Explorer 6 locks up machine on some pages 1

[AndrueC]

I applied SP1 to my Dad's XP machine and also installed an extra 128MB bringing the machine up to 256MB.

With the extra RAM installed the entire machine will lock (no way out 'cept to cycle the power or reset) when viewing certain web pages. It almost always happens when scrolling the web page. The one web page guaranteed to lock the machine is the Windows update site. You can scroll a few lines down but it very quickly locks the machine.

It never happens with only 128MB installed (either the original RAM or the new RAM). We stress tested the machine with 256MB of RAM (scanning pictures in, opening multiple pictures etc. etc.) and as far as we can tell the new RAM works fine.

We've also update the graphics driver (he's using a motherboard built in Intel unit). The machine is a PIII 1Ghz eMachines unit.

After several days trying various things I'm stuck. Any suggestions?

 

[gargouille]

Taking for granted the research was done and it is indeed the correct RAM: there is the off-chance it's bad.
Memtest or Docmemory are free downloadable testing routines and may be found here:

http://lists.gpick.com/index.html

 

[carrr]

gargouille has suggested my first reaction. As strange as it may seem, I just received two out three bad sticks of 256 in a recent order. If this is not the case, you might try running repair on IE. Go through the Add/Remove Programs option in the Control Panel. Highlight IE 6 and click on Add/Remove to bring up this option.

 

[joegz]

Try reducing the hardware acceleration to none (display properties) and see if that helps. This used to be a problem when IE4 first came out and just wonder if this has resurfaced again joegz
"Sometimes you just need to find out what it's not first to figure out what it is."

 

[AndrueC]

I will arrange for the memory tests to be run but it only locks up when both sticks are installed (in either order) which leads me to /not/ suspect the RAM.

I'll try the repair IE6 installation. SP1 also appeared to screw up one of the USB scanners. First time I've ever seen a machine running XP reboot without any warning or comment. The solution to that was to reinstall the drivers while the scanner was attached and powered up.

 

[gargouille]

Diagnostic testing of the RAM is the only way I know of to eliminate it as a possibility.
Thanks, too, for your feedback and expert suggestion. It will be left as a guidepost for others coming this way to search for the answer!
R.e. XP and SP1...the last installs I've done of it were from discs that had SP1 on them. The installs from the downloads seem to have lots of problems.
Not that it matters, but WITH SP1 loaded...you have 3 days to activate it. One of the machines I loaded it on locked me out after 3 daze!

 

[skimmers]

I noticed you said that you updated the graphics driver. I did this on a Windows ME machine PIII 800mhz and also SP1. My machine did not lock up, but everything flickered while scrolling. I needed to upgrade DirectX from 7.0 to 8.1, 8.1 is the highest the Intel 8210e would support. You may want to check your version of DirectX.

 

[gargouille]

That's all right, the 1st game he loads will offer to update his version of DirectX, anyway! LOL