Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Internet Explorer

Feb 25, 2004 6:11AM PST

Internet Explorer is getting slower and slower.
I have cleared the temp, cookies and history files.
It is also very slow to recognise updates to my website - Mozilla recognises these instantly..
Running Pentium 3.0 - 512 Mg RAM 120 Gig HD.
Any help would really be appreciated.
Brian.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re:Internet Explorer
Feb 25, 2004 6:54AM PST

Mowbars,

Which operating system and which version of Internet Explorer? I assume XP and IE 6 SP1, but you didn't say.

Have you installed the most recent Critical updates to Internet Explorer from the Windows Update site? If not, do so.

On the other hand, if you installed the most recent "Cumulative Update" for Internet Explorer, you may need to install this "patch for a patch":

XMLHTTP call fails for URLs with embedded user credentials
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;832414
________

Have you recently run any backup "checks" for viruses and software using the programs at the link below? If not, do so.

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6132-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=1313&start=0

As a test, what happens if you disable your antivirus program while on the internet?

Hope this helps.

Grif

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Internet Explorer
Feb 25, 2004 7:31AM PST

Thanks for the reply Grif...
I use XP Pro and have IE6 SP1
I check all the time for Critical Updates and have, I'm sure, the latest.
The Patch for the Patch is difficult as I don't know which one I need from the six on that site.
I use AVG6 Anti Virus software which makes no difference disabled and ZA Firewall - ditto.
I also check for spyware with Ad-Aware and Spybot.
Brian.

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Re:Internet Explorer
Feb 25, 2004 12:15PM PST

Brian,

Just some thoughts....

1. Mozilla and some of the other "leaner" browser will almost always run faster. It's one of the reasons more folks are using them now.

2. I've noticed a slow down in browsing speed on Internet Explorer lately, no matter which type of internet connection I use, and much of it can be attributed to net being packed with a variety of SPAM, Virus sent e-mails, and more traffic than ever.

3. You didn't mention anything specifically, but have you checked your connection speed, and has that changed for the worse?

4. Because unnecessary start up programs will slow down most programs, have you tried shutting down all that extra stuff? Please click on the link below, and follow the steps (Parts 1-4) to shut down unnecessary start up programs and "services" and clean up the hard drive. Although this is designed for Windows 98/ME, most of the procedures can be used with WinXP:

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6122-0.html?forumID=44&threadID=2966&messageID=35611

After that, click on the links below and follow the steps to shut down more "Services":

http://aumha.org/a/loads.htm

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

Hope this helps.

Grif

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Re:Re:Internet Explorer
Feb 25, 2004 6:36PM PST

Thanks Grif...
I have checked, going to msconfig, the programmes that startup with Windows and they are very few, just the anti virus and firewall a couple of other windows things.. I have changed the TIF to 50Mgs.. No difference.
Connection speed is via Broadband at 1.0Mgps
Think I might need to use Mozilla and just use IE to check my website works OK with it. What a pain!
Brian.

- Collapse -
If your anomaly concerns only . . .
Feb 25, 2004 11:22PM PST
"It is also very slow to recognise updates to my website" have you considered perhaps that the problem is with your Web page itself, or is it exclusively while on the Internet?

1. The article [Q325192] discusses and describes know issues that may occur after installing certain Updates to Internet Explorer or Windows. Please review the content of this article to see whether the described issue you've reported could be linked to anything there.

2. Access the "Windows Update site", click the item, "View installation history" in the left frame, to ascertain your system update information.

Note: Otherwise, click Start, Run, type msinfo32.exe, and then press Enter. Click File, Save in the Tool menu, name the file, access it, and then look at the Software Environments for Update information.

Bill Gaston
- Collapse -
Re:If your anomaly concerns only . . .
Feb 26, 2004 12:00AM PST

Thanks Bill...
I have had a look at Q325192 but can't see anything there that refers to Internet Explorer being very slow.
The Installation History shows many updates as I do try to keep as up to date as I can.
The slow loading problem is exclusive to IE - Mozilla loads my website (www.merchant-navy.net) instantly as does the Authoring programme (Homesite) I use to write it.
Looks like I will have to use Mozilla generally and IE to check the code is OK on my site.
Brian.

- Collapse -
Re:Re:If your anomaly concerns only . . .
Feb 26, 2004 4:04AM PST

Please let me point out that the article [Understanding and Troubleshooting Unrecoverable Errors (Faults) in Internet Explorer (Q276393)] explains that IE runs in what is known as a user-mode (or Ring3) process that means it runs in its own virtual address spaces and does not have direct access to hardware or memory that is not allocated to it by Windows. Please note however, most programs interact with user-mode processes such as ActiveX Controls, Browser Helper Objects, tool bands, and other components that can add custom functionality, such as additional toolbars, wallpaper or banner ads and etc., and anything else added and unnecessarily used for/with IE is going to slow its process.

Bill Gaston