More computer issues, browsers

[Kev Williams]

Computer is a Dell T5400 Precision, x2 Xeon 3.16 processors, 8 cores, 32gigs ram, 1TB SSD...

I've been a diehard Firefox user for years. But lately I've been having issues with watching streaming video from news and other sites. I get perfect audio but the video is nothing but a slide-show; one frame, 4 seconds of wait, another frame, 4 seconds of wait... Everything was fine until I made the stupid mistake of, after 4 years of zero Windows Updates, I downloaded and installed the now-available full-library of updates. This computer has been, simply put, a piece of crap since then. Haven't tired a system-restore, as that would likely be a 10 hour operation since that's about how long the updates took to install.

Ive been wondering if it might be a browser issue? I've never had ANY trouble with firefox, but yesterday for fun I opened my rarely used IE11, and lo and behold I got actual watchable video on a news site! Then I gravitated to reading a few news stories, which always have links to fact-checking or related-story pages...
after clicking one of those links I was greeted with

YOUR BROWSER IS NOT COMPATIBLE
WITH THIS WEBSITE!!!!

AAGGHH!! :mad: http://www.engraver1.com/gifs/banghead.gif --Good old MS BS forced obsoletion at work, which I'm simply sick and tired of. And I remembered at the top of the IE page was an 'update to Edge' advertisement. Since IE doesn't work, ya think? What the ad SHOULD say is "you might as well update to Edge because like with Win95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, 7 and 8, our forward-only never-look-back thinking engineers have purposely kneecapped IE rendering it completely useless for current and future use. So there."

SO-- why am I getting chopped up video in firefox but not IE? One piece of advice I found suggested disabling hardware acceleration in firefox - no help.

My computer is also getting to where it gets slower and slower as time goes by, to the point that by day's end clicking to open or save files takes several seconds- I've counted 45 seconds more than once! - for a reaction from the computer. I used to never turn the thing off, hibernated for months at a time with no issues. Now, after 15 hours I have to reboot. I used "Reimage", which makes for a drastic improvement initially, but after 2-3 days of hibernating it's back to 'swimming in molasses'. The internet tells me my computer is 'leaking memory' badly..? Can a manual memory dump be done without rebooting?

And just earlier this morning I tried changing my virtual memory settings a bit, I've noticed no difference...

The other day I re-arranged all my drives and drive letters in case I was having a drive-letter 'sharing' issue, seemed to help but the molasses set in later in the day...

I'm thinking I probably should just dump & re-install my Windows, but I'll need to get a disk...

If anyone has any suggestions... :)

[mike stenson]

IE has issues that makes it now inherently insecure.

[Chuck Wintle]

Have you checked the usual stuff? Clean out all the temporary files and check the HD is not full. You need a certain amount of empty sppace for windows to work properly. Check firefox is up to date etc.

[Aaron Rosenthal]

I have a 5 YO Lenovo 15" laptop which gets and installs EVERY update as it comes down the 'pike. My preferred browser is Firefox as well. You shouldn't be having the kinds of problems you're describing with your rig.
Agreed, clean the cache, delete all the temporary Internet files, empty the recycle bin, and check the warnings- do you get messages that you're running out of room? I'm partitioned, but cleaning up the "C" drive is often needed when you only have one drive.
Do you have a data backup? If so, make sure it's current and see if you need to restore your basic operating system files. If you don't know how to do it safely, ask your grandchild (or find a computer guru).
Let us know as you proceed.

[Lee Schierer]

Check to see that you have the most recent edition of firefox or reinstall the current version.

[Kev Williams]

Here's a snapshot of my computer-
programs running: Remote Desktop, OE Classic (an OE clone email program), 2 notepads, Corel X4, Foxit PDF reader, Firefox (3 tabs going),
Process Explorer, Media Player, Control panel "system" option and task manager (to get the snapshot), Corel Photopaint...

http://www.engraver1.com/erase2/T54snapshot.jpg


My current internet speed:

http://www.engraver1.com/erase2/ist.jpg
***************************

Right now the computer is working well above 'molasses' level, but it's only been on, according to task manager, a little over 9 hours, and I really haven't been overworking it today.

