Hard drive spins when dragging IM window

Hi,

I've got an XPHome machine, 2.0 MHz, 528MB RAM, and 60 GB hard drive. I
keep the drive clean (defragged, etc.), continuously run a virus scanner,
and I use AdAware to clean spyware. The XP supplied firewall is always on.

Here's my 'problem'. This one's got me stumpped.

I have been running the current version of AOL Instant Messenger for many
months. Just last night, the IM message window began to move jaggedly as I
dragged it across the screen. It's as if it get stuck and and then jumps
into place. I can see it trail as I move it. In addition, when I drag it
around, the hard drive spins. I can hear the drive, and the drive light
goes on whenever I move the message window. (The buddy list moves smoothly
when I drag it across the screen and the hard drive doesn't spin.)

This never happened before, nor does it occur on my other machines. All
other windows, i.e IE, OE, etc., move smoothly, too. This happens only
with my IM message window.

I suppose that most window movements occur in ram, but why does the IM
message window now seem to be accessing the hard drive when it is moved?

I uninstalled and reinstalled IM, scanned for viruses, and deleted any
spyware, but this didn't help.

I've also noticed that my drive does seem to be spinning more than usual
upon restart. That is, it takes a while to settle down.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Bruce

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
| Hi,
|
| I've got an XPHome machine, 2.0 MHz, 528MB RAM, and 60 GB hard drive. I
| keep the drive clean (defragged, etc.), continuously run a virus scanner,
| and I use AdAware to clean spyware. The XP supplied firewall is always
on.
|
| Here's my 'problem'. This one's got me stumpped.
|
| I have been running the current version of AOL Instant Messenger for many
| months. Just last night, the IM message window began to move jaggedly as
I
| dragged it across the screen. It's as if it get stuck and and then jumps
| into place. I can see it trail as I move it. In addition, when I drag it
| around, the hard drive spins. I can hear the drive, and the drive light
| goes on whenever I move the message window. (The buddy list moves
smoothly
| when I drag it across the screen and the hard drive doesn't spin.)
|
| This never happened before, nor does it occur on my other machines. All
| other windows, i.e IE, OE, etc., move smoothly, too. This happens only
| with my IM message window.
|
| I suppose that most window movements occur in ram, but why does the IM
| message window now seem to be accessing the hard drive when it is moved?
|
| I uninstalled and reinstalled IM, scanned for viruses, and deleted any
| spyware, but this didn't help.
|
| I've also noticed that my drive does seem to be spinning more than usual
| upon restart. That is, it takes a while to settle down.
|
| Any ideas?
|
| Thanks,
| Bruce

I answered this in the Microsoft group. When you cross post make sure all
the groups are included in ONE message.

"Bishoop" wrote in
:


"Bruce" wrote in message
...
| Hi,
|
| I've got an XPHome machine, 2.0 MHz, 528MB RAM, and 60 GB hard drive.
| I keep the drive clean (defragged, etc.), continuously run a virus
| scanner, and I use AdAware to clean spyware. The XP supplied
| firewall is always
on.
|
| Here's my 'problem'. This one's got me stumpped.
|
| I have been running the current version of AOL Instant Messenger for
| many months. Just last night, the IM message window began to move
| jaggedly as
I
| dragged it across the screen. It's as if it get stuck and and then
| jumps into place. I can see it trail as I move it. In addition,
| when I drag it around, the hard drive spins. I can hear the drive,
| and the drive light goes on whenever I move the message window. (The
| buddy list moves
smoothly
| when I drag it across the screen and the hard drive doesn't spin.)
|
| This never happened before, nor does it occur on my other machines.
| All other windows, i.e IE, OE, etc., move smoothly, too. This
| happens only with my IM message window.
|
| I suppose that most window movements occur in ram, but why does the
| IM message window now seem to be accessing the hard drive when it is
| moved?
|
| I uninstalled and reinstalled IM, scanned for viruses, and deleted
| any spyware, but this didn't help.
|
| I've also noticed that my drive does seem to be spinning more than
| usual upon restart. That is, it takes a while to settle down.
|
| Any ideas?
|
| Thanks,
| Bruce

I answered this in the Microsoft group. When you cross post make sure
all the groups are included in ONE message.



You're right, and I try never to post the same message individually to
different groups. I just wasn't aware of this group until after I posted
to the Microsoft group.

My problem still exists, with the IM window only, and my system is
reporting all 528MB ram. Belarc advisor also report 528MB ram.

I can load the system up with multiple applications running, and nothing
slows down or access the hard drive, except the IM window. I can even load
up many MBs of jpgs, and still no hard drive access, except with the IM
window.

I'm now thinking about a restore back to Friday.

Bruce