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ORIGINAL: subfever

I haven't been able to get into the other side to retrieve my mail all day from my home PC. All I get is a blank white screen, with an indication on the bottom left side of the screen that the page is done loading... but the loading obviously isn't complete. I've tried reloading multiple times, and have even tried rebooting and starting over several times to no avail. I've even deleted all of my temporary internet files and history.  

It's a bit frustrating.

Are there any fixes without buying a new PC? 

BTW... I have noticed in the recent past that I've had to reload once or twice every now and then, to get the page to fully load... if that means anything. Also, I tried getting onto the other side from my work PC this afternoon (which I really really didn't want to do) and I got on just fine.

I am a late-bloomer online, and am very weak in this department.

Help!

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ORIGINAL: sublocus

First of all, everyone is assuming a virus. There is a high possibility it isn't one.

Does your internet connection work for anything else? Ie, does cnn.com load? Does google.com load?

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If so, then you really do need a more up to date browser. Firefox should still work, but it is a memory hog... so don't use tabs

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ORIGINAL: subjected2006

click on the start button
then to all programs
then to accessories
system tools
and then system information
it will list your available memory

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ORIGINAL: Adelphus

Well, I say try it. What's probably booting you is that scrolling "recent posts" thing, though they have that here too... Hmmm...anyway, I still say an upgrade in browser should do it. If Firefox is too much for your system you can always unistall it. I doubt it will kill your machine, it might make it run slow as hell though.;-p

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ORIGINAL: NeedToUseYou

I bought a few pallets of some PII and PIII's a while back mostly for the higher speed PIII's systems to sell. I have about 20 of these PII's left. Hell, if you want to pay the shipping I can send you a 450 mhz computer. That might get you over the hump in CPU speed. It wouldn't be more than 20.00 shipping. I sorta want to get rid of them at this point as they are just taking up space. Anyway, let me know if you want one. I can send it to any address you want, so you don't have to worry about a stranger getting your address. Can send it to a biker buddy if you have or something. LOL.

Thanks.

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ORIGINAL: Adelphus

So did it work?

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ORIGINAL: Gauge

First of all the suggestions so far have only leaned toward your browser being the problem. I am not saying it is or isn't because I do not have your machine in front of me. I doubt that it is a virus also because you do not have 'classic' symptoms.

A few suggestions before you go and get all crazed and want to fix your computer with a sledge hammer.

There are several free programs that work quite well to keep your computer up, running and safe. They are fairly easy to use for the novice computer user. I will give you the names of the programs but I leave it to you to go find them. Most of them can be found at www.majorgeeks.com .

If you have an always on connection to the Internet a firewall is imperative. Zone Alarm has a decent one that is free. I prefer Sunbelt's Kerio firewall myself but that is for Windows 2000 or higher. There are others and most geeks have their own pet programs that they stroke with affection so it is up to you to decide what you like or don't like.

Anti-Virus software... don't have it? GET IT! A great, free AV program is AVG from www.grisoft.com . If you choose the free version you get free updates and a damn nice program as well. Throw the guy a bone and donate or buy the registered version, he really wants people to be safe and secure on the Internet.

Heard of Spyware? Adware? Malware? No? Well, look these terms up and get familiar with them. I use three different spyware programs on my computer.  They are Spybot Search and Destroy, AdAware and Spyware Blaster. These are great, free programs that will help keep your privacy intact and also help you keep that old machine running as best as it's little, tired CPU can go. MajorGeeks has them all.

When was the last time you ran a scandisk on your computer? When was the last time you defragmented your computer? These two items are probably the two most overlooked system maintenance issues for any user. I cannot tell you how many times I have found machines that are fragmented beyond belief. If you are unaware of what defragmenting does, I will explain. If you view the Windows operating system as a lazy secretary that takes out a file, uses it, and then drops it back anywhere it wants, then you have some idea about fragmentation. In order to use that file again your computer must first find the file and that can take time. Now, with every file on your computer you can imagine what is going to happen if you do not organize the files. Defragmenting is like an anal-retentive secretary that comes in and refiles everything where it should be. This makes finding the files faster and more efficient. Scandisk sort of does the same thing but it merely corrects errors on the disk itself... but you must tell it to do that.

Understand also that Windows 98 is no longer supported by Microsoft. So, there will be no more update packages on their website than are there right now. Go to Microsoft's website; download the updates and then Bill Gates wishes you well with your operating system. Also, bear in mind that many software companies are no longer supporting their products for Windows 98 as well. I know that 1998 was only eight years ago, but eight years in the computer world is an eternity.

I have a pet saying (being the arrogant geek that I am) that I use with everyone that I advise. Since the computer world is replete with acronyms I came up with my own: RTFM - Read The Fucking Manual. Now, I do not say that in a hurtful way, I merely say it because the reason that those manuals exist are for the user. Yes, some of them are techno babble but most can be understood if you begin from the beginning and not jump to the middle. ***Getting off soapbox***

OK, that is computer safety and maintenance in a nutshell. I place no guarantee that these items will solve your problems but they may help.

I primarily advocate fixing the machine that the customer has and I try to save people money. But in your case, with a 200 MHz processor your machine is ready to be retired. When you can pick up a nice computer for under $500 there really isn't any reason to let that poor dinosaur suffer any longer. If you decide to scrap it, I can point you to some great (free) programs that will erase ALL the data on the computer so that, if you have anything private stored on it that no one will be able to retrieve the data. Then reinstall your Windows and take the machine to a local charity (Computers for Kids leaps to mind) and donate your machine. Some kid's face will light up with a smile because of you.

If you need more help, write to me on the other side.

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ORIGINAL: subjected2006

Yes that's enough resources to run firefox
firefox is much less labour intensive than internet explorer is

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ORIGINAL: LTRsubNW

I've given a great deal of consideration to your question and, being the tech guru that I am, after careful discussion with my tech staff, we've come to a consistent and careful conclusion.

Your computer is broken.

Please remit $75.00 at your earliest convenience.

Please call again.

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ORIGINAL: Adelphus

Oh you poor ducky!
You must have dial-up that uses a phone line don't you?

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And you use AOL to dial up? It probably makes phone sounds and things?

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If so, go do that first. Once you can actually do stuff on your AOL browser, THEN open up firefox. You probably just weren't connected to the internet yet.
A browser is different from an ISP, though AOL has both. The ISP part is what connects you to the internet, the browser is the program that lets you see things and has 'back', 'home', 'refresh' and those other buttons on it. You can have AOL dial up and then not use their browser.