When running a video, the CPU usage varied from 20 to 54%,
I snapped this screenshot. (The vid was pretty choppy)--

http://www.engraver1.com/erase2/task.jpg

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

Just to note, NONE of my other computers- three win7 32's and 3 XP's have any of the video issues I'm having with this computer. All of them have a simple on-board graphics card, this one has a plug-in card, an Nvidia Quadro FX580, which I've changed out to an Nvidia G-force 750 ti card, only to have the new card never go longer than 3 hours before it locks up the computer. Changing drivers never helped, although oddly enough, the newer 750 driver works with the FX580, and while the whole computer perked up, the choppy vid remains...

My Firefox updates automatically...

[mike stenson]

Does this happen when running firefox in safe mode? Or, have you tried chrome (less interested about the browser than it uses a completely different engine). FF has been a resource hog recently IME.

[Kev Williams]

I don't have Chrome installed, but IE works. Well, sorta works-- I notice the vid is still choppy, but the stops are so quick it's barely noticeable...

Never tried FF in safe mode...

I'm downloading Chrome right now, BRB.. :)

[Kev Williams]

OMG, I didn't think it was possible but video playing on Chrome is about 100x WORSE than firefox!

Chrome is chopping up the video AND the audio, locks up for several seconds at a time, it's ridiculously unwatchable! And the mouse is almost totally useless while the vid is attempting to play. Mouse movement with this computer has always been a bit choppy when a vid is playing, but with chrome is locks up in almost in sync with the video...

Oy... ;)

[mike stenson]

Try this:


Click the “Customize and control Google Chrome” button. (It’s the button at the top-right with three dots)
Choose the “Settings” option.
Scroll to the bottom and click “Advanced.”
Scroll to the “System” section and click the button to the right of “Use hardware acceleration when available” to turn it off.
Click the “Relaunch” button to restart Chrome.

[Chris Fairbanks]

Kev, I find backing up and secure erasing the SSD drive and installing windows from scratch every 18-24 months let’s me keep my sanity by keeping my computer running nice and fast. Between all of the windows patches and updates and all of the apps and their updates just slows down windows over time no matter what you do. A fresh install is your best bet if you feel comfortable doing that. You will be amazed at how much fast it should be running and it will feel like a new computers. Good luck.

[Chuck Wintle]

Computer is a Dell T5400 Precision, x2 Xeon 3.16 processors, 8 cores, 32gigs ram, 1TB SSD...

I've been a diehard Firefox user for years. But lately I've been having issues with watching streaming video from news and other sites. I get perfect audio but the video is nothing but a slide-show; one frame, 4 seconds of wait, another frame, 4 seconds of wait... Everything was fine until I made the stupid mistake of, after 4 years of zero Windows Updates, I downloaded and installed the now-available full-library of updates. This computer has been, simply put, a piece of crap since then. Haven't tired a system-restore, as that would likely be a 10 hour operation since that's about how long the updates took to install.

Ive been wondering if it might be a browser issue? I've never had ANY trouble with firefox, but yesterday for fun I opened my rarely used IE11, and lo and behold I got actual watchable video on a news site! Then I gravitated to reading a few news stories, which always have links to fact-checking or related-story pages...
after clicking one of those links I was greeted with

YOUR BROWSER IS NOT COMPATIBLE
WITH THIS WEBSITE!!!!

AAGGHH!! :mad: http://www.engraver1.com/gifs/banghead.gif --Good old MS BS forced obsoletion at work, which I'm simply sick and tired of. And I remembered at the top of the IE page was an 'update to Edge' advertisement. Since IE doesn't work, ya think? What the ad SHOULD say is "you might as well update to Edge because like with Win95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, 7 and 8, our forward-only never-look-back thinking engineers have purposely kneecapped IE rendering it completely useless for current and future use. So there."

SO-- why am I getting chopped up video in firefox but not IE? One piece of advice I found suggested disabling hardware acceleration in firefox - no help.

