I think you have spotted the prob
It does indeed sound like a conflict
Uninstall the program and see if that makes any improvement? In fact uninstall all the spyware detectors Because too many start conflicts and lessen their effects
run it without this software then if it's functioning without BSODs coming up We can re-enable the protection without restarting the conflict?
That sound Ok to you?
BTW Nobody asked you what your resources percentages were? With an overload they will crash your computer quite easily
Peek in the System Information on the AOL icon(next to the clock)
and post what the percentage number is in the Page File Usage box It may have another name ?:Page File post also the memory useage number if you can see it? (not critical) but it will give us an idea what it might be?

LOL I'm sorry I am not sure what exactly you mean.

I will post a few different things...

For memory it says 256 MB total (73% load)

Resources says 27% free and I put it in red because the box it sits in is red which means it does not meet recommended system requirements.

How on earth do I fix that?
Could that be some of the problem?


***edit***
Ok. So ealier I DL this program from tucows, called Bigfix.

It said to DL this program from fixlet central. I do not rmemeber the name of the program now but it said it was necessary for IE. I did this about 45 minuets ago. I was supposed to restart my computer but I was busy talking to 2 people online. So I just now restarted, checked my resources and now it says

memory 256 MB total (37% load) (it changed from 73 to 37)

and resources says 76% free (up from 27, no longer in red.)

ESENCIA:

Your last posting seems to say that you have too many programs opened running in the background that are using up your RAM memory.

Your computer has been using the Swap File program to changed things around and as a result it is changing your setup from 256-Mb, 73% load to 37% load and Resources from 27% free to 73% free.

Try this:

Go to Start\Run

& type in the open space:

MSCONFIG

& press Enter or Go.

The window that comes up is the total of the programs you have open in the background.

I believe that you should not have more than about six programs running in the background.

If you have more than six programs running in the background, why don't you put the rest of these programs onto your Desktop & delete them in the MSCONFIG window.

That way you will not be using your RAM memory to keep them running when they are NOT initiated.

If you do this go back & check your Resources.I bet it goes up to a higher percentage than it has been & the problem you are having with freezing up should stop.

Let me know what you find.

Don

Sorry about the delay
27% and still running! That is well into the danger zone! BSODs occur anywhere from 30% downward My record is 20%
You have a Major Problem
That means we have a lot of things to do
Basically that number says there are too many things going on in Windows
I spotted this by DvdGStewart posted today in this forum who says it better than me

quote:

---

If your system tray is full of icons, your problem may be one of sharing limited resources with too many programs. Your system tray is that space next to your computer clock where program icons are found, like popup stoppers, virus scan, internet service provider, etc. This is not the icons on the other side (next to the start button on Windows) which would include an icon for Explorer, one for desktop, one for media player, etc. Those are short cuts. What is in system tray is usually running.

Simplicity is efficiency, and if you are running an older computer many of the newer programs that you may be using may be using up a lot of processor space (The part of your machine that takes to run programs, different than RAM or hard drive space which is where you store information)

---

Ok lets start with what is in the area by the clock
In a perfect world all that should be there besides the Clock are these icons:
Volume (for sound adjustments)
AOL (start-up options)
and perhaps a Local Area Connection icon?
What is showing in the same area other than these?
We have to determine what Must GO Deleted
1 Program that comes to mind instantly is ICQ you aren't running that? That is a huge Resource Gobbler I had it for a while and had to "exit" it to run anything(It's what some people call bloatware )
Good accurate definition here
www.webopedia.com/TERM/B/bloatware.html
Can you post what is in that area? please
We'll clear the "block" do a Defrag and clear the computer of useless files and Fingers crossed your computer will be running at 85%-90% resources
Be a day or 2's work So be patient OK?
There is a way (never tried it) where I can access your machine and do all the work from my computer (Microsoft do it) But there are compatibility setup problems and other issues which need looking at before attempting this.
I think in a year or 2 it will be commonplace
Dwight or Putasolutions (if they were here?) may be the guys to ask this question of at a later date
So for the time being you'll have to take typed instructions

If you do go into msconfig, and then set up, then DO NOT ELIMINATE ANYTHING THAT IS "WINDOWS SYSTEM"other wise you will really screw up the conputer...

I'm sorry for taking so long in getting back. I have been crazy the last couple fo days and didn't even turn my computer on yesterday.


Ok. What is the area by my clock. First of all, my volume adjuster is gone, sometime last year it somehow got moved onto my desktop. And I do not have a LAN because I use DSL.

What I have-
AOL icon
RamBooster
bigfix
qucktask
AIM

I do not use ICQ, I haven't in years. I never cared for it much.

Thank You very much, Mike, for all your help. You have no idea how much your knowledge has helped me! I really appreciate it!

Thank you too to Don who has helped me a great deal too!!

I'll add more later
Of the programs you have put down the Bigfix program is My first choice to uninstall. I find that most of it's choices I can get from the Microsoft Update pages (has a similar scan there ) Set up wrong you have lots of unwanted updates (some that can throw your machine into a spin )
There was a similar program called Catchup which did not do auto updates just brought up the current update when asked(sadly the site went out of business)I used this when I was on 98.

