IE7 locks up and pf usage goes wildly up and down

[Sam]

I am using XP SP2 with IE7 and 1 gb RAM
I have Mcafee antivirus and firewall and also use MalwareBytes. My
windows updates are up to date.

Lately when I'm on the internet IE7 will get very slow and the CPU
usage will go between 100%, down to about 65% and up to 100%, back and
forth.

The pf usage will suddenly jump to 700mg for no reason. I can watch it
climb from about 400 mb to 500 then 600 and then higher up to about
1.08 gb and then back down again and then back up again. At this time
IE7 is pretty much locked up, I cannot switch tabs. I usually have 3
or 4 tabs/windows open.

This has happened when I was also running MSN explorer at the same
time with my email open. I thought it was that but it also happens
when I just have IE7 running.

Any thoughts
Thank You

 

[R. McCarty]

McAfee is likely a big part of your issue(s). There are many other
choices ( Higher Detection rates, better system performance ).
In my opinion you'll never get the value out of McAfee for what
you paid for it.
While not publicly available yet, Microsoft Security Essentials is
a good "Free" alternative. If you're willing to pay for a replacement
look into Eset's NOD32 (Version 4.0 ) Anti-virus.
Many users like AVG Free and Avast both of which offer a free
version.

 

[Sam]

McAfee is likely a big part of your issue(s).  There are many other
choices ( Higher Detection rates, better system performance ).
In my opinion you'll never get the value out of McAfee for what
you paid for it.
 While not publicly available yet, Microsoft Security Essentials is
a good "Free" alternative. If you're willing to pay for a replacement
look into Eset's NOD32 (Version 4.0 ) Anti-virus.
 Many users like AVG Free and Avast both of which offer a free
version.

I only use Mcafee because its free with my Qwest DSL. Otherwise I
would probably use Avast. I have suspected Mcafee before.

I also thought it could be the MSN explorer that I sometimes have
running at the same time as I do IE7 so I can check my email only
through the MSN butterfly. I know that thing takes up a ton of memory.
Recently I have tried this with just IE7 and the same problem exists.

 

[R. McCarty]

You do have the option of upgrading to IE-8. It's a removable update
so if it doesn't resolve your issue you can roll back to 7.

 

[Jim]

I only use Mcafee because its free with my Qwest DSL. Otherwise I
would probably use Avast. I have suspected Mcafee before.

I also thought it could be the MSN explorer that I sometimes have
running at the same time as I do IE7 so I can check my email only
through the MSN butterfly. I know that thing takes up a ton of memory.
Recently I have tried this with just IE7 and the same problem exists.

For info : Avast is free .

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I only use Mcafee because its free with my Qwest DSL. Otherwise I
would probably use Avast. I have suspected Mcafee before.

Avast is not only better than McAfee, it is free. So changing to Avast
will cost you nothing.

 

[Sam]

Avast is not only better than McAfee, it is free. So changing to Avast
will cost you nothing.

Ken, you also think that Mcafee could be what is causing this
problem I described.

I wouldnt mind going to Avast, anything to speed up the computer and
take this drag off of it. What firewall would you recommend.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

McAfee Security Center (free or paid) is one of the *worst* security
applications on the face of the earth (but it's probably too late to replace
it now.)

Has another McAfee application or a Norton application ever been installed
on this machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
bought it)?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken, you also think that Mcafee could be what is causing this
problem I described.

I don't recall your problem exactly, and you didn't quote anything of
it, but from what I remember, no I don't think it's causing the
problem.

I wouldnt mind going to Avast, anything to speed up the computer and
take this drag off of it.

It can't hurt, and may make things better.

What firewall would you recommend.

The built-in Windows firewall. There's no reason to use a third-party
firewall.

I used to recommend third-party firewalls over the Windows one
because they were two-way, and the Windows firewall only monitored
incoming traffic.

I've become convinced, however, that outbound protection is
meaningless. Once one of the nasties gets into your computer, it can
essentially do whatever it wants, including circumventing the
firewall. So the extra protection provided by a firewall that monitors
outbound traffic is more apparent than real.

 

[Sam]

McAfee Security Center (free or paid) is one of the *worst* security
applications on the face of the earth (but it's probably too late to replace
it now.)

Has another McAfee application or a Norton application ever been installed
on this machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
bought it)?

A free trial of Nortons came on the HP Pavillion 3 years ago and I
took it off using the special Nortons removal software back then.

Something I notice with IE7 and I've read others with the same
question and I have never seen an answer. Why doesnt IE7 release
memory when tabs/windows are closed. I have 6 tabs/windows open and my
IE7 usage has gone up to 270 mb. Closing them all down one by one, I
can watch me gain only 5 mb per tab/window when its closed.

I dont understand that either.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

A free trial of Nortons came on the HP Pavillion 3 years ago and I
took it off using the special Nortons removal software back then.

Excellent. Now, what about any other McAfee applications?

Something I notice with IE7 and I've read others with the same
question and I have never seen an answer. Why doesnt IE7 release
memory when tabs/windows are closed. I have 6 tabs/windows open and my
IE7 usage has gone up to 270 mb. Closing them all down one by one, I
can watch me gain only 5 mb per tab/window when its closed.

I dont understand that either.

1. Does the behavior persist if you start IE in No Add-ons mode? To start
IE in No Add-ons mode:

=> Right-click on the blue IE desktop icon and select Start without
Add-ons; or

=> Start | (All) Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Internet
Explorer (No add-ons).

Troubleshooting and Internet Explorer's (No Add-ons) Mode:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/07/25/678113.aspx

2. Does the behavior persist if you Reset IE Advanced settings (RIES)?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923737 <= Read before using!

3. Does the behavior persist if you boot into Safe Mode with Networking?
[Careful! Only remain in Safe Mode just long enough to test!]

4. Did you disable all real-time protections prior to installing IE7 and
WinXP SP3?

Entire thread history:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_frm/thread/ca3a3f7f2b36414f

 

[Daave]

I am using XP SP2 with IE7 and 1 gb RAM
I have Mcafee antivirus and firewall and also use MalwareBytes. My
windows updates are up to date.

Lately when I'm on the internet IE7 will get very slow and the CPU
usage will go between 100%, down to about 65% and up to 100%, back and
forth.

The pf usage will suddenly jump to 700mg for no reason. I can watch it
climb from about 400 mb to 500 then 600 and then higher up to about
1.08 gb and then back down again and then back up again. At this time
IE7 is pretty much locked up, I cannot switch tabs. I usually have 3
or 4 tabs/windows open.

This has happened when I was also running MSN explorer at the same
time with my email open. I thought it was that but it also happens
when I just have IE7 running.

What happens when you run IE in No Add-ons mode?