Internet Lag/Delay

I have searched thru the forum for my OS, in Internet, and the FAQ. I have not found anything exactly similar to my issue.

I have WinXPProSP2. Version 5.1.2600.3093, Dell Inspiron 6000, 60G HD, 512M RAM, Intel Pentium M 1.6GHz, 1800 MHz max CPU. Fully updated as of 04/12/07.

The issue, as follows, has occurred for a while; sorry, I cannot quantify the exact timeframe. While it may coincide with software installation, I did not pay enough attention to it at the time, to relate to a specific application.

In general, webpages (especially form fields or text boxes) are slow to respond. There is a general lag or delay. This is also true for scrolling, links, etc. Selected items won't highlight or show tooltip for a second or two; sometimes more. In general, if I click a link, type, etc, once it kicks in, it will follow the action I've already taken. Sometimes, however, text gets messed up; characters missed, or misplaced (such as from cursor position not updating). This is true for either Firefox 2.0.0.3 (default) or IE7, and has been AFAIK, since this began. If on webmail or forums with animated emoticons, they cease to move during the lag.

I have another system, virtually identical as far as software (not hardware), which does not experience this scenario. My first thought was some sort of malware. I run Comodo Antivirus Beta 2.0.12.47 real-time, not only for traditional AV protection, but for the application-based HIPS protection it offers; still possible I allowed something to run that I shouldn't have.

I have done the following online scans:
Housecall, BitDefender, Kaspersky, A-Squared - all clean

I have run the following on-demand scans (fully updated prior to scanning):
Super Antispyware, A2 Free, Spyware Terminator, Spybot S&D, BitDefender Free, CAVS. CAVS, SAS, and A2 were also run in Safe Mode. All were clean.

I have run the following rootkit scanners:
IceSword, Rootkit Revealer, GMER, AVG Beta - all clean. IS & GMER showed my firewall, CAVS, and Spyware Terminator as the only items triggering their scans (SAS was not installed at that point, and has been uninstalled since; Spybot was not installed at that point, either).

I'm not convinced it's not a malware issue (simply because nothing's 100%), but there is a definite lack of evidence, if that's the cause. Given that lack, I'm posting based on a possible internet connectivity issue, as it only happens in browsing; not in any other application or scenario. BTW, I'm on DSL, and the computers are in separate locations.

I disabled and re-enabled every add-on I have for both browsers one at a time, with no change. I have checked for CPU usage (Process Explorer) and connections (firewall, CurrPorts) during the lags, with no results. I have checked Event Viewer for any notices that might relate, with no results.

There's probably more, but I can't think of it at this point, and the post is quite long enough (for which I apologize; I wanted to be thorough).

Any help is appreciated.

LM

 

Arie,

Thanks for the prompt response. I have the most recent video graphics driver offered by Dell for this computer:

Video: Intel Graphics Video, Driver, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Multi Language, Multi System, v.6.14.10.4609, A08, dated 07/13/2006. I do not find any other reference to a graphics card/driver on Dell's site, or in System Information.

If you are referring to something else, please let me know.

Tnx,

LM

PS: I already had that version, but re-downloaded and installed, just in case; it made no difference.

Edit: Dell does have an ATI Mobility/Radeon X300 driver as well, but System Info only references the Intel, and says everything's working properly. I don't think I have the ATI hardware...

 

Tony,

I don't use my browsers (either one) to store login or password info, nor do I use autocomplete (at least I don't think I have that turned on; I'll have to double-check). However, I will search for and run the script regardless. Perhaps it's somehow connected anyway.

Tnx,

LM

 

Tony,

I found your script here: http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?p=311488&highlight=script#post311488
If that's not the right one, please let me know.

When I ran it, this was the result:

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Desktop\taskkill /f im explorer.exe
SUCCESS: The process "explorer.exe" with PID 220 has been terminated.

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Desktop\>RD /S/q "C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\
Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files "
C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat -
The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Desktop\>RD /S/q "C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\
Cookies "
C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Cookies\index.dat - The process cannot access the file because
it is being used by another process.

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Desktop\>RD /S/q "C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\
Local Settings\History "
C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat - The process
cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Desktop\>RD /S/q "C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\
Recent "

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Desktop\>RD /S/q "C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\
Local Settings\Temp\ "
C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Local Settings\Temp\~DF3202.tmp - The process cannot access
the file because it is being used by another process.

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Desktop\>MD "C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\
Local Settings\Temp\ "
A subdirectory or file C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Local Settings\Temp\ already exists.

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Desktop>pause
Press any key to continue..._

I ran Unlocker on some of them (chiefly, the .tmp file) but it said there was nothing to unlock. It couldn't rename the file, either, as it was in use. I selected rename on reboot, but it did not change to the name I selected. I did not try to delete it with Unlocker.

LM

 

Tony,

I ran it several times (six), as suggested. No change in results.

I ran it in Safe Mode, where it indicated that History.IE5/index.dat was in use. So I ran it again. Then it added Cookies/index.dat to the in-use scenario. Then I ran it again, and it added Content.IE5/index.dat to the "list."

Using Unlocker, I set all three to delete on reboot. Of course, they didn't.

Here's an odd thing. I just experienced the same thing start up on my home machine. It started immediately following a weird memory error from the application monitor of my firewall (Comodo Firewall Pro, v 2.4.18.184), which resulted in my rebooting the computer to return to normalcy. Prior to that, everything was fine.

I did have the same experience on my work computer some time back, but did not relate it to the internet delay issue. Now it seems perhaps it's related.

Comodo Support has recommended a reinstall of the FW, which I will now do. I'll let you know (and them, of course, too!) if this resolves the issue.

LM

 

Okay, I have reinstalled the FW, to no avail. The problem is as it was before. So sad... :'(

Who knows, maybe it's not related...

Any thoughts?

LM

PS: More info about the memory error is here: http://forums.comodo.com/index.php/topic,7548.msg55024.html#msg55024

 

Resolution, at least from my standpoint...

The problem was caused by a Profile corruption occurring in Firefox. Deleting and rebuilding the Profile from scratch has completely resolved the problem. Not sure what caused it - but it occurred on both computers in question, while posting in the same forum.

I don't know if the corruption occurred because of a firewall error, or vice versa. I have informed the firewall's Support of my fix, so that will give them more info and hopefully they can figure out the true cause.

At any rate, I'm now good to do.

Tnx guys for the suggestions and help.

LM