I.E. 5.5 constant freeze-ups

[Duayne]

I'm not sure this is an "Internet" question, so direct me to the right forum if not...
I just completed assemblying my own PC: AMDK6-3/450 cpu; 128 meg RAM; 9MB Quantum HD practically empty; Diamond Stealth II video card w/32MB Vram, etc.
I've gotten the latest BIOS and MVP chip updates...and updated the video drivers, etc.
PROBLEM:
EVERYTIME I use I.E. 5 or 5.5., my computer freezes up. Sometimes it takes 2 minutes, sometimes 45 minutes and everything in between, but it does so every @#$! time. i get no warnings and am not running other substantial programs or have a lot of browser windows open. my connection is a cable modem and LAN card that worked just fine with my old P200 computer.
I'm running Windows 98 second edition
when my mouse cursor freezes, i cannot open the program box with cntrl/alt/del, and i have to hit the hard-reset button to reboot.
The system is otherwise fine and fast: no other programs/applications do this (so far); my only other complaint is that i cannot get rid of the stupid microsoft network password box on bootup. (i can't get a password change window, as MS claims to be -- but that's another story)
Oh, and I've tried Netscape 4.7 and it seems to work okay, but i haven't used it as much (I prefer IE).
sorry this is so long with all the details, but wanted you to be able to rule out at least some things.
Okay, boys and girls, what do you think?/
thanks,
DD


[Edited by Duayne on 10-09-2000 at 11:00 PM]

[reboot]

You don't mention what type of modem you have, or if it's sharing resources.
If you're not using a modem, disregard, but if you ARE using a modem, follow below:
Go into device manger, remove your modem, all com ports, and everything in "Other Devices".
Restart.
Go into BIOS setup, disable com 2, set "PNP OS Installed" to no or disabled.
Restart. Reinstall.

[Duayne]

hi jim,
thanks. as i mentioned in my post i'm using a cable modem... i do have a US Robotics 56k winmodem installed, but i use it only as a backup.
are you suggesting that it could still somehow be interfering with my I.E. sessions?
dd

[reboot]

Anything that takes resources can interfere with a connection.
You could still have a resource problem, sharing possibly, which is hampering performance.
Have you tried the IE repair tool, and/or reinstalling IE?
Have you looked at getting updated drivers for your NIC?
Are you using TCP/IP with DHCP through your ISP to connect?
Are the numbers all correct with regards to DNS servers, host, domain, etc.?

[BlackHoleSun]

Where is that located?

[fordvan]

Control Panel / Add/Remove programs, Highlight "Internet Explorer 5.5 and Internet Tools" then click on Add/Remove and you will see the choices there.

[Prader Willi]

As stated before-- it might be a resource problem. The Road Runner folks installed a primitive network card when I got a cable modem. This card was unable to share an IRQ, when first installed- it shared an IRQ with a regular modem and I had the same symptoms as you-- internet would work for a while and then freeze-up. I solved the problem by removing the modem.

[Duayne]

Prader,
you might be on to something there, although having to yank out the modem seems a bit extreme, doesn't it? ... my network card was also (originally) installed by the Long Island equivalent to Road Runner, about 3-4 years ago. however, i had no problem using it on my older computer, which also had a modem.
that also partly answers another question i've had: are all the 10/100 network/ethernet cards made in the last few years about the same? or is it worth getting a newer one, for some reason?

by the way, Reboot, thanks for all your great suggestions. i tried most of them, without seeing any difference.
i went to the properties box of my NIC, but didn't see any buttons, boxes or tabs pertaining to drivers, such as there are for a graphics card, etc.
two questions: 1. I am using TCP/IP of course, but what is DHCP?
2. HOW would I know if my numbers are all correct for DNS servers, host, domain, etc.?
I mean, basically, I moved the card from the old computer to the new one and let Microsoft Wizards do the rest. (and THEY would never steer me wrong, now, would they? :-))
dd

[glc]

Open up Device Manager and look at the properties for "Computer". Choose IRQ. If your network card is sharing IRQ with any other devices, you may have to move it to a different slot to get it on its own IRQ. It's generally a no-no putting a card in the first PCI slot (adjacent to the AGP slot) as it will share IRQ with the video card - every time. PCI IRQ sharing is possible - but some cards just don't play nice when shared. ISA will *never* share nicely with *anything*, you have to reserve its IRQ in the BIOS as a "legacy device".

[Prader Willi]

I yanked my modem because I knew I wouldn't have a need for it. However, I recently addded a home network card, after that I was unable to isolate the cable modem network card-- I tried about every PCI combination, including using slot 1, but still got the freeze ups-- so I bought a knew network card- a Linksys LNE 100 TX-- this card shares the IRQ with my SBLive card (something my old card couldn't tolerate)and works fine-- no freeze ups. There may be an easier solution-- but this is what finally worked for me.

[Duayne]

Thanks. My card, being older, is ISA, so the good news is no PCI conflict with the video IRQ.
But I guess the bad news is having to (figuratively) crack open the BIOS to set that "legacy device" thing.
First though I'll check Device Manager to see if there really is a conflict. (I assume I just look for the same IRQ # listed in front of two different devices.)
dd