VirtualDR Crashes Netscape.

[boyblue]

This isn't a major annoyance but it does happen pretty much every session.

When I am in VirtualDR, Netscape will crash and the grey error window pops up and I have to shutdown Netscape.

Now let me acknowledge that there are lots of times when Netscape crashes, but it usually on very intense JAVA pages when I have 20 windows open with 10 of those currently in the process of loading.

But this VirtualDR crash is different because I can be doing almost nothing and the error pops up. Frequently I' have 4 or 5 Netscape windows open and I'll be sitting here reading a message and BANG, the error message pops up and Netscape is locked. Even though it's locked up, it always shutdown cleanly.

It happens the same way every time, I'll be reading a message, no new windows will be loading, I'm not out of memory or resources, essentually nothing is happening. The hard drive light will blink and the error mesage pops up, and I have to shutdown Netscape.

This error has occured in this same way with several versions of Netscape, and always happens exactly the same way; hard drive light blinks, Netscape locks.

I don't get this type of crash on any other website.

Again, I do get a few other weird crashes that are common to Netscape and are usually related to JAVA heavy pages. But no other webpages cause a crash like the VirtaulDr crashes.

I have my Netscape cache set pretty high so I don't think it's a cache overflow. (4Mb memory cache, 8Mb disk cache)

Anybody else notice a similar problem on your machines.

[Vernon Frazee]

Use Netscape exclusively here and don't ever remember a problem. I don't run around with Java, Javascript and Cookies enabled and never see most banner ads though.

Have you tried reinstalling Netscape?

[phobiussno]

Can't offer much help...Currently running Netscape 4.7 and have been for about a year without problems...so I'll have to second the above post and ask if a reinstall has been done...BOL

[boyblue]

Yes, I have reinstalled Netscape and as I said it's happen with the last 3 versions.

Generally, my computer is very stable, I keep a minimum number of background applications. Currently when online, I have volume control, mouse, RamBooster, ZoneAlarm, and DU Meter in my system tray. Only recently added Zone Alarm.

Strange thing is that there isn't much to the VirtualDr pages. There do appear to run Perl scripts, but don't appear to be complex or resource heavy. I never get this exact error on other websites.

Vernon Frazee - how are you blocking AD banners, and doesn't the endless warning messages about sites trying to send cookie and run JAVA, drive you nuts.

For what it's worth-
FIC-503+
AMD K6-3/400
128Mb generic (32+32+64)
8.4Gb Quantum with 400Mb free in root partition (1.5G, 2.5G, 2.0G, 2.5G)
Netscape is installed in the D: partition which also has plenty of free space.
Voodoo 3 2000 16Mb
Turtle Island Montego II sound

This isn't really a major problem. It's just odd to get a crash on a page where virtually nothing is going on.

[brewster]

Hi Blueboy, I too use Netscape 4.7 and have never had that problem. Maybe you should try using Explorer for awhile and see it the same lockup occurs. Just a thought. Good Luck, Carole

[PCSolutions]

Just a shot, but try deleting the netscape.hst file. I wonder if it is excessively large

[boyblue]

PCSolutions-
interesting thought, my History file is pretty big. I think I have it set for 10 days. I periodically clear the cache but I don't think I've ever cleared the history list.

Just out of curiousity, has anyone ever determind the best or a least a really good setting for cache size?? Or has anyone at least defined the window between too small and too big?

I use 4Mb memory cache and 8Mb disk cache.

[jtmurphy]

Don't go to IE

Hehe.

The history file could cause the problem you are experiencing. I run 4.7 with only occasional crashes, which are basically caused with too many open programs (Win 98).

I have my history file set for 5 days, I found over that it tends to get too big and corrupt. As NS looks in the history file first when loading pages, a corrupt file will cause it to freeze. May be the answer.



------------------
Murf

My Win95 Help Page
Murphy's Law- It will go wrong, but we can fix it!!
But if it ain't broke - "Break It" - So we can help fix it!

[Vernon Frazee]

boyblue> Vernon Frazee - how are you blocking AD banners, and doesn't the endless warning messages about sites trying to send cookie and run JAVA, drive you nuts.
 
1) My system, (i.e., 127.0.0.1 / localhost), serves as its own Primary DNS server (vs. an ISPs) by using a HOSTS file (with 9000+ blocked sites so far). I also use edexter to reduce the now blank ad banner boxes to a 1x1 pixel GIF.
 
More info: Using the Hosts File
 
2) When you disable Cookies, Javascript and/or Java in Netscape, the browser itself never bothers you with some sort of pop-up or in any other way. If the page you're trying to access won't work without one of these enabled, the better sites redirect you to a page telling you what's needed. If they don't, it's usually pretty obvious that's something's not working quite right. It's then up to me if I want to risk enabling whatever's needed.
 
I really don't worry a whole lot about Cookies but the vast majority of the time they are disabled. When I do enable them I: 1) use the "Accept only cookies that get sent back to the originating server" setting and 2) when I close Netscape a BATch file automatically eliminates all but what I want in my COOKIES.TXT file (as well as doing some other cleanup).
 
The other two settings are a different story. I only enable Javascript if I trust a site and it is rare indeed for me to ever enable Java. IMHO, it's way too risky.

[boyblue]

I noticed that my computer at work is subject to the same type of crashes that only appear at VirtualDR.

The only thing that I can think of that they have in common is that both machines are using NPROTECT; Norton's Recycle Bin Unerase.

Anybody else ever had any problems with this utility?