Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

memory loss

0 helpful
17 replies

by garygray

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

My computer has a memory problem. It keeps running out of memory. This problem occurred after I updated McAfee's Virus Scan and Firewall. I have previously update McAfee Virus Scan but this was my first update for McAfee Firewall.

I am using Windows 98 2nd edition and Internet Explorer ver 5.50.4522.1800. I am running McAfee Virus Scan Ver 5.1 , Virus Defn 4.0.4172, Scan Engine 4.1.40. My McAfee Firewall is ver 2.15.001.0.

I have 128 MB of RAM and 3.37 GB of free space on my hard drive.

Here's what happen.

I start up my computer, turn off non need programs that start with start up, and I have 81% available (check memory using My computer, Control panel, and System)

I connect to the Internet and I have 77% available
I open Outlook Express ver 5 and I have 67% available
(MSM Messenger service also open with outlook)

I open Internet Explorer ver 5.50 and I have 62% available

Now if I go to different website after 3 or 4 sites visited I run out of memory.
(little window opens up at tell me and sites will not open.)

So I shut down internet Explorer, Outlook and MSM and I still do not have enough memory to open anything else. I cannot even open My computer to check memory.

I have to shut down and restart to use the computer to regain the memory.

Prior to the McAfee updates I had no memory problems with my system.

Any idea what's happening, and any idea how to deal with this.

I also tried to find an uninstall for McAfee Firewall ver 2.1 but didn't have any luck.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

17 replies

by seeker2000

Go to this site and download a program called Mem tester, you may find yu have bad memory or a memory leak

http://hcidesign.com/)

Do you have one memory module of 128MB or two 64 MB modules.
If you have two, you can try taking one out and see if this problem still exists.If it does, take the second one out and put the other back in.
This program above is free to try, it works while you are using your computer orleaving it on while it does its thing.
You should also search the internet from any search engine for "memory leak" A memory leak is when a prgram uses memory and does not return it to the system when closed, or keeps draining more and more till you have to shutdown and restart. You will be able to track down your leaks and possiblely find patches to repair them

Good luck
Greg

by seeker2000

Should have put this in also,
Go to the start box, then up to run and click. A dialog box opens,Type in {msconfig}with out the brackets. Go to startup tab and click it. Here you can stop programs from starting if you want to, By shutting one off ata time you can find your leak. Just use common sense in what you shut off. If you dont know what it is leave it running

by seeker2000

Roadrunner is certainly right here, the more you can take out(uncheck) the faster your system will be. There are programs here I refuse to run, Findfast is one, How often do you really use it,very seldom. also the office startup. IT only takes a second longer to start when you need it, rather than always take my resources. Yoou will find a lot you do not to run all the time or everytime. Clean em out and watch the difference. By taking them out you are not disableing the program, it is just not always running in the background

by roadrunnerchaser

i agree with seeker to a certain extent...
My rule in MSCONFIG/Startup, is that if I do not know what it is, I uncheck it. I generaly start on the first screen of the MSCONFIG dialog box and selct the radio button for "selective Startup" then I uncheck the last checkbox. reboot, and test the items you are use to using, if all is good, you should be ok, now go back to msconfig and startup tab. now check one item at a time rebooting after each one and testing your system. Once your firewall and antivirus start and are working and your system mem is good, do not add anymore startup items. You will also notice a bootup and down increase in speed.

by garygray

thought I would add more info about problem
At start up, using System Properties my System Resource is 86% free and using the Resource Meter my System resource is 77% free, User resource is 77% free and GDI resource is 91% free.
Now if I oepn up MS Internet Explorer and go to a web site and open up a few of its pages I get the following message:
There is not enough free memory to run this program. Quite one or more programs, and then try again.

by garygray

thought I would add more info about problem
At start up, using System Properties my System Resource is 86% free and using the Resource Meter my System resource is 77% free, User resource is 77% free and GDI resource is 91% free.
Now if I oepn up MS Internet Explorer and go to a web site and open up a few of its pages I get the following message:
There is not enough free memory to run this program. Quite one or more programs, and then try again.
I then checked the Resource Meter and got thisresult:System Resource 62%free, User Resource 62%free and GDI 83%free.
I shut down running applications bbut I still get the above message. I must reboot my computer to get my memory back

by ken wolf

something else to consider. The size of your swap file. Are you letting Windows manage your swap file or do you have a maximum size it can reach? A rule of thumb for setting the swap file size for Windows NT is the size of the swap file is about 10% larger than the total amount of physical memory. So for 128 meg RAM you would set the swap file size to 132 meg minum with no maximum size.

by garygray

my problem stems from the update of my McAfee firewall 2.1x. I found this out by running my sytem without the firewall being activated. For some strange reason the update of the firewall is conflicting with the smooth runing of my system. I email McAfee to see if I am able to remove this update without having to remove the firewall completely.

by still_learning

You may want to check your temp and temporary internet files directories and empty the recycle bin. It may be time to clean them out. You may want to run scandisk and defrag to clean up your harddisk drive

by garygray

Problem definately stems from the update of my Firewall, when firewall is shut off, no problems, turn firewall back on, problems.

by housedoc1800s

open internet Explorer,Tools tab/internet options. delete temporary internet Files & cookies click the settings tab and check to see if you need to increase the amount of disk space to use for temporary internet files also open windows explorer and delete the files in the windows temp folders do not delete the folders themselves.

by garygray

up my RAM to 256 and increase Hardrive to 30 Gig, problem still occured. Problem stems definately from the online upgrade of the Firewall. Unistalling the firewall make the situation worse for I am unable to get IE or Outlook to hook up after uninstall. Used Mcafee directions on web for uninstall and tried Mcafee uninstall software. Mcafee tells not to use window uninstaller.

This discussion is closed to new replies.