Something New. Freeze Up when I post a reply

[BCAC]

There must be a certain configuration/interactivity between certain programs that are installed on all the computers that are having this problem. I'm not getting this problem, neither at work (using Windows XP(with latest updates) with lots of memory, IE8 and NOT (never) using Norton Anti-virus) nor at home where I also use Windows XP (not updated), IE8 and a different Anti-virus on my very old steam laptop with only just enough memory. It's got to be something installed on the computers. Maybe it's IE9 that's causing this problem? IE9 was developed for use with a 64bit OS (Windows 7 or Vista) and, as an afterthought, MS then developed a version for XP. Perhaps this afterthought version is not "up to snuff" or still has teething problems? If it was a site problem, then EVERYONE would have the same problem. It's a problem VERY difficult to diagnose. Good luck with that!

[Steve Ashton]

I have been doing some looking around on the forums for forum admin types.

The consensus is that the most common cause of freeze-ups is the bandwidth of your Internet Service Provider.

Ron, you are in Page. You probably do not have the largest and fastest internet access in the world.

As I said earlier, X Marks is a huge forum. Every time your computer needs to re-load or even refresh the page can inconvenience more than a few electrons.

What it being reported by others using the vBulletin software is that low band-width Internet Service Providers will often cause freeze-ups. They simply can't move that many electrons that fast.

Sorry Ron and the others experiencing this. There is not much more I can do. The forum seems to be running correctly. Your machines seem to be running correctly. Your problem may be the company that you use to connect to the forum.

[cessna152towser]

I get the same problem often which is one of the reasons why I do much less internet browsing than I did two or three years ago.
Thanks for the advice Steve.
I had been blaming this problem on a slow internet connection.
I got rid of Norton and replaced it with McAfee on the advice of others, but both are memory hoggers.
I've shut down my Skype programme and will see if that speeds things up a bit.

[Steve Ashton]

Skype is actually a very small program and does not use much memory at all. When Skype may cause a problem is during video chatting. Any video uses lots of bandwith.

It seems that the problem is not with the size of programs or which programs you have loaded. It seems to be how fast your service provider can push electrons down the line to you.


Where I live here in Victoria we have a very high per capita of internet usage. (At one time the highest in Canada) Each evening about 10:00pm my internet slows to a crawl. And I have pretty high speed cable. The problem in Victoria is not the capabilities of the internet service providers server capabilities but the old modems they sell when you connect. These old modems just can't handle the traffic that many of us use these days.

I'm really sorry folks. X Marks is a large forum. I am told by my hosting company that if you discount forums about computers, gaming and cars X Marks is right up there with the largest forums in the world. It is not the total number of members but the amount of data we in the rabble generate.
We seem to talk a lot, have lots of members on line at any one time and post lots of pics. All that data is on-line and available all the time.

We regularly bump our bandwith quota at our hosting servers. But as we are one of our host's first clients they keep updating us and allowing us the luxury of extra bandwidth when we need it.

[Laird_M]

I occasionally have this issue at home, though not on my work pc, which I'm using now so watching this one with interest.

[Riverkilt]

I do live in a small town but I use the fastest service in town - cable which goes to satallite. Often on line during the wee hours - like now - for sure that could be the problem...but it just started to happen...never happened back on dial up before I upgraded.

Don't think its Norton or the cable company because it does not happen on other forums I'm on that use this same format.

Just seems weird that "suddenly" the +reply button doesn't work but the arrow reply button does. Seems weird that the Post Quick Reply button doesn't work but sometimes the Go Advanced button does. Just seems since this is the only forum using this format that I have a problem with that maybe it could be something internal at the X Marks end.

Just trying to be helpful, not criticize. God knows none of us know what we're doing with all the tech mess. I remain amazed that the entire Internet hasn't collapsed into a heap of goo...and still expect it to ere long. Enjoy it while we got it.

[BCAC]

This is strange. Of course these people that are saying that it's a band width problem are much better versed on the subject than I, but I do work in the IT department and it seems strange to me that Ron's problem is a new problem (ie he hasn't always had this problem and he hasn't recently changed his Internet provider). It could well be that the band width has recently become saturated, but it still seems strange that the problem would suddenly appear when everything was OK beforehand. Hmmm?!?

[Deirachel]

I got rid of Norton and replaced it with McAfee on the advice of others, but both are memory hoggers.

I use Avast!. They have a free version that's very good and that has boot scan option. AVG and Avira are also popular choices.

But, Anti-virus is NOT the end of the equation. Everyone needs good anti-malware. Grab MalwareBytes and Spybot S&D. Use Spybot's real time protection and immunize features to fix a lot of problems. For the more advanced users, both of them can check registry for errors.

No, I don't work for any of these companies. I've put them on my parents' (he's a teacher with confidential student info on them), my grandmother's, my daughter's and all of mine. I've never had a malware problem on any of them, when everything is updated properly.

[robthehiker]

*** for Malwarebytes. I also use Glary.

[Riverkilt]

Gotta love it! Coyote is afoot for sure.

Came home from North Rim yesterday evening and all was running well. No freeze up. Post with any button. Could even switch from the X Marks website to another website...an amazing change from having to close this website to go to another.

This morning, same thing. Working great. No clue who changed what but not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth.

So go to post the success on this thread....and you guessed it.....freeze up!!

So, the next clue is that whatever is lurking is intermittent...

Now to see if I can convince the Coyote to let me post this message.