IE6 Takes More Memory as I Click!!!

[Toni]

Everything was fine in November, but I think one of the updates for December 2008 did me
in. I've got IE6 on a Windows 2000 system.

Internet Explorer 6 is gulping memory like crazy and I don't know how to stop it. Every
time I click on a new link, IE 6 takes more and more memory - it doesn't release the
memory used by the previous page(s). If I keep clicking, an IE6 window can take up to
100M of memory!

This is still serviceable Win2K 500Meg SRAM laptop. This laptop is maxed
out yet has been more than adequate to perform it's specialized functions (we can't
upgrade it because it contains necessary yet discontinued authenticated software). The
configuration has been absolutely fine for it's function - until late December!

A typical morning computer session (yes, the same routine I perform
every day) that used to leave me with 180M free memory now leaves me with a mere 30M
free memory (and all the swapfile slowdown that entails). I need to close an IE6 window,
then re-open and go to the last page to recover the memory.

I've scanned the system and it is completely spyware/adware/virus free.

Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated!!!

Toni

 

[Danny Sanders]

Internet Explorer 6 is gulping memory like crazy and I don't know how to

stop it. Every
time I click on a new link, IE 6 takes more and more memory - it doesn't
release the
memory used by the previous page(s). If I keep clicking, an IE6 window can
take up to
100M of memory!

How are you measuring this?


DDS

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Chances are that you're seeing the affects of a hijackware infection.

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.

 

[Toni]

How are you measuring this?

I use CachemanXP.

 

[Toni]

As I wrote, my system is completely spyware/virus free. But I did download MSRT as you
recommended and scanned my entire system. No infections.

I do suspect that it has something to do with Adobe Flash, though. I think IE6 isn't
releasing the memory used by Flash.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Please give me a link to the forum thread where you've posted your
HijackThis log for review by an expert, Toni.

 

[Toni]

Actually, I think I fixed it another way...

It seems that in IE6, deleting temporary internet files from the "Tools > Internet
Options" menu doesn't really delete all the temporary files. I looked in my temporary
internet file directory & subdirs and found about two thousand files, some as old as
2004!

I manually deleted (Shift-Delete) all those temporary files, some of which would not go
without a fight. After a reboot, IE6 doesn't hog my memory anymore, and is noticeably
faster!

Thanks for all the help,

Toni

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

When you delete Temporary Internet Files, do you always check the "Delete
all offline content" option? (I don't think you are.)

OE (your Mail Client) creates a 0-byte file of this type for every message
you open...every time you open it. These can really pile up over time and
affect IE and OE performance, Toni. I'm pretty sure that's what you found &
deleted.

 

[Toni]

Ah - so all those 0-byte files, JPEGS, XML files, etc. were from Outlook Express?

BTW, I only use OE for newsgroups, for email.I use Outlook 2002.

Toni

When you delete Temporary Internet Files, do you always check the "Delete
all offline content" option? (I don't think you are.)

OE (your Mail Client) creates a 0-byte file of this type for every message
you open...every time you open it. These can really pile up over time and
affect IE and OE performance, Toni. I'm pretty sure that's what you found &
deleted.

<...snip!...>

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Yes, and those 0-byte files *really* pile up if you're a heavy newsgroup
user...especially if you frequent binaries newsgroups!