First web page REALLY slow to load after IE6 upgrade

[Alan Silver]

Hello,

I have an NT Server machine that was running IE5 without problem. The
other day I upgraded to IE6SP1, and since then whenever I open IE, it
takes an age to load my home page (which is on a local IIS web server).
After that things go fine, but this long delay when loading the first
page really bugs me.

Anyone any idea why this might have happened ? TIA

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

After that things go fine


What happens if you change your Home page to About:Blank

 

[Alan Silver]

What happens if you change your Home page to About:Blank

IE starts up as expected, but when you try and look at a local web site,
the first page takes an age to load (as before).

<pause>...</pause>

I have just realised that the problem only occurs when you call the main
page of the default local web site. If you start up IE with another page
on the site, it starts as expected. If you then call the main page, it
takes an age. I have removed all scripting from this page, so there is
nothing left but a bunch of links and it still takes ages.

Any ideas ? TIA

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

IE starts up as expected, but when you try and look at a local web site, the first page takes an age to load (as before).

<pause>...</pause>

I have just realised that the problem only occurs when you call the main page of the default local web site. If you start up IE
with another page on the site, it starts as expected. If you then call the main page, it takes an age. I have removed all
scripting from this page, so there is nothing left but a bunch of links and it still takes ages.

Any ideas ? TIA

Is there any authentication involved for that page?
Cookies which might be corrupt?

Sounds more like a server problem otherwise.
Are there any diagnostics you can invoke on the server?
Take a packet trace on either side to see where the delay is occurring?

Try reposting in a newsgroup which specializes in your server.


Good luck

Robert
---

 

[Alan Silver]

After that things go fine

Is there any authentication involved for that page?
Cookies which might be corrupt?

Nope, just a really simple HTML page.

Sounds more like a server problem otherwise.

Not quite, it's definitely related to IE. I have a fair few browsers
loaded on this machine and all load the page quickly except for IE6. If
I call the page from IE6 on another machine it also loads quickly. The
only problem is with IE6 on the same machine.

Are there any diagnostics you can invoke on the server?
Take a packet trace on either side to see where the delay is occurring?

Wouldn't know how to do that !! Any clues ?

Try reposting in a newsgroup which specializes in your server.

I posted in an IIS newsgroup, but haven't had any joy there either ;-)

 

[C. A. Upsdell]

Not quite, it's definitely related to IE. I have a fair few browsers
loaded on this machine and all load the page quickly except for IE6. If
I call the page from IE6 on another machine it also loads quickly. The
only problem is with IE6 on the same machine.

I had the same problem with IE6 on Win98. It would happen only with certain
pages, and once I had accessed any one of these pages (with the consequent
delay), there would be no delays on any of the other pages. If I closed IE,
then re-opened it, the problem would return. Never did find the cause, but
I suspect that it was due to low resources: I had only 64M of RAM, and a
nearly-full slow HD.

 

[Alan Silver]

I have just realised that the problem only occurs when you call the

I had the same problem with IE6 on Win98. It would happen only with certain
pages, and once I had accessed any one of these pages (with the consequent
delay), there would be no delays on any of the other pages. If I closed IE,
then re-opened it, the problem would return.

That sounds uncannily like the problem I'm seeing.

Never did find the cause, but
I suspect that it was due to low resources: I had only 64M of RAM, and a
nearly-full slow HD.

Well, memory is not a problem as I have 320Mb, so I should be OK. My
hard disk isn't too slow, certainly not to cause such a problem (which,
by the way, only appeared after installing Windows updates, it was fine
before that !!). The partitions aren't too full either.

Thanx for the info. If you have any other ideas as to what might have
caused it, please post back.

 

[C. A. Upsdell]

That sounds uncannily like the problem I'm seeing.


Well, memory is not a problem as I have 320Mb, so I should be OK. My
hard disk isn't too slow, certainly not to cause such a problem (which,
by the way, only appeared after installing Windows updates, it was fine
before that !!). The partitions aren't too full either.

Thanx for the info. If you have any other ideas as to what might have
caused it, please post back.

No more ideas, but one additional observation: I found that installing a
security update would sometimes clear the problem, or move it to other pages
.... but installing a later update would undo this, and the problem would be
back as it was before.

The problem only disappeared for good when I switched to a new PC with
WinXP.

 

[Alan Silver]

The problem only disappeared for good when I switched to a new PC with
WinXP.

I am contemplating upgrading this machine to Windows 2003 Server, but
the thought of having to reinstall all of the software and retest all of
the work in production puts me off !! I'll probably get around to it at
some point, but not just yet.

Thanx anyway.