My computer is also getting to where it gets slower and slower as time goes by, to the point that by day's end clicking to open or save files takes several seconds- I've counted 45 seconds more than once! - for a reaction from the computer. I used to never turn the thing off, hibernated for months at a time with no issues. Now, after 15 hours I have to reboot. I used "Reimage", which makes for a drastic improvement initially, but after 2-3 days of hibernating it's back to 'swimming in molasses'. The internet tells me my computer is 'leaking memory' badly..? Can a manual memory dump be done without rebooting?

And just earlier this morning I tried changing my virtual memory settings a bit, I've noticed no difference...

The other day I re-arranged all my drives and drive letters in case I was having a drive-letter 'sharing' issue, seemed to help but the molasses set in later in the day...

I'm thinking I probably should just dump & re-install my Windows, but I'll need to get a disk...

If anyone has any suggestions... :)




Is it possible that you picked up a virus?

[mike stenson]

I think it's more likely an issue with hardware acceleration, given this bit.



which I've changed out to an Nvidia G-force 750 ti card, only to have the new card never go longer than 3 hours before it locks up the computer.

[Kev Williams]

First, thanks for all the responses..

About the 750 ti graphics card, I got it cheap, and have read that it's probably a chinese knockoff. It DOES say 'made in china' on it... whatever, I just know it doesn't like this computer!

As to the funky video problem: About 2 years or so ago, I read (right here IIRC), that Flash was bad, for whatever reasons. So I uninstalled it from the computers I have that had it. Never noticed a pro or con to doing so...

--so this morning, I read up on Flash a bit, 'they' say it's much better than before, less security issues, yada... so I downloaded and installed it.

And Voila! Perfect video all around, my news channels, youtube, my own vids, no chop at all. Go figure ;)

--before installing flash, I turned off the hardware acceleration in Firefox, it DID seem to minimize the chop somewhat, but only somewhat...

My molasses issue, waiting to see what happens after a few days of hibernating instead of rebooting. Rebooted this morning so she's running good right now...

Virus-- I run Security Essentials/Defender and Reimage... I read awhile back that Reimage is/was supposed to be bad, but it works great for cleaning the computer, and every time any program is loaded, or updates, or is uninstalled, it lets me know about it. My Gravostyle 7 program mimics some virus, and every time I run it it wants to dispose of it. No other AV has detected GS7 as a virus... Security Essentials has never failed me either, it caught a ransomware installer in an email while the email was still on my website's email server, before I ever saw it!
445029
So I'm pretty sure this computer is virus-free :)

[Kev Williams]

So I go to the post office, come back, have some dinner, take a nap, head downstairs to work and my screen is BLUE :mad: Could be the newer driver is clashing with the old graphics card..?

And I find out after installing Flash that it's going away next month... http://www.engraver1.com/gifs/banghead.gif
Seems html5 is the most used format at the moment...

And Chris, I have no problem re-installing Windows on a freshly formatted drive, done it many times over the years. (Probably re-installed ME 20 times!) -- NONE of my work files are saved on my 'windows' drive specifically for this reason. I only have programs and printers loaded, which can be re-installed within a couple of hours. I DO have pics, important documents and video's on my SSD but they're all backup copies.

The absolute fastest computer I have is my ancient e-machine with XP Pro 32 installed from a 'mechanics' disk I've had for years. No updates or service packs. A lot of programs can't be installed because of that, but it's doing mostly print-server duty...

[Jim Becker]

Yes, Flash is toast...that was announced by Adobe a LONG time ago, but many site owners have persisted with its use even now. It's terribly insecure, too.

[Lee DeRaud]

Seems like it might be time to consider straight-up hardware issues, like a failing power supply or thermal problems.

[Kev Williams]

Benchmark testing, it asses all hardware tests, shows the SSD underperforming but I believe that's because the motherboard isn't 3.0 capable-? My ram performance is poor but testing says 'within average'... the 875w power supply seems fine, Speccy shows all temps will into green, CPU average temps are 45c and 52c, the graphics card almost always shows 64c.

I'm seriously considering changing out the computer for something a bit newer, but it MUST be Win7 capable as a MAX, nothing that was ever designed for 8 or 10. And prefer a dell, never had a catastrophic breakdown with any of my 4 dells...

