computer hangs when I open OE

[gearhead]

First of all, let me know if I am in the wrong newsgroup or if there
is a better newsgroup to ask this question.

I bought this Toshiba laptop back when XP was still new. It's kinda
slow and I have to reboot it sometimes, but I've been able to keep it
running all this time. I keep up to date with my spyware and
antivirus software (Spy Sweeper and grisoft antivirus, free
versions).
Lately it has started hanging more often, and now I can't use Outlook
Express; every time I open it, the computer hangs.
A message saying low virtual memory popped up recently. Not sure what
to do about that except delete the temporary files, so I did that then
looked at System Info and it says I have 2 G of virtual memory, with
1.96 available. The virtual memory paging file is at 360 MB, I left
that unchanged.
But still no joy. It still hangs whenever I open OE (I use it to read
newsgroups). I suspect this is not related to the virtual memory.
Perhaps I need to clean up the registry?
I am running the XP defrag utility right now. Looks like it will take
a long while...
Anyway, further suggestions how to troubleshoot the glitch
appreciated. Just want to get this old computer back to running
somewhat reliably.

 

[gearhead]

First of all, let me know if I am in the wrong newsgroup or if there
is a better newsgroup to ask this question.

I bought this Toshiba laptop back when XP was still new.  It's kinda
slow and I have to reboot it sometimes, but I've been able to keep it
running all this time.  I keep up to date with my spyware and
antivirus software (Spy Sweeper and grisoft antivirus, free
versions).
Lately it has started hanging more often, and now I can't use Outlook
Express; every time I open it, the computer hangs.
A message saying low virtual memory popped up recently.  Not sure what
to do about that except delete the temporary files, so I did that then
looked at System Info and it says I have 2 G of virtual memory, with
1.96 available.  The virtual memory paging file is at 360 MB, I left
that unchanged.
But still no joy.  It still hangs whenever I open OE (I use it to read
newsgroups).  I suspect this is not related to the virtual memory.
Perhaps I need to clean up the registry?
I am running the XP defrag utility right now.  Looks like it will take
a long while...
Anyway, further suggestions how to troubleshoot the glitch
appreciated.  Just want to get this old computer back to running
somewhat reliably.

Ok, it's not so bad. I think a newsserver I started using might have
something to do with it.
I decided to try the nntp server maintained by a cad company for
public discussion of its products, and got it to work with OE.
So I have to find a decent newsserver.