Hard Drive Spins, Jagged IM Message Window Movement

[Bruce]

Hi,

I've got an XPHome machine, 2.0 MHz, 528MB RAM, and 60 GB hard drive. I
keep the drive clean (defragged, etc.), continuously run a virus scanner,
and I use AdAware to clean spyware. The XP supplied firewall is always on.

Here's my 'problem'.

I have been running the current version of AOL Instant Messenger for many
months. Just last night, the IM message window began to move jaggedly as I
dragged it across the screen. It's as if it get stuck and and then jumps
into place. I can see it trail as I move it. In addition, when I drag it
around, the hard drive spins. I can hear the drive, and the drive light
goes on whenever I move the message window. (The buddy list moves smoothly
when I drag it across the screen and the hard drive doesn't spin.)

This never happened before, nor does it occur on my other machines. All
other windows, i.e IE, OE, etc., move smoothly, too. This happens only
with my IM message window.

I suppose that most window movements occur in ram, but why does the IM
message window now seem to be accessing the hard drive when it is moved?

I uninstalled and reinstalled IM, scanned for viruses, and deleted any
spyware, but this didn't help.

I've also noticed that my drive does seem to be spinning more than usual
upon restart.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Bruce

 

[Bishoop]

Hi,

I've got an XPHome machine, 2.0 MHz, 528MB RAM, and 60 GB hard drive. I
keep the drive clean (defragged, etc.), continuously run a virus scanner,
and I use AdAware to clean spyware. The XP supplied firewall is always on.

Here's my 'problem'.

I have been running the current version of AOL Instant Messenger for many
months. Just last night, the IM message window began to move jaggedly as I
dragged it across the screen. It's as if it get stuck and and then jumps
into place. I can see it trail as I move it. In addition, when I drag it
around, the hard drive spins. I can hear the drive, and the drive light
goes on whenever I move the message window. (The buddy list moves smoothly
when I drag it across the screen and the hard drive doesn't spin.)

This never happened before, nor does it occur on my other machines. All
other windows, i.e IE, OE, etc., move smoothly, too. This happens only
with my IM message window.

I suppose that most window movements occur in ram, but why does the IM
message window now seem to be accessing the hard drive when it is moved?

I uninstalled and reinstalled IM, scanned for viruses, and deleted any
spyware, but this didn't help.

I've also noticed that my drive does seem to be spinning more than usual
upon restart.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Bruce

Sounds to me like you have RAM problems. Open the Task Manager and see how
much RAM is installed and available. If you're running out of RAM them the
pagefile comes into play and this is MUCH slower than RAM. This would
conceivably cause the problem you describe.

What does your system consist of?

You might want to get one of the free memory test program like memtester
from the Internet and test your RAM.

Just some thoughts.....

 

[Bruce]

Sounds to me like you have RAM problems. Open the Task Manager and
see how much RAM is installed and available. If you're running out of
RAM them the pagefile comes into play and this is MUCH slower than
RAM. This would conceivably cause the problem you describe.

What does your system consist of?

You might want to get one of the free memory test program like
memtester from the Internet and test your RAM.

Just some thoughts.....

Hi,

The system is an XPHome setup, pre-installed. It's a Dell, purchased in
March, with a P4, 2.0GHz, 528MB ram, 60 GB hard drive (60% free), a cd-rom,
cdrw, Nvidia 64MB card, I can't remember what sound card, integrated NIC.
The processor always shows very low percent usage.

I'll check to be sure the system is reporting all the ram that's installed.

Page file useage? That's a good thought, and would explain the hard drive
access.

Thanks,

Bruce