Win98 System Resources - VERY LOW!

I have an AMD 1600XP+CPU, 512 MB DDR RAM. I recently bought a 120Gb hard drive and since then my system resources are rarely above 25% when i have Outlook, Winamp and am surfiung the net. Everything was fine when i had 30gb adn 40gb HDD but i swapped the 30gb for the new 120gb.
Clean install of Win98 after formatting new drive and partitioned it into 3. C Drive is just over 34gb and I'm using 1.8gb of that.

It's sometimes a struggle to even check email before Outlook hits a runtime error and shuts down. Winamp regularly crashes and i often have to reboot several times a night
Right now i have Zonealarmpro, ICQ, surfing and thats it...and my resources are down to just over 40% free.

Is it the size of my hard drive that is the prob or is there a setting i need to make to windows because of the size of that drive

Any Info would be GREATLY appreciated
David

 

It shouldn't be the size of the hard drive that will give you problems. It is how many programs you have running in the background giving you fits. You may have 512 mb of ram installed, but there are two small 64 kb segments of memory that are being used up. The only way to free up this resource is to reboot, or prevent too many apps from starting up.
This page will clear things up.
Maybe some spyware/adware? SpyBot

 

Hi darich
Welcome to the boards! Markp62, already has you well on your way. But I'd ask if you do know for sure that those are the only apps you are running? After a fresh boot.... do a ctrl/alt/del and list for us what you have in the close programs dialogue box please?
After that.....go to start.....then run....and type in msconfig Click Ok..........then look under the start up tab. What all do you have a checkmark beside?

Daizy

 

thanks for the advice...I've already done a CTRL+ALT+DEL and the progs running were my firewall, soundcard, rundl, systray, explorer, office shortcut bar adn right nowv this window. Thats it. I've also already tried the msconfig and unchecked as many progs as possible - even to the point where I'm running withut anti virus right now. risky i know but im running the bare minimum. The progs I've just listed are the same as I had before the change of hard drive. Right now with those progs running I'm at 58%.

 

Have you tried running the PC with the AVirus but without Zonealarm - I suspect ZA is either hogging or leaking
memory - what version is it ?
regards

 

You've stated that you have Rundll(32?) running in the background. Have you checked to see what dll file it is running as an application? That is what this file does is 'Run a DLL as an App'.

 

Haven't heard from you in a while darich. Any progress?

Daizy

 

This is overkill I know , some information may not be relevant , but
for those that are reading this question & learning rather than
answering , they may get something out of these extra sites .


http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/resources1.html
Windows Resources vs. Memory

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http://windows.about.com/compute/windows/library/weekly/aa081100a.htm

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http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2000/2000-06-08.htm
More Resource Leak-Tweaks .

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http://www.aumha.org/a/resource.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/memmgmtz.htm

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http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html
http://www.pcforrest.freeserve.co.uk/streamlining_startups.htm
http://ww2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Uncheck.htm
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.3dspotlight.com/tweaks/startup/start4.shtml
http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Running_items.htm

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http://www.forrestandassociates.co.uk/pcforrest/resources.html
System Resources .
GDI and User Resources explained .

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Free up Conventional Memory .
http://www.geocities.com/thegorx/Windows/Help/Cmem.htm

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http://content.techweb.com/winmag/columns/explorer/2000/11.htm
http://content.techweb.com/winmag/columns/explorer/2000/12.htm
http://content.techweb.com/winmag/columns/explorer/2000/13.htm
http://content.techweb.com/winmag/columns/explorer/2000/14.htm