Ok kind of getting tired of this problem but I'm out of ideas.
Every so often after hours of use my computer quits opening windows. Such as if I click to open a link in a new window it will just sit there. It'* not limited to internet explorer either, Photoshop won't open a 'Save As' window (or any other window for that matter), Word won't open a new document, and all sorts of other problems like that. If I close one of the windows I have open I can then open another one. It'* as if I've hit the maximum number of allowed windows.

I'd fit cleanly in the "Power User" category but I don't really have that many windows open. Plus when checking my ram usage it'* generally around 375-500meg, which is high but still less than 50% of what'* available.

I've also got 1.5 gig allocated (and used) for virtual memory.

Any ideas?

Relevant System Specs:

AMD 2.0ghz
1 gig Mushkin level 1 ram
Windows 2000 Server SP4

What size hard drive do you have? How many and what programs do you have installed currently?

You still use Internet Explorer??

I doubt that it'* your problem in this case, but you really should download the free and far superior browser, Firefox.

I've got an 80 gig I use for most programs and a 20gig for the OS. I have 110 items in the 'add remove programs' area, but many are windows hotfix and things along those lines.

When this problem last happened I had 1 firefox window open, 1 excel spreadsheet with 1,047 lines, notepad, word, calculator, photoshop with 2 small pics, dreamweaver with one page open, and winamp. There was about 29 processes in all running, including all system processes.

Sounds like a lot I guess, but that really shouldn't be the max the comp can handle...Should it? Just testing it a second ago I could run 81 processes (mostly IE) before it quit. Of course at the moment I'm running a fraction of what I usually do...but still...

I use both actually. Firefox tends to be extremely memory intensive on my system. I've had just a few simple windows take up around 100meg of ram. It'* what I'm browsing with now though

Quite the multitasker I see

Yeah that'* why it'* bugging me so much

Do you open and close windows alot? Windows buttons take up a space of memory that is 64k. this space does not go up with more ram. some programs (excel, word, photoshop) do not give up their used space when they are closed, but when reopened, they take more of this space, not reusing the space they had before. On way of easing this is to get rid of unneeded buttons in your windows. I will email you a couple utilities to help check this.

edit: I made the assumption your machine is clean of spyware and probably shouldn't have. Have you scanned pc for virus and spyware? Also delete all temp files in windows and ie. for a fresh start

try this:
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Memory Performance Tweak

These Settings will fine tune your systems memory management -at least 256MB of ram recommended, 512 preferred for first tweak.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \

Session Manager \ Memory Management

1.DisablePagingExecutive -double click it and in the decimal put a 1 - this allows XP to keep data in memory now instead of paging sections of ram to harddrive.

2.LargeSystemCache- double click it and change the decimal to 1 -this allows XP Kernal to Run in memory improves system performance a lot. This tweak can actually slow down a system with less than 256 megs of ram.

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Format, reinstall, and try 2000pro

Thanks for the help! I already have wintasks but I didn't have the memory tweaking you posted. I set it and I guess I'll see how it comes out. Wondering if it'* memory related or 'threads' related though..? I frequently pull up windows task manager and end a few unnecessary tasks. Many times that'll let me open 1 or 2 more windows, but that'* it. I think you're on to something with programs not releasing memory. I've had days where I'll cut it down to only what I absolutely need to have open (generally large programs though) and after a while it still happens again.

I run one of 3 different spyware/adware scanners weekly so I'm hoping it has nothing to do with those.

Hans - Way too much important data to format and I actually have 2000pro on another partition. I run it sometimes, depends on what I'm doing. I've had the same issue there, but not as frequent. I also don't run as many programs in pro.

I guess the big question is, is there a maximum number of windows you can have open (threads as I understand) no matter how much ram you have? I'm all for getting another gig of ram if it will fix it, but I'd want to know it'll work..