Somewhat OT - XP problem

[JustMee]

I posted this post a number of days ago to all the appropriate
Microgarbage Xtra Putrid groups, without any real resolution to the
problem.. I am really beginning to hate XP based on problems like
this... I am posting it here in the hopes that someone has had
experience with it......

JM

********************************

Hello again people...

I have previously noted, My install of XP home retail is only about
10 days old, and has always been protected by AV, Spybot, Adaware,
Firewall and all the available MS critical update "hotfix" patches.

Scans by Spybot S&D, Adaware, and My AV all show no signs of
infection.

Since day one, I have always noted a rather annoying behavour/problem
in XP, which today is rapidly becoming a major headache..

I do a great deal of data manipulation, moving files between folders,
etc.. This causes me to open a great many folders in the process..

It seems that if I open over a certain number of folders, (let's say
10 folders for now.. I am not sure of the precise number), I seem to
hit some sort of a "glass ceiling", and I cannot open more folders...
Further, even if I close open folders, I cannot open any other
folders, nor can I open the task manager (I just get a sound played),
and a great many basic operations become unavailable (dissappear, or
do not function) in the open folder menus...

The open items/folders do not seem to freeze at all during this
problem, but I can highlight other unopen items/folders/applications,
but cannot open/launch/run them (So it does not look like a video
freeze, or screen repaint failure problem).

This problem only seems to clear by rebooting the computer... I have
been trying to organize files this morning, and so this problem keeps
happening.. It is getting more than annoying now..

I have plenty of HD space (100's of Gigabytes free) and Dynamic RAM
(1Gigabyte).

For example, at the moment, the task manager shows 32 processes, cpu
usage between 0-4%, and physical memory usage at 143 MB.. This is
with 1 folder open, 1 IE window open, and my newreader open (forte
agent).

I have the latest, MS labs "approved" drivers for my video card and
sound card installed.

I cannot understand why this problem is happening, nor what to do to
fix it.

I hope I explained this clearly.

JM

[Elector]

"JustMee" <me@nowhere.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:5uspb05136noohs8q8ls2sjb3449sedn9t@4ax.com... I posted this post a number of days ago to all the appropriate Microgarbage Xtra Putrid groups, without any real resolution to the problem.. I am really beginning to hate XP based on problems like this... I am posting it here in the hopes that someone has had experience with it...... JM ******************************** Hello again people... I have previously noted, My install of XP home retail is only about 10 days old, and has always been protected by AV, Spybot, Adaware, Firewall and all the available MS critical update "hotfix" patches. Scans by Spybot S&D, Adaware, and My AV all show no signs of infection. Since day one, I have always noted a rather annoying behavour/problem in XP, which today is rapidly becoming a major headache.. I do a great deal of data manipulation, moving files between folders, etc.. This causes me to open a great many folders in the process.. It seems that if I open over a certain number of folders, (let's say 10 folders for now.. I am not sure of the precise number), I seem to hit some sort of a "glass ceiling", and I cannot open more folders... Further, even if I close open folders, I cannot open any other folders, nor can I open the task manager (I just get a sound played), and a great many basic operations become unavailable (dissappear, or do not function) in the open folder menus... The open items/folders do not seem to freeze at all during this problem, but I can highlight other unopen items/folders/applications, but cannot open/launch/run them (So it does not look like a video freeze, or screen repaint failure problem). This problem only seems to clear by rebooting the computer... I have been trying to organize files this morning, and so this problem keeps happening.. It is getting more than annoying now.. I have plenty of HD space (100's of Gigabytes free) and Dynamic RAM (1Gigabyte). For example, at the moment, the task manager shows 32 processes, cpu usage between 0-4%, and physical memory usage at 143 MB.. This is with 1 folder open, 1 IE window open, and my newreader open (forte agent). I have the latest, MS labs "approved" drivers for my video card and sound card installed. I cannot understand why this problem is happening, nor what to do to fix it. I hope I explained this clearly. JM

JustMee: The below may not be what your looking for since it is for Windows
2000/NT which XP is based on. I looked at the document. However it is my
understanding that the number of open folder and files is set in the
registry according to my MIS department head. We have a few XP Manuals and I
will look at them when I have some time today.
http://www.mol.box5.net/click/Win2000files%20and%20folders2.pdf

Elector

[JustMee]

Sorry, I do not see what a primer on how to work with files and
folders has to do with the stated problem..... I know how to work
with files and folders.

