or others.
Once you have them properly configured, just turn them down or off -
though NOT disabled or you end up right back where you were the next
time the system runs device checks/looks for new hardware, then you end
up with three or four drivers/devices all supposedly installed and
additional conflicts.

Other responses in-line:

On 07/18/2009 11:15 AM, Robert Macy wrote:
> On Jul 17, 3:50 pm, MEB<MEB-not-h....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> On 07/17/2009 12:33 PM, MEB wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 07/17/2009 10:33 AM, Robert Macy wrote:
>>>> On Jul 16, 7:24 pm, MEB<MEB-not-h....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> On 07/16/2009 07:41 PM, Robert A. Macy wrote:
>>>>>> Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>>>>>> Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
>>>>>> 1 minute doing nothing!
>>>>>> Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>>>>>> These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
>>>>>> doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
>>>>>> doesn't even move.
>>>>>> I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>>>>>> Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
>>>>>> seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>>>>>> Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
>>>>>> pausing?
>>>>>> Robert
>>>>> Uhm, did you check your firewall logs?
>>>>> Not sure what you are using but if you can, turn on all logging
>>>>> capabilities. In case your wondering why the suggestion:
>>>>> * You likely have lurkers on your ISP, phone connection ISPs are
>>>>> notorious for that activity. My secondary phoneline caused me to added
>>>>> over two dozen network block address ranges to the firewall rules.
>>>>> * JAVA has a couple of really dangerous issues [generally], and a couple
>>>>> causing similar issues on some sites.
>>>>> * If you're using FireFox, depending upon the version, you may have an
>>>>> exploit being used [and yes even the 3.5 version {not available in 9X}
>>>>> has issues].
>>>>> Beyond those, are there any prior indications before the apparent pause.
>>>>> Did you check for usual virus and SpyWare stuff [the run-through
>>>>> always recommended]?
>>>>> As for OE [Outlook Express, the mail program], it is a default install
>>>>> during most IE6 installations [or rather was] and was generally
>>>>> installed at some point in 98FE [IE5+].
>>>>> What are you referring to as being in the Control Panel?
>>>>> IIRC in 98FE - Internet Mail? MS Exchange. Been a long time so I'm
>>>>> likely wrong on that...
>>>>> --
>>>>> ~
>>>>> --
>>>>> MEBhttp://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
>>>>> Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networkinghttp://peoplescounsel.org
>>>>> The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
>>>>> _______- Hide quoted text -
>>>>> - Show quoted text -
>>>> Thank you for replying.
>>>> Do lurkers transfer any data? If I hit the icon to look at the
>>>> connection, and it decides to even come up, I see absolutely NO
>>>> activity on the link, zip. No bit changes at all! But, a few bits
>>>> and then the screen changes.
>>>> At first I thought someone was 'raiding' my computer, but during these
>>>> freezes no data transfers. Also, no innappropriate cookies. Even the
>>>> temorary folders aren't flooded.
>>>> Also, at any time I have very few programs running. ctrl-alt-del
>>>> lists:
>>>> 'IE6 name'
>>>> Explorer
>>>> Rnaap
>>>> Osa
>> Sorry, I quick read the post and overlooked this... why do you have
>> Office Startup running?
>> Do you have quick search [e.g., indexing] enabled?
>> What version of Office?
>>
>>>> and, that's it. Nothing else comes up. But sometimes I can't even
>>>> get the "What's running program" to come up. It is as if the CPU is
>>>> frozen.
>>>> The timing seems to be always when I ask for something. It's as
>>>> though IE6 doesn't send it upstream. Just sits there staring at me,
>>>> until I ask again, or take it off desktop and put it back, but even
>>>> then sometimes Win98 won't do anything with the image on the screen -
>>>> frozen CPU(?) Can't even get the screen to change.
>>>> I do have 500K of HOSTS, but I thought that would require transferring
>>>> bits between ISP and me. And, again, during these freezes there are
>>>> no bits transferring.
>>>> I don't know why, but this seems to match my wife's computer's
>>>> problems after I visited non-technical websites [although they should
>>>> be well behaved websites, too] that automatically installed new
>>>> features to the IE6? Her computer exhibited this 'hanging' before
>>>> mine did, and she was constantly complaining at how rude some of the
>>>> websites she went to were, in the way they would hang her computer to
>>>> the point of a power OFF reboot.
>>>> I just can't figure how to put back the IE6 to the way it was.
>>>> Robert
>>> What sites?
>>> By "ask for something" do you mean via a search engine or via individual
>>> website?
>>> And what was supposedly being installed?
>>> Or was that a question per was there such a tool. Any TOOL which you
>>> might find offered and/or automatically installed would likely be
>>> malicious.
>>> What OS is she using?
>>> Did you check your firewall logs?
>>> What are the processing speeds and memories within the respective
>>> computers?
>>> What browser bars and other do you have installed?
>>> What anti-virus and other protections do you have installed?
>> --
>> ~
>> --
>> MEBhttp://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
>
> Thank you for your reply.
>
> I was told that osa runs the icons on the tool bar so I did not worry
> about it.
> Office 97 and NO tool bar, hated that thing, no other tool bars, just
> along the bottom
> also no quicksearch, just slowed everything down way too much.

