Memory Problem? Not using computer for 8 weeks

[mattmns]

Recently I have been having a problem with my memory, at least that is what I think it is. I am using Windows XP home (SP 2) [1 gb memory], and in the past week or so I have been having an almost daily problem of getting a BSOD with a memory dump error. I often hear people complain about Firefox having memory problems, and that could be it. It seems common that I have this problem when I am using Firefox and Winamp at the same time, which I do often and am currently doing right now I am not sure if I got a virus or some other bad thing or not, but I just ran ad-aware and had 5 "critical objects" none of which seemed to be really critical (just browser cache/cookie stuff). I will do a virus scan in a minute and see if I get anything. Any other ideas about what to do here? Thanks.

edit... I just realized that I don't have a virus scanner, any recommendations here? Something free of course.

Also, I will be moving out for 8 weeks on Friday and not using my desktop computer for that entire period. Is there anything I should do here? Thanks!

 

[chroot]

Download an older version of Firefox if you'd like. I'm still using 1.5, because it's a tank. Also, download one of the many free memory tester programs and run them.

- Warren

 

[ranger]

Avast home edition is a very competent and free virus scanner. It also uses very little system resources.

You can also get a memory diagnostic tool to check your memory.
http://www.memtest.org/
In my experience I've found Windows not very picky with memory issues (only in extreme conditions does it give the BSoD). For instance I've had a laptop where I only had windows xp on it; it worked fine. However, once I attempted to install GNU Linux on it, I was getting all sorts of kernel errors and panics. Running memtest revealed the obvious.

 

[FredGarvin]

I'll attest to the issues with Firefox. I wish I still had my older version. I love the program, but 2.0 has some issues.

Thanks for the link Ranger. I wish I had known about Avast sooner. I just re-upped my subscription to Norton.

 

[ranger]

Yup, 2.0 has some memory problems., I notice them even more when I use Java and flash based applets. Although its never been that extreme to cause a BSoD; just merely crashes. I guess that's why the developers put in that recovery feature :) Then there's that issue with it using too much memory space. I use it to browse the net for about 15 mins, and I run top on Linux and omg, it eats up +60MB of memory!. Its even worse if you have add-ons and themes.

I'd go back to 1.5 but I like individual close buttons for tabs :)

 

[neutrino]

I wish I still had my older version.

It's still out there
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html

 

[robphy]

I'd go back to 1.5 but I like individual close buttons for tabs :)

I use Tab Mix Plus on 1.5
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1122

 

[ranger]

Thanks, robphy. I'll give it a whirl.

 

[mattmns]

Thanks for the responses. I ran the virus software and I think I had nothing (I was away from the computer when it was running). I did not run the memory test because my cd burner is always iffy and seems to rarely work. I will look at trying it and Firefox 1.5 when I get back.

 

[FredGarvin]

It's still out there
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html

Cool. Thanks!

 

[BoredNL]

Thanks for the responses. I ran the virus software and I think I had nothing (I was away from the computer when it was running). I did not run the memory test because my cd burner is always iffy and seems to rarely work. I will look at trying it and Firefox 1.5 when I get back.

You can run memtest from a bootable USB drive or floppy disk.