IE Constantly Freezing, Grrrrrr

honeysucklemama · Mar 18, 2008

Internet Explorer is CONSTANTLY freezing up!! I need to shut it down and start it back up about 5-6 times an hour when I am surfing. It didn't used to do this. The problem started about 3 weeks ago. I don't know what triggered it.

THIS is driving me INSANE!!!!

I am relatively new to PCs, so keep that in mind when you answer my question. (I'm a long time Mac user).

I have an Acer Aspire 5100 running Windows XP SP 2.

I ***believe*** this started when I updated IE or MSN Messenger to the newest versions, but I would not swear to that. I don't have any spyware, viruses, or anything else that could cause this 'cause I checked with TWO spyware programs, and two virus check programs.

Help before I lose my mind!!

;-)

T

dlb · Mar 18, 2008

The first thing I'd do is perform some general maintenance; clean the junk files, temporary files, intenet caches, etc, and do a defrag. You could also try using a different browser (if you normally use IE, try Firefox or Opera). That would instantly tell you if it's an Intenet Explorer issue, or a possible hardware issue, or maybe even a problem on your ISP's end...
Here's some links to alternative browsers...
Firefox http://www.majorgeeks.com/Mozilla_Firefox_d2248.html
Firefox Portable (Doesn't need to be installed) http://www.majorgeeks.com/Portable_Firefox_d4424.html
Opera http://www.majorgeeks.com/Opera_d559.html
For general maintenance duties, read this article and follow the steps. You may be surprised at the difference it will make. http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=106650
Good luck! and keep us posted.

honeysucklemama · Mar 19, 2008

I am "cautiously" saying that the problem is resolved.

I'm thinking part of the problem might have been too many toolbars. I'm not quite certain how they all got there, but I had several. I ditched them, and then did the clean ups you suggested, and things seem to be better at the moment.

Thank you!

DavidGP · Mar 19, 2008

Hi

Yes too many toolbars could cause this to happen to IE and other browsers, especially if they have popup blockers included as well, so keeping to one toolbar is advisable.

Also a few other common issues of slowness at times browsing is that Adobe Flash and Shockwave need updating, these are two media player that allow the fancy animated graphics on some webpages to work properly, so worth keeping these upto date too.

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/
http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/

Also if you have other issues like this again, the main way to test whats causing it, as well as trying a different browser out is to disable all add-ons in IE then turn one on at a time to test and find out which one is the cause. To do this here is a post on this from Microsoft http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/07/25/678113.aspx ( used this one as it has pictures )

honeysucklemama · Mar 20, 2008

Thank you both!!!

I had no idea how SLOW my system was until I cleaned it up and saw how fast it is running now.

Yikes!!

Why doesn't anyone tell you this stuff when you buy a PC? My defrag took 10 hours, which, I assume, is because I had never done one.

Thanks!

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IE Constantly Freezing, Grrrrrr

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