Okay, most disable OSA, but its a personal choice unless it conflicts
somewhere.
Good that you disabled Office's QuickSearch/Indexing. Just make sure
it still is, it may have turned itself back on [OSA sometimes will do
that]...

>
> System recently defragged with no apparent change in this 'pausing'
>
> System is Win98 FE
> Intel pentium III, 600MHz
> 255MB RAM
> 8GB free disk
>
> When I'm on line I have running
> IE6 [for the access]
> explorer
> rnaap
> osa
> systray
>
> that's it.
>
> How do I log activity? How do I monitor CPU/program activity [like
> the WinXP plots]

Are you referring to the system monitor tools? Install that from the
CD if you don't have that available in Start>Programs>Accessories>System
Tools [hhm, is that right,, the general area to look].
Not there, insert CD - Control Panel > Install Remove
Applications/Programs > Windows Setup > System Tools
Some other tools are/were available in the separate MMC installation
package as well, however, installing FE's MMC at this stage is NOT
recommended as it WILL install conflicting files.

The log I keep referring you to is from the firewall. If you're NOT
running a firewall, then the "lurkers" I previously referred to will be
constantly probing for "services", pinging and ponging, trying to
reset/hijack your IP address, and other nasties. To the point that your
ability to use the Internet will be severely hampered. The same happens
on broad-band but the modem provides a bit of protection [answering some
of those queries or denying them as it might be configured] and the
router, if applicable, blocks or "handles" some additional activities,
leaving the firewall as a final checking proxy and software analyzer [in
addition to your secondary AV and other such programs].

>
> Don't know if this is significant, but I went to System Tools and
> looked at TCP/IP and found two complete and identical listings. One
> was 0000 the other 0001, but every entry was identical. Shouldn't
> there only be the one?

You MAY be looking at the two entries for your modem. One for the
actual device and the other for the ISP's installed WAN/LAN proprietary
network interface driver for access to *that* network [and hence the
Internet]. Both are generally needed for phoneline connections [such as
NetZero, AOL, some of the others]. ONLY direct access phoneline
connections MAY not need the second interface. Even then you MAY have a
second one for VPN or other.
You used the More Details button [as in winipcfg]; correct? or are
you referring to another check?
Or did you use Networking?
Use winipcfg from RUN, and look at More Details.
Compare with Control Panel > Network > the settings found there.

>
> Jeff Richards made an excellent and, in retrospect, obvious suggestion
> to contact my ISP and make certain all the settings are correct. It
> is possible that my ISP has 'improved' their system without telling
> me. I just assumed settings were correct because everything works
> when I'm only on their site. But, recently, even that has been
> balking.
>
> Robert

Once you get the sound issue corrected and a bit more information, we
might suggest running hijackthis...

--
~
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
_______

Jeff Richards · External Since: Mar 14, 2004 Posts: 1333

Then sound might be a dead end. Have you confirmed that there is no CPU or
communications activity during these pauses?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
> snip <
>
> Thank you for your reply. I never thought to check the clock during
> these times. But, from memory it never shifted enough to notice
> before a reboot. Will watch that.
>
> Sound card losing time? Hmmm. This computer has no ability to make
> sound [except the beeper]. I think a sound feature is unsuccessfully
> installed, but I mute. Hate to hear those obnoxius sounds. I wonder
> if there's some kind of conflict that 'confuses' the CPU if it tries
> to make a sound? Where would I look for that? Perhaps a website
> added sound to my IE6, or such and the updated interface to sound is
> causing all this. Is that possible?
>
> Robert

LOST TIME: had the analog clock displaying as the 'pauses' occurred
the clock kept right on running, no lost seconds

SOUND: UNMUTED: if I double click on a .wav file this system appears
to try to play the sound, but plug in in the speakers into any outlet
there is no sound coming out. [These speakers work in the rarely used
WinXP machine]. Unmute seems to only turn on the piezo beeper.

Under multimedia shows the modem as an audio device with its own
codecs, This modem card is capable of being an answering machine, but
is not used.

