Right click stops working, no more windows open

[SQLWilts]

Hi,
It appears that if my PC starts running low on memory, it just stops doing anything "additional".
For example, this morning I found that when I right clicked/open new window in IE6, it just wouldn't! then, after a while, it just refused point blank to display a right click window. Next, when I went to the taks bar to the group of IE windows, I clicked it (expecting it to expand so I could close a window or 2) but it did nothing. It does this sometimes, and then I ctrl/Alt/del task manager/kill an IE session and it all works again. The task manager tells me that I have 1G memory free. Is there a setting somewhere to tell it to keep allowing me to open the context menus etc.
It gets to the point where I am closing more and more windows until I have only 2 windows open - and it still does it so a reboot is the only way around. I rarely reboot because of the work that I keep open - it takes me ages to get back to where I was.
Windows XP pro 3GB memory dual core Intel processor

 

[PCmad]

Hi I would try upgrading IE6 to IE8, and seeing if you have the same issue. Also want happens if you use Firefox instead of IE ? YOu might also need to do some housekeeping on the PC removing temp files, internet files, cookies, etc.

 

[SQLWilts]

PCmad,

Thanks for replying.

I remove temp files, cookies etc on a regular basis. It's not just IE - windows explorer acts the same way. I am sure that it is a "low memory" issue - I just wonder if there was a switch somewhere that allowed me to still open the folder stack to kill processes.

As I said, the memory leak (for want of a better expression?) gets so bad that I end up with only 2 IE or windows explorer windows open and it still won't function.

Sounds like regular system reboots to me

 

[guitarzan]

The behavior you describe sounds like it could be malware-releated. Have you tried scans? I would recommend MalwareBytes Antimalware. You have to be running an awful lot of applications, or a few really memory intensinve ones, to run out of RAM so easily on a system with 3G.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

 

[linney]

It sounds as if your machine might benefit from a visit to Windows Updates?

See if this is relevant?

"Using ShellExView to determine the Context-menu causing the problem"

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

Internet Explorer Fix

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/IEFIX.htm