Way OT, but worth reading if you're tech-inclined and are frustrated with Windows slowing down or acting erratically from time-to-time...
I remember TLindt posting about having to reboot Windows after a couple of days of leaving his computer on. I was having a similar problem, now that I leave my laptop on and connected to an internet cable modem all the time.
After only one day, the cursor would start to "stick" or jump around the page because something or other was going on with the processor -- really was very, very frustrating, especially if I was only doing something as basic as typing a Word document. I spent ALOT of time with Norton Utilities, etc., trying to figure out what was screwing with the machine's memory. Uninstalling programs, turning off startup items, defragging the hard drive -- none of it worked.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I was referred to a GREAT shareware utility called FreeMem Pro which completely fixes the problems Windows 95 and 98 has in managing memory. You can download it from meikel.com . The basic version is free. The Professional version (which I would recommend) is free to evaluate for 30 days, then I think it's around $20 bucks.
Don't take my word for it (and I hope you trust that I'm not a "shill" for promoting random software) - I strongly suggest reading the posted reviews of the product, as well as the site's FAQ's, which discuss how the program works and the crappy way that Windows "manages" memory.
Anyway, there was a MAJOR improvement in overall speed and swap file utilization after running FreeMem Pro at its default settings. Saved me alot of money and aggravation, as I was getting close to buying more memory for my Thinkpad (which ain't cheap, especially when considering that I've already got 128 meg in this thing!).
Anyway, hopefully someone out there (Tom?) finds this useful.
In other "way OT" news, the high speed wireless networking gizmo I wrote about a few weeks back is completely amazing, as I sit here on the living room couch, completely untethered from the cable modem in the other room.
Also bought a very cool, paperback size ethernet hub that's got an integrated print server, so I can print wirelessly too...Yup, finally finished my 1999 taxes, with only a day to go on my second extension <ugh>...pretty cool to finish up, hit "print" and have it crank out of the printer without wires...
If anyone's interested in this stuff, drop me a line and I'll send you the particulars.
rk |