Can aol its garbage there all messed up kinda like windows microsoft just full of buggs and misc garbage

Uninstall the RamBooster program
You don't really need that The Window Virtual disk handles the same job (May need a tweak in the settings later?)
The Quicktask program I'm not familiar with that too can go if it's purpose is searching for updates
The AIM would really be better in the Start Menu...(already there?)
To do this check if on the Start menu You Have an Item called "Startup"?
If that is so,open it and delete the RamBooster,AIM ,Quicktask and Bigfix icons
This will remove these from the corner by the clock OK?
Byter may have a better idea than me where they are kept?
Go to Add/Remove programs (Control Panel)and
Uninstall Bigfix,RamBooster,Quicktask Ok so far?
Next task is to run a "Thorough" Scandisk check which will do some preliminary sorting, prior to running a Defrag
PS This will take a few hours each(and really should be done every 6 months or So) Done regular it will take perhaps an Hour? Never done. 2 or more hours, (depends on lots of factors)
Ps Have you a screen saver running? Thia must be switched off otherwise this won't work
Then we'll throw the surplus files out by downloading /running another program
What you have Hopefully is a machine running a lot faster than a few days ago

Since you are on AOL, go to AOL Keyword and type in "AOL computer check up"... That might help you....

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fritzzs:
Since you are on AOL, go to AOL Keyword and type in "AOL computer check up"... That might help you....

---

She has gone back to version 8,9 was causing a slowdown (in resources) The checkup won't work on that. Good Idea though

Ok...I'm sorry. I have the next couple days off so I can spend "qaulity" time with my computer. I will uninstall rambooster and bigfix. I said quicktask but I meant quicktime. Sorry. I can unistall that too because as far as I know I don't use it.

Then I will run scandisk. I think it has been along time since I have done that so it'll probably take a long time Oh well. I need to get in the habit of running it more often! And yes, thank you. I need to turn my screen saver off. (I always forget that)

I will report back.

Fritzzs- Thanks for the advice. Like bedstor said, having to downgrade to 8.0, I lost the autofix option w/ aol. That is one thing I loved about aol and I miss! (among many other features )

Thank You very much guys

~Heather

I hate to be such a bother But I tried running scandisk and disk defragmenter. I can't run them though because they only get so far before they start all over. Both programs say that something is running in the background and it can't perform the required tasks. I have x'd everything out of the area by my clock. I did CTRL,ALT,DEL and x'd everything off there (except for explorer of course) and the programs still say there is something running. How do I figure out what is running so I may run scandisk and disk defragmenter?

Thanks

QuickTime can Be a Spyware attractor and does get temperemental now and then Ok as a backup relegate it to the Start Menu.

Use RealPlayer instead as default video /music play and also keep it out of the Start-Up folder
The only safe way to run these in the Start Up folder is to "Exit" the program(s) when you have finish otherwise it continues running in the background, chiming in without warning (like a Pop-Up!)

quote:

---

Originally posted by esencia:
I hate to be such a bother But I tried running scandisk and disk defragmenter. I can't run them though because they only get so far before they start all over. Both programs say that something is running in the background and it can't perform the required tasks. I have x'd everything out of the area by my clock. I did CTRL,ALT,DEL and x'd everything off there (except for explorer of course) and the programs still say there is something running. How do I figure out what is running so I may run scandisk and disk defragmenter?

Thanks

---

Heather
Both the programs work on the same method
You did right exited everything by the Clock
Have you switched off any screen saver? because It resets every time the screen saver comes on screen OK? Go to Control panel >display>screen saver(tab) and set the menu to "None" then press OK
Rule 2 Once started do no touch the Key board or move the mouse this will also cause a restart( I think this used to be the most common query on Defragging By all means switch off the monitor On 95 & 98 there is a good display window which shows how things are progressing (when defragging) Set it going..Go shopping for an hour turn the Monitor back on and see how far it has got?
With the Scandisk it will stop when it finds a change Find out in the option how to set the Program to ignore the change and do a "Yes to all" (I think it produces a report when finished of any changes)Byter may know the sequence? In the absence of Dwight
I'll alert him to this

Mike-

I did shut my screen saver off. And I started watching a movie while it was dong it's thing and a message kept coming up that something was running in the background.

ScanDisk has restarted 10 times because Windows or another program has been writing to this drive. Quitting some running programs may enable ScanDisk sooner. Do you want to continue to receive this warning?

I have nothing running in the background so I don't know why this is happening?

This is my suggestion:
Go to PC Pitstop and let them check out your computer free. I just did it so I could tell you the steps. When you get there, click on the gold key on front page, click on the key again on the next page, Test Anonymously,Let's Go, then OK for utility to load. Don't touch anything until test is finished. You will see a lot of colored stuff flying on the screen when the test is running. When it is finished, you will be asked to accept something, click "no,thanks." After you look at the page, click on Windows Detail Page. There, you will see the Running Programs, required,spyware and optional.
If you want to get rid of some of optionals or unknowns, do this: Go to Start, Run, type msconfig in the blank. Click on "selective startup", Startup (at top) and unclick what you think you don't need. You can always go back and click them back in if something won't run right. To undo what you have done,just do the same thing: Start, Run, msconfig, selective startup, startup and check them back. You will have to restart computer when you finish.

Well said Dixie
That is a good plan, saves a lot of head scratching.

You don't have to close anything...

Go into Safe Mode and then do your defraging...

For Safe Mode, restart your computer and when things start poping on the screen, keep pressing on your F8 button till you see on the screen to scroll down to Safe Mode...

After in it, just go to defrag and dooooo itttt.

http://www.ilabps.co.za/NewsRoom/2002/25%20July.htm might give a better answer to what the real issue is.

I fear that your computer may be suffering fro this. win 98 is an old system 6 human years is 100 computer years or more.

Technology is advancing at such a pace that older systems are patched, added on, updated, to the point where they are near failure. It is difficult for me to see a system working much beyond 6 years.

My Parents have Win 98 and the whole system is held together with rubber bands and baling wire. It has gotten to the point where they are calling me almost every day with yet a new problem.

At the same time their monitor is on the fritz, they had to replace the keyboard twice (which meant new software which may have caused more issues) and they are on their 4th printer.

Time takes it toll, this may be an issue of time.

David