"This Program Is Not Responding"

[struggling]

As contrasted to all the problems I had when recently infected with malware(and solved, thanks to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help), I really shouldn't complain about this. but I'm going to anyway. :rolleyes:

 

Is it normal to get this several times a day? I don't mind having to close the program and start over -- except when I'm in the middle of something time-consuming and have to laborously walk through it all over again.

 

Can running several programs at once (stuff stacked up in the system tray) cause this? Something else you can think of? Or just normal operating procedure hickups?

 

I can live with it, but would like to decrease the frequency, if possible.

[BeeCeeBee]

Can running several programs at once (stuff stacked up in the system tray) cause this?

I am not quite sure what you mean by running, Jane.

 

A lot depends on the size of your cpu and the amount of memory in your system.

 

If you do not know, just right click on "my computer" and then properties. What does it say on the bottom about your processor and RAM memory.

[struggling]

By "running several programs" (probably wrong terminology) I mean that I go to a website, minimize it, then go to my Quicken Program, minimize it, then go to my online banking, then back to Quicken, etc. ---so that there are several locations residing in the system tray at one time.

 

Here's the stuff I have:

 

Acer System

Intel ® Pentium ® M

Processor 1.70 GHz

1.70 GHz, 0.99 GB of RAM

[BeeCeeBee]

Jane you have sufficient RAM for your XP system and the cpu is certainly good enough for what you are doing and more.

 

It looks like you are toggling a lot between several internet sites and your accounting software etc.

 

I am guessing that you rarely delete your temporary internet files and your cache is probably set to quite a high number.

 

Delete your temporary internet files (tools>internet options) click delete then select temporary internet files.

 

Also on the general tab and right next to the delete button is settings, click on it and in the middle of the next small window you will see a number for Disk space to use. Make sure that number is under 250 and I would suggest significantly so. (100-150)

 

Do all that and see if you get fewer non responsive programs

[Plastic Nev]

It is also possible that some, if not all of the programs have had some small amount of file damage from the malware now removed. The only cure for that I am afraid is to uninstall the programs and re-install them. However follow Beeceebees advice first before any need to look at that.

[struggling]

"I am guessing that you rarely delete your temporary internet files and your cache is probably set to quite a high number."

 

 

 

You're so right. Back in the old days I was almost fanatical about defragging and did the disk cleanup at the same time ( under Accessories>System Tools).

 

But in the several years I've been using this laptop the analysis has never ONCE advised me to defrag. It always said "you do not need to defragment this volume". So I just quit going there.

 

I will put up a sticky note right now to remind me to delete my temporary files.

 

The disk space use reads 624. Guess that's too high, right? If I understand you correctly, I need to reduce that number to about 100?

Edited January 20, 2009 by struggling

[BeeCeeBee]

Just a quick note here.

 

You need to delete the temporary INTERNET files. Deleting temporary files will clear some space on your hard drive but has nothing to do with what you are experiencing.

 

Last I looked 624 is higher than 250 but then that may not be true in a different time zone. :D

 

If it is your quicken that becomes unresponsive and this does not resolve it, then Nev may well be right and you should try uninstalling it. I had forgotten about the previous infection.

[struggling]

I reset the cache to 100 and have been frequently deleting temporary internet files.

 

The immediate effect has been an impressive decrease in the time it takes to load pages. For instance, before these actions, it took from 30 to 90 seconds to go from one page to another on FreePC. Right away, it started taking only 3 seconds. Today it is taking 3 seconds to 20 seconds. That's a big help!

 

Quicken never has quit responding. It only does this when I'm online.

 

I was online yesterday and it quit responding on various websites about three times. Today I've been on about an hour and a half and it has not yet failed to respond.

[BeeCeeBee]

Hi Jane,

 

Sometimes intermittent failure or slowdown in speed is just a product of your ISP's server. In that case there is little you can do except not compound the problem. You seem to have that part under control now.

[struggling]

Thanks, you've been a big help! :)