Trying to close IE6 window results in warning msg but will..

[One reply will suffic, thank you.]

See the rest of my previous reply.

Phyuck Yu wrote:
> xp pro sp2 is completely current and up to date. all crucial and/or
> recomended patches, add-ons, updates etc other than the sp3 package have
> all
> been downloaded and installed with success.
>
> ok well thnx for your time and input, its greatly appreciated!
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> We still don't know the machine's status at Windows Update.
>>
>>> this particular problem that we are discussing is directly related to
>>> just
>>> IE, though i do have a completely different problem with "Windows
>>> Explorer"
>>> crashing at random intervals...
>>
>> Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315
>>
>> Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
>> log to an appropriate forum.
>>
>> Checking for/Help with Hijackware
>> http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
>> http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
>> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
>> http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
>> http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
>> http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
>> http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
>> http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
>> http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
>> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
>>
>> When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
>> (http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use
>> (in conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix
>> anything on its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
>> hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
>> http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
>> http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
>> http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for
>> review by an expert in such matters, not here.**
>>
>> If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
>> this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
>> independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair
>> shop.
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>
>>
>> Phyuck Yu wrote:
>>> sorry that i wasnt able to respond sooner but things happen.
>>> here is the info PA Bear was requesting...
>>>
>>> AMD Athlon XP 2800+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.1GHz
>>> ATI Radeon 9600 Pro (128.0 MB)
>>> 1024MB DDR2 (PC-3200) RAM
>>> Windows XP Pro 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
>>> Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254
>>> Add-ons: Adobe PDF Link Helper (BHO)
>>> Ag ControlClass (ActiveX Control)
>>> IDMIEHlprObj Class (BHO)
>>> Shockwave Flash Object (ActiveX Control)
>>> SSVHelper Class (BHO)
>>> Sun Java Console (Browser Extension)
>>> Windows Live Sign-in Helper (BHO)
>>> XML DOM Document (ActiveX Control)
>>>
>>> Avira Premium Security Suite
>>> no other anti-spyware (at the moment)
>>> no third-party Firewall (at the moment)
>>>
>>> this particular problem that we are discussing is directly related to
>>> just
>>> IE, though i do have a completely different problem with "Windows
>>> Explorer"
>>> crashing at random intervals when i "right-click" anywhere inside the
>>> explorer window, either on an icon or just in any blank space inside the
>>> window, but im "guessing" that this has something related to third-party
>>> shell extensions.
>>>
>>> thanks again for all the input/help as well as your time and patience!
>>>
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>> Full Windows version? How have you determined that you've reached the
>>>> "threshold for maximum simultaneous open windows"? All Windows or just
>>>> IE
>>>> windows? What Add-ons are installed & enabled? How much memory does
>>>> the
>>>> machine have? Is the machine fully patched at Windows Update? What
>>>> anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What
>>>> anti-spyware
>>>> applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall (if
>>>> any)?
>>>>
>>>> [Chuck Fu] wrote:
>>>>> when iv reached my systems threshold for maximum simultaneous open
>>>>> windows
>>>>> and if either i try and open up one more or if it happens from some
>>>>> random
>>>>> pop-up the window never reaches its url and displays nothing but the
>>>>> tool-bars along with the windows logo just spinning away in the
>>>>> corner.
>>>>> now when i go and try to close it i immedietly receive this msg...
>>>>>
>>>>> Microsoft Internet Explorer
>>>>> This window is busy.
>>>>> Closing this window may cause some problems.
>>>>> Do you want to close it anyway?
>>>>>
>>>>> regardless if you press "ok" or try and "cancel" they both give the
>>>>> same
>>>>> result..a beep/ping and thats it..still lookin at this dammed window!!
>>>>>
>>>>> is there anything that can be done to fix this and prevent it from
>>>>> happening
>>>>> or how bout a nice easy way of closing the window without having to
>>>>> close
>>>>> any/all of the other windows im currently using?

I've seen this before in Windows XP and IE as well. The basic issue is that
from the very beginning with Windows version 3.0, it has this stuff called
GDI resources which are used up whenever menus, new windows, and window
widgets (pictures, icons, text boxes, buttons, etc) are displayed.

Windows 3.1, 95 and 98 had a GDI Resource Meter in the Accessories part of
the Start Menu, to show when GDI was getting low and problems would likely
start to occur. This helped people to know when there were too many windows
open and the system would be starting to act flaky.

Windows 2000 / XP were supposedly supposed to make GDI problems go away so
there is no way to measure GDI usage with 2000 or XP. The GDI Resource Meter
will not run under Win 2000/XP. Actually the problems of run out of free GDI
resources still exist but it seems the limits are just much higher with
2000/XP.

It is very easy to overflow your GDI limits on a website like eBay. Do a
search for something with hundreds of results, and then for each listing,
right click on the auction title and choose "Open in New Window".

Once you've opened around 75 new windows, you're going to eat all available
GDI and Windows XP is going to start acting really weird because it needs
those GDI resources for very basic graphical functions. Menus will not open
if you click on them, new windows will not open, and you'll sometimes get
bizarre errors popping up saying "Could not complete operation"...

And if you open a new IE window under these conditions, you get that goofy
blank window with just the little IE logo, no menu bar, no address bar, no
nothing, which says that closing this window could cause "some problems".

Windows 2000/XP is going to stay hosed until you start closing the 50+ open
windows to free up those supposed GDI resources that XP supposedly isn't
supposed to be using anymore compared to Win 3.1/95/98...


The only way I've found to get rid of the "problems will occur" IE window is
to just reboot, which obviously frees up all your GDI, including any screwed
up GDI like that bad IE window, but then you have to close all your open
files, save all your work, and go through that hassle. Microsoft seems to
have no solution to it.

The whole "GDI is no longer a problem for Win 2000/XP" claims by Microsoft
are in the same class as the one from years ago that NTFS was so advanced
that it would never need defragmenting... it is just marketing BS that
doesn't hold water in actual use.

- Dale Mahalko



"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Full Windows version? How have you determined that you've reached the
> "threshold for maximum simultaneous open windows"? All Windows or just IE
> windows? What Add-ons are installed & enabled? How much memory does the
> machine have? Is the machine fully patched at Windows Update? What
> anti-virus application or security suite is installed? What anti-spyware
> applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?
>
> [Chuck Fu] wrote:
> > when iv reached my systems threshold for maximum simultaneous open windows
> > and if either i try and open up one more or if it happens from some random
> > pop-up the window never reaches its url and displays nothing but the
> > tool-bars along with the windows logo just spinning away in the corner.
> > now when i go and try to close it i immedietly receive this msg...
> >
> > Microsoft Internet Explorer
> > This window is busy.
> > Closing this window may cause some problems.
> > Do you want to close it anyway?
> >