Robert

someone watching · External Since: Feb 09, 2009 Posts: 11

Robert, I too experience these pauses. And actually they've been
occurring for a long time and with more frequency. I think it all
started when Adobe bought Macromedia Flash, and as more sites started
using flash, frequency increased.

Couple of other thoughts; the pauses may be caused by old hardware.
Reason for saying this is because I have essentially the same setup on
two PC's, an old AMD 600MHz, 384MB RAM, 32MB ATI video. Pauses in Win98
on that PC are awful. But in W98 on a Thinkpad laptop 2GHz, 1.5GB RAM
32MB ATI video, the pauses are very short. And BTW, the HOSTS file here
is near 400K (same on both PC's) and it seems that too has something to
do with delays. For example, certain news video sites require
ad.doubleclick.com to be accessible (NOT in your hosts file) or the
screen will sit there forever and do nothing!

Hope this helps!
___
"Robert A. Macy" <macy RemoveThis @california.com> wrote in message
news:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
> Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> doesn't even move.
>
> I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> pausing?
>
> Robert

Robert Macy · External Since: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 32

On Jul 18, 6:39 pm, "someone watching" <nos... RemoveThis @bogusaddress.com>
wrote:
> Robert, I too experience these pauses. And actually they've been
> occurring for a long time and with more frequency. I think it all
> started when Adobe bought Macromedia Flash, and as more sites started
> using flash, frequency increased.
>
> Couple of other thoughts; the pauses may be caused by old hardware.
> Reason for saying this is because I have essentially the same setup on
> two PC's, an old AMD 600MHz, 384MB RAM, 32MB ATI video. Pauses in Win98
> on that PC are awful. But in W98 on a Thinkpad laptop 2GHz, 1.5GB RAM
> 32MB ATI video, the pauses are very short. And BTW, the HOSTS file here
> is near 400K (same on both PC's) and it seems that too has something to
> do with delays. For example, certain news video sites require
> ad.doubleclick.com to be accessible (NOT in your hosts file) or the
> screen will sit there forever and do nothing!
>
> Hope this helps!
> ___
> "Robert A. Macy" <m... RemoveThis @california.com> wrote in messagenews:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> > Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> > 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> > Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> > These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> > doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> > doesn't even move.
>
> > I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> > Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> > seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> > Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> > pausing?
>
> > Robert- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you for sharing. You have described it exactly. Yes, it is
happening more and more.

HOSTS file here is closer to 605KB now.

I've been watching to see whether the pausing relates to a website and
yes, it seems to. Primitive sites, the 'homemade ones' are quick.
The new ones done by nontechnical people are awful. It's as though
everybody assumes people are using DSL *and* 2GHz WinXP.

Surprisingly google has now become the worst. I used to use it as
home, because the screen has low entropy, comes up fast, and if I want
to search, I'm already there. But now... Sometimes I can't even pull
down my history list, just have the BIG hour glass. And worse,
sometimes, I can't even change applications from google [or website
I'm on] to ANY application, totally locked up.

However, I just unclicked "Use IP Header Compression" on the IE
options menu for TCP/IP and after rebooting that seems to have sped
things up. Either cause, or coincidence.

Robert

Robert Macy · External Since: Feb 28, 2009 Posts: 32

On Jul 18, 10:01 pm, Robert Macy <m....DeleteThis@california.com> wrote:
> On Jul 18, 6:39 pm, "someone watching" <nos....DeleteThis@bogusaddress.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Robert, I too experience these pauses. And actually they've been
> > occurring for a long time and with more frequency. I think it all
> > started when Adobe bought Macromedia Flash, and as more sites started
> > using flash, frequency increased.
>
> > Couple of other thoughts; the pauses may be caused by old hardware.
> > Reason for saying this is because I have essentially the same setup on
> > two PC's, an old AMD 600MHz, 384MB RAM, 32MB ATI video. Pauses in Win98
> > on that PC are awful. But in W98 on a Thinkpad laptop 2GHz, 1.5GB RAM
> > 32MB ATI video, the pauses are very short. And BTW, the HOSTS file here
> > is near 400K (same on both PC's) and it seems that too has something to
> > do with delays. For example, certain news video sites require
> > ad.doubleclick.com to be accessible (NOT in your hosts file) or the
> > screen will sit there forever and do nothing!
>
> > Hope this helps!
> > ___
> > "Robert A. Macy" <m....DeleteThis@california.com> wrote in messagenews:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>
> > > Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> > > Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> > > 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> > > Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> > > These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> > > doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> > > doesn't even move.
>
> > > I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> > > Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> > > seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> > > Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> > > pausing?
>
> > > Robert- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Thank you for sharing. You have described it exactly. Yes, it is
> happening more and more.
>
> HOSTS file here is closer to 605KB now.
>
> I've been watching to see whether the pausing relates to a website and
> yes, it seems to. Primitive sites, the 'homemade ones' are quick.
> The new ones done by nontechnical people are awful. It's as though
> everybody assumes people are using DSL *and* 2GHz WinXP.
>
> Surprisingly google has now become the worst. I used to use it as
> home, because the screen has low entropy, comes up fast, and if I want
> to search, I'm already there. But now... Sometimes I can't even pull
> down my history list, just have the BIG hour glass. And worse,
> sometimes, I can't even change applications from google [or website
> I'm on] to ANY application, totally locked up.
>
> However, I just unclicked "Use IP Header Compression" on the IE
> options menu for TCP/IP and after rebooting that seems to have sped
> things up. Either cause, or coincidence.
>
> Robert- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

