Sometimes when I’ve used a bigger application (e.g. Photoshop or Illustrator) handling big files (pics at 200mb and such), or if I downloaded a huge file, the computer will become sluggish. So far, the only way to get past this is to reboot, AFAIK. If I try to start some applications, i’ll get a message like: “the WIN16 system cannot open this application. Close other applications and try again.”
Only. No other applications, beyond services, are running.
So someone suggested: “Why don’t you clean the cache?” And when I asked how, the answer was that the person didn’t know, just something she overheard from tech geeks at work. Well, I know how to clean the cache of IE: (i.e. ctrl+F5), so I asked if that was it. No, the cache of the computer.
I’ve spent way too much time on MS website, going around in loops, and I can’t find it. Can it be done? How?
win16?? Are you using really old versions of Photoshop, etc? If so, I’ll wager that the old applications are the cause of your ills. They’re probably “leaking” resources - ie: memory. As you’ve discovered, the fix is to reboot. The cure is to upgrade to proper XP-compatible applications.
When my wireless connection gets goofy, and I have to use the “repair” option, I continually get the error message that Windows could not finish repairing the problem because it could not clear the ARP cache. My wireless connection always gets repaired though. I’ve tried a couple of searches, and found some stuff to do from a command line, but they haven’t really helped. Gaspode, is this the sort of thing you’re seeing?
Maybe they are referring to the cache in Photoshop. That is something I deal with a lot while working in Photoshop. If it starts gettings sluggish or if I am working with really large files I go to Edit - > Purge - > All
Probably referring to the memory. Try downloading FreeRAM XP or some other memory manager. You can use it to clear the memory that has been taken up by Photoshop.
Keapon - That’s it! I’ve downloaded and tried the software and it works. Thanks. One should be able to do that within windows, though.
jsmith, no, not just Photoshop. Right now I’m downloading a huge file from a friend. Been doing that since yesterday and the longer the download lasts, the harder it gets to open other applications.
FreeRAM solved it.