Suggestions? (like, is an Optiplex 9020 i7-4770 any good? looks good on paper ;) )

[mike stenson]

Yes, Flash is toast...that was announced by Adobe a LONG time ago, but many site owners have persisted with its use even now. It's terribly insecure, too.

It was auto-uninstalled on the last system that (I had forgotten) it was on last week by Adobe's auto-update tool.

I think it's probably hardware, then again the OS is now obsolete as well.

[Curt Harms]

Benchmark testing, it asses all hardware tests, shows the SSD underperforming but I believe that's because the motherboard isn't 3.0 capable-? My ram performance is poor but testing says 'within average'... the 875w power supply seems fine, Speccy shows all temps will into green, CPU average temps are 45c and 52c, the graphics card almost always shows 64c.

I'm seriously considering changing out the computer for something a bit newer, but it MUST be Win7 capable as a MAX, nothing that was ever designed for 8 or 10. And prefer a dell, never had a catastrophic breakdown with any of my 4 dells...

Suggestions? (like, is an Optiplex 9020 i7-4770 any good? looks good on paper ;) )

If you need XP/7 compatibility I wonder if your best bet would be a roll-your-own build. I don't think you can buy a new board with traditional BIOS, they're all UEFI with compatibility module mimicking traditional BIOS. Maybe ASUS/MSI/Asrock/Gigabyte have more compatible UEFI BIOSes. Their market is a little different from Dell/HP/Lenovo etc. If I get time I may try installing XP or 7 on my current desktop, it's a couple months old MSI AMD Ryzen board. My other thought would be running a virtual machine, I don't know if VMs and your hardware would cooperate or not.

[Grant Wilkinson]

There are many good suggestions here, but one thing that you may want to consider is wiping the unsupported install of Windows 7 that you are using and doing a clean install of windows 10.

[Jim Becker]

There are many good suggestions here, but one thing that you may want to consider is wiping the unsupported install of Windows 7 that you are using and doing a clean install of windows 10.
The OP is using legacy offboard gear that's controlled by his computer and needs Win7 and earlier for that reason. It it were "just a PC", I'd absolutely agree with you.

[mike stenson]

The OP is using legacy offboard gear that's controlled by his computer and needs Win7 and earlier for that reason. It it were "just a PC", I'd absolutely agree with you.

If that's the case, I would highly recommend disconnecting it from the Internet and only using it as an appliance.

[Jim Becker]

If that's the case, I would highly recommend disconnecting it from the Internet and only using it as an appliance.

Double edged sword with that. Isolation is certainly more secure, but impedes keeping things current and moving files around. In an ideal world, the outboard gear would be able to work with newer control systems, but that's unfortunately not the case with a lot of legacy products being used in businesses out there because the software never has been or can't be updated to run under newer OS. All is well until the computer fails and replacement hardware is hard to find that can use the older OS and software. Replacing the outboard gear with something current so everything can work with Win10 also gets to that ideal world, but... $$$$. This is the conundrum that a lot of folks who are involved in engraving, laser work, etc., face because they got in earlier and have older solutions that work well while technology marches on quickly.

And just to level set, from my personal point of view, I try to keep everything absolutely current even if it costs money. But that's me and not something everyone else can do.

[mike stenson]

You don't have to air gap it. If you're using this machine as an appliance, why bother watching videos? Why install insecure software?

Just reduce the risk.

[Jim Becker]

I'm trying to remember Kev's setup, but I think this machine may control some things directly and control other things via remote desktop. But this is his primary computer for the business. I'm sure he has a reason for what he does.

[mike stenson]

Well, ok. But this is now sounding way too much like work. Good luck!

[Kev Williams]

LOL at the moment... and good memory, Jim! :D

I'll try a short version:

I require a computer with ME or older (using 98) to run 2 versions of long-gone Casmate, one a 1991 DOS version, the other a 1993 a Win 3.0 version. These programs to this day have the best and fastest black 'n white image scanning programs I've ever found. They have LPT port mounted dongles, that communicate with DOS, that are necessary to operate. LPT ports are dead to these dongles on non-DOS machines...

in my signature is noted 11 rotary engravers. Only 2 of them are connectable by USB. My NEWEST machine is ~14 years old. Oldest is 39 years old. ALL of them function normally. The software to run them is compatible with win8, but not 10. Converter cables have proven unreliable at best.