JM
On Wed, 02 Jun 2004 13:00:27 GMT, "Elector" <elector@my-deja.com>
wrote:

JustMee: The below may not be what your looking for since it is for Windows2000/NT which XP is based on. I looked at the document. However it is myunderstanding that the number of open folder and files is set in theregistry according to my MIS department head. We have a few XP Manuals and Iwill look at them when I have some time today.http://www.mol.box5.net/click/Win2000files%20and%20folders2.pdfElector

[Elector]

"JustMee" <me@nowhere.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:tb2sb0t9635oa24nor3goq2rje5okqkqup@4ax.com... Sorry, I do not see what a primer on how to work with files and folders has to do with the stated problem..... I know how to work with files and folders. JM


It was the reference to the number of files and folders etc. that can open
at one time. I believe it stated 30 as the max. When you said you were
opening windows on your computer that is like opening a "files & folders"
and it is under the registry that the number of open windows can be used.

Again I am trying to find time at work to look in the manual. We use XP Pro
here and not home.

Elector

[Elector]

"Elector" <elector@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:r7ovc.14810$bD4.9907@nwrdny02.gnilink.net... "JustMee" <me@nowhere.com.invalid> wrote in message news:tb2sb0t9635oa24nor3goq2rje5okqkqup@4ax.com... Sorry, I do not see what a primer on how to work with files and folders has to do with the stated problem..... I know how to work with files and folders. JM It was the reference to the number of files and folders etc. that
can open at one time. I believe it stated 30 as the max. When you said you
were opening windows on your computer that is like opening a "files &
folders" and it is under the registry that the number of open windows can be
used. Again I am trying to find time at work to look in the manual. We use
XP Pro here and not home. Elector

JustMee:
While looking at Microsoft's Knowledgebase I found this little tid
bit. I am strongly sure that the number of open windows
(programs-files-folders) is set as a Dword value in this registry.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;292504&Product=winxp

or here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;259184

The second article has more to do with memory settings which regulate
the number of open programs that can be run at one time. If your
system is stopping at a certain level you may have to up your virtual
memory settings.

By the way the Windows XP Manual which costs loads of money was
totally useless. Oh well

Elector

[JustMee]

Why am I not particularly surprised that the XP manual is worthless?

Unfortunately this is happening with way less than 30 files and/or
folders open...

The amount of virtual memory is set by windows, AFAIK... I have not
altered it..

(Looking............)

According to the system, the virtual memory is presently set to be
1536 to 3072 MB.. I am not sure where the system got the numbers.. It
says that it is custom set (but I did not set it, and no one else uses
this computer)... I thought it was set to be handled by the system?

JM




On Wed, 02 Jun 2004 21:32:37 GMT, "Elector" <elector@my-deja.com>
wrote:
"Elector" <elector@my-deja.com> wrote in messagenews:r7ovc.14810$bD4.9907@nwrdny02.gnilink.net...
It was the reference to the number of files and folders etc. thatcan open at one time. I believe it stated 30 as the max. When you said youwere opening windows on your computer that is like opening a "files &folders" and it is under the registry that the number of open windows can beused. Again I am trying to find time at work to look in the manual. We useXP Pro here and not home. ElectorJustMee:While looking at Microsoft's Knowledgebase I found this little tidbit. I am strongly sure that the number of open windows(programs-files-folders) is set as a Dword value in this registry.http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;292504&Product=winxpor here:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;259184The second article has more to do with memory settings which regulatethe number of open programs that can be run at one time. If yoursystem is stopping at a certain level you may have to up your virtualmemory settings.By the way the Windows XP Manual which costs loads of money wastotally useless. Oh wellElector

[Elector]

"JustMee" <me@nowhere.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:afisb051emd5s3j0hpurc6g6gg863u1dkc@4ax.com... Why am I not particularly surprised that the XP manual is worthless? Unfortunately this is happening with way less than 30 files and/or folders open... The amount of virtual memory is set by windows, AFAIK... I have not altered it.. (Looking............) According to the system, the virtual memory is presently set to be 1536 to 3072 MB.. I am not sure where the system got the numbers..
It says that it is custom set (but I did not set it, and no one else
uses this computer)... I thought it was set to be handled by the system? JM


Ha ha I also find their web site in the same disorder!
Try setting the Virtual memory higher and see if that helps your
problem.
My setting is 576MB with Windows handling the memory allocation. I am
testing this to see how many windows I can actually open. let's see I
have 33 files open and I cannot even see them all and my system
resource meter is showing 68% free resources.
Also the response time is sluggish, now lets see where that close all
button is located in the taskbar Ha ha

Elector

[JustMee]

I have set it back to let the system manage it, and I will see what
happens.. I have not yet been able to stress this system enough to
get it to become sluggish, but then, it has a lot of RAM (imo)..

JM

On Thu, 03 Jun 2004 10:28:32 GMT, "Elector" <elector@my-deja.com>
wrote:
Ha ha I also find their web site in the same disorder!Try setting the Virtual memory higher and see if that helps yourproblem.My setting is 576MB with Windows handling the memory allocation. I amtesting this to see how many windows I can actually open. let's see Ihave 33 files open and I cannot even see them all and my systemresource meter is showing 68% free resources.Also the response time is sluggish, now lets see where that close allbutton is located in the taskbar Ha haElector