If I show Task Manager it lists various processes running with Memory Usage. If I leave the machine idle with say a few windows open I find that the iexplore.exe increases in size considerably and since I don't have a lot of memory (old machine) this slows down the machine. So what is going on when I am not using the PC? I do have virus protection and I think the machine is clean.

Thanks, David

 

IE8 yes?

 

Yes.......


he said worryingly........

David

 

No don't be worried. It's just I have found the updates that get applied to IE8 by MS have over time caused it to do this. I am not sure whether it is memory leaking or what, but it certainly just seems to consume more and more memory even if it is left doing nothing.

Also IE 8 hasn't kept up with the pace of web development simply because it's been replaced by IE9 but of course MS won't let you install that on XP.

My advice is to use Firefox or Chrome - they are better faster more modern browsers and run just fine in XP even on older hardware.

 

Thanks very much f1

Relieved of Wilts

 

FFox does a very similar thing, I always have to close it down n reopen to refresh the RAM at some point, usually after a day. But it doesnt seem to ram leak when idle.

 

best not to leave your browse on especially if you're logged onto websites like email or banking etc. some programs and sites can steal your active session so when you come back to it and check your email or banking you might have been swapped to a phishing site without you even knowing. they then watch everything you input and steal all your information :-) always best to log off and close your browser.

also people can't get past your computer and routers firewall normally. when you browse the internet temporary rules are put in place to allow the website to talk back to you. these temporary rules remain open while your session is active which leave you vulnerable.

 

Agreed but recent versions seem not to that now, not on my PCs anyhow.

 

Depends what you are doing/browsing. If its alot of fbook/flash stuff then it chews up the RAM in no time. This is with FF 10.

 

OK guys - thanks for comments. I would never leave any site where I had bought something like Amazon or Lottery open. Just fairly innocuous sites like TV Guide, BBC or SN (?). Get the point though. Cheers, David

 

If you use facebook you deserve all you get

 

fair point

 

Well my son's band is on Facebook so I do have that open quite a bit. Do you think that could be a major factor?

david

 

I meant more game flash based stuff on fb Dave. Its that which chews the RAM, if used for a long time.