Of my 7 lasers, only the 4 Chinese lasers are win10 capable, none of the other 3 are unless I buy new Gravograph software, thou$and$ of dollar$... So, since I can't afford to replace a dozen perfectly good reliable machines just to 'keep up with technology' in order to keep Bill Gates happy, I'm happy making do with HIS perfectly good older Windows... :)

I HAVE one win10 in this house, a Win8 original HP Pavilion 15 notebook PC that was given to me after a complete reformat and win10 home installed, done by Geek Squad. Only program loaded was Malwarebytes. I only use it to run TurboTax. TT and Foxit Reader are the only other programs installed, and I've disabled the AMW... This computer is bar none thee slowest computer I own. I just fired it up. Took 1 minute for the screen to show up, another 2-1/2 minutes before I could actually USE it. I waited 2 more minutes so it could clear its throat, then double clicked the Foxit icon-- 41 seconds later the program popped.. I'm typing this post on my office computer at the moment, a Dell Optiplex 760 win7 pro 32, with QB and firefox running. BTW, I can't even put win8 on this office computer because it's not compatible with the 2005 QB that I run, which I REFUSE to upgrade and pay monthly for. Anyway, I'm going to start Foxit on THIS computer: well, the stopwatch was no good, it INSTANTLY appeared.

I seriously don't get some of the computer issues I have, it baffles me. This laptop should NOT be this slow, but it is...

---back to the Dell Optiplex 9020 I mentioned above-- online store called Discount Computers sells refurbished computers, WITH a 1 year parts & labor warranty. The 9020 was a $1300 unit, refurb is $400 shipped free, 250gig HD, 4gigs ram (needs more, but I have more) and Win7 Pro 64 installed.. They have an extensive list of computers, this seems to be the 'best' Dell they have available. It's several years newer than my T5400, which btw came with Vista originally. I'm thinking best option is another computer rather than fixing the 5400...

I'd love to hear suggestions for other brands/models?

[Steve Demuth]

The OP is using legacy offboard gear that's controlled by his computer and needs Win7 and earlier for that reason. It it were "just a PC", I'd absolutely agree with you.

I get that, but no way in heck would I be comfortable with a Windows 7 PC being used to browse the internet for general content much longer, particularly with other potentially obsolete stuff connected.

Given the OP's described history (of recent massive update), I'd be concerned that the thing is already part of somebody's botnet, and that's the reason for the problems, in fact.

[Jim Koepke]

There are a lot of folks caught in the "legacy trap" of needing computers to run old programs.

Finding providers of the materials for support of older systems can be difficult.

One of the things that bugged me when working for a public transit agency was all the contract bids had a "proven in use over five years" clause. A lot of systems were supplied with obsolete peripheral components.

jtk

[Mike Chance in Iowa]

Back in my previous life fixing computers & solving their problems, I found the HP laptops to be slow even on their best days. They typically come pre-loaded with so much junk. A clean Windows install will speed up the HP laptops quite a bit, but it can be a challenge finding the drivers. If you download a driver bundle from HP, that often installs a bunch of junk and immediately slows down the laptop.

As for QB 2005 not being compatible with newer Windows, that might not be the case. I still run my QB 2004 on my Win10 Pro computer and click through the dire instability warning. It has never been unstable on my Win7 or Win10 builds.

You may need to resort to keeping your Dell for legacy work and not use it for watching videos or surfing the web. Use a laptop with current software for surfing, email, videos, etc.... basically everything except what the Dell is designated to do.

[Jim Becker]

Interestingly, the WIn10 computer that I control my CNC with boots up in about 20 seconds or so. The Win10 running in a VM on my MacOS machine boots up in about 30 seconds and that includes starting Parallels. (the virtualization software) That computer you have Win10 on, Kev, really is a "performer"! Wow...