New information:

It appears these pauses are caused by this Win98 machine. Looking at
the bit transfer, during hang nothing is transferring and always the
first is my machine sending something, which then triggers bits back
and then so on and the machine is back up and running with new web
pages. It's as if my machine was the culprit, refusing to supply some
answer to the internet.

Also, one major hang occurs EVERY time I log out of my account on
google. Usually lasting more than a minute, sometimes 2-3. I simply
hit log out, google says I'm leaving secure space going to public,
then loads in ?? screen, and then lock up. no data transferring [no
requirement], but my machine can't even pull down history menu, change
to a different application, get multiple images if I move an
application around over the google welcom, etc. Sometimes, the lock
up is so severe, can't even 'end this task' keep getting 'not
responding' and have to do a full power off reboot.

What's going on here?

Robert

Jeff Richards · External Since: Mar 14, 2004 Posts: 1333

It appears that IE is pausing in the middle of a negotiation of some sort,
and that in turn points to a communication problem rather than a Windows
issue. This could be between the PC and the modem, or between IE and an
Internet service, so it still covers a pretty broad range. I think it's
worth following up with your ISP. although they might not know anything
about W98 and might not be able to assist. Do you have some other way of
testing the comms link, such as another PC with modem?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert Macy" <macy DeleteThis @california.com> wrote in message
news:122f10cc-c0bf-4812-9caa-a88da229f392@i8g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
On Jul 17, 3:50 pm, "Jeff Richards" <JRicha... DeleteThis @msn.com.au> wrote:
> Why not contact your ISP? This sort of troubleshooting is what you pay
> them
> for. They can monitor activity while you are on line and look at the
> actual
> data flows. They can also take you through your configuration settings to
> confirm they are correct.
>
> It is unlikely that you have some other network activity taking over your
> communication session, as the symptom is quite different - you would not
> see
> Windows become unresponsive, but you would see activity continuing at the
> same rate, while your pages drew slowly and with frequent short pauses.
> You should use a CPU activity monitor to confirm this - I believe you will
> find that the CPU is actually idle during these pauses.
>
> You should also do some analysis aimed at finding a pattern in these
> pauses
> associated with the sites being visited or the content of those sites. For
> instance, does the pause occur once a site is loaded or only while finding
> new pages?
> --
> Jeff Richards
> MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
> "Robert A. Macy" <m... DeleteThis @california.com> wrote in
> messagenews:58e30fca-8bbf-4946-9d1f-7b5c2b1cc99e@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Running IE6 SP1 on Win98 FE connected through 56K dialup modem
>
> > Recently, periodically the system pauses for 20 seconds to upwards of
> > 1 minute doing nothing!
>
> > Checking connection details, there is no data coming or going.
>
> > These pauses are like the CPU is super busy to the extent can't even
> > doing anything else, even the Desktop does not refresh. Cursor
> > doesn't even move.
>
> > I removed Adobe's Active X, or 9X
>
> > Also Microsoft Explorer (?) the mail program, never installed, but
> > seemed to have a vestige left in Control
>
> > Any ideas what's causing this? More, importantly, how to stop
> > pausing?
>
> > Robert- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you for that suggestion. Never thought to include the ISP.
Just 'assumed' it's one of those 'your system problems'. Finger
pointing and all that.

Where is the 'activity' monitor on the Win98? I've used it on the
WinXP, but never saw the euivalent here?

I have the feeling that nothing malicious is going on because of the
lack of bit transfers during the pauses. To me [and this could be an
erroneous assumption] It's more like the CPU is taking a long time to
sort out what it has been asked of it. Whether that request comes
from me, or whether that request has just come in from a web page. It
seems like MY system has turned suddenly stupid.

I'm tempted to uninstall IE and install again, but this machine is the
main internet connection and hate to muck it up.

Robert