This site clogs up my computer

[ZachO]

I know the site needs to be paid for so while this is a complaint, I get it, and it's fine.

I'm assuming it's the advertising but I guess I don't know for sure. Does this site crash anyone else's computer? If I view a photo-heavy thread, or even poke around long enough on the site at all, I get (I have a Mac) the spinning beach ball. When I post, I regularly have to wait a few seconds for my typing to show up, threads regularly crash my computer or fail to load the next page when I try to navigate to it. This doesn't happen on other sites. If I give up because it's being too slow, and go to another site, my computer will finally start coming around, once it finally completely detaches from this forum. But it stays sluggish for...oh probably 15-30 seconds after I leave the site.

Does anyone else have this issue? Or is there just something my computer doesn't like about the site?

[Glenn Baglo]

Suggest you clear your history and restart.
I am also on a Mac.
I don't have a problem once I am on the site.

[Carl V]

Mac here too, and none of the issues you describe.

Make sure OS X is up to date and you have the latest Safari version.
Restart.

If it still acts, create another user account and check if the problem is present on this new account.

[ZachO]

Alright, thanks.

My computer is getting a bit long in the tooth and has had performance issues in the past and sometimes it doesn't take much to freeze it a little. But this site seems to affect it the worst.

I'll restart and clear cookies and history and see if that helps any. But I typically don't let those things go too long before clearing them out anyways.

[Escape 15A]

I have similar issues

[sokhapkin]

Never had any issues with the site. Running Firefox on Linux.

[Raz]

Yes, I find things slow down from time to time. The other day I found a Chevy commercial running. That slowed things down. I'm using an Android tablet with a browser called Butterfly. I like it because it's very simple but there are times when it is perhaps too simple and I have to switch to Chrome. You might try a different browser.

[Carl V]

Originally Posted by ZachO

My computer is getting a bit long in the tooth

How old is it?

I'm a laptop user (2 year-old Mac Book Pro) but I just went to my home office and access the site with my "home server" which is a 2012 iMac. Absolutely no issue, slow down or beach ball spinning. It runs the latest OS X and Safari versions.

As mentioned, make sure you have the latest versions too, including Java and Flash (not sure if this site uses either but who knows).

There is a piece of software called Onyx that I like very much, that can do various things like clearing various caches, triggering maintenance scripts, repair permissions (Unix stuff). It can also enable some functions built into OS X that Apple doesn't want us to use (be careful if you tinker with these). I found Onyx helped tuning up my Macs and get ride of unnecessary stuff that piles up over time. Onyx has been around for a long time, it is a very safe and well made software. It is FREE, although you won't find it on the App Store, as I dont think Apple likes it much!...
Click here: ---> Titanium Software - OnyX
Make sure you have the right version, there is a specific Onyx version for each OS X version.
Cleaning up the Mac with Onyx will require some time and multiple restarts, just follow the instructions.

[Jon in AZ]

I have the same issues you describe, Zach, and I agree with what's been said. My Mac is also long in the tooth, and an Apple tech recently determined that it has non-repairable hardware issues that prevent me from upgrading the operating system (which in turn prevents me from upgrading my browsers). "Vintage" she said, and I'm not sure if she was looking at the computer or me...

Everything works fine on my wife's laptop, which is the same year and model but does not have the hardware issue and runs up-to-date software.

It's clear the ads cause the problems, but not just on this website. Several others I use regularly do the same. For the moment, Chrome works better than Safari, but I see a new laptop in my future.

Sent from my "vintage" 2011 MacBook Pro running OSx 10.7.5 via Google Chrome 49.0.2623.112

[Kai in Seattle]

My husband, Paul, told me everyone he knows has been complaining (in the Seattle area) that their internet is slower than molasses lately. MY computer is pushing 18 now, and one of these days I have to upgrade...but so far I'm winging it. Meanwhile, for us, this site isn't any worse than most others--all of which are getting slower and slower.


I'll see if I can clear my history...if you never hear from me again, I will have probably wiped my whole hard drive accidentally! 8) XD


BEST
Kai

[ZachO]

My laptop is a 2009. However...While I'm no neat freak (at least I don't think so...), I do regularly go through cleaning-out phases that encompass my whole life. I clear out old emails, photos, data, stuff etc. I've kept my computer fairly clutter-free throughout its life and I think that's why it's still for the most part going strong. I do have a serious issue with clutter. Can't take it.

I have the latest versions and upgrades of everything, though when I was having terrible problems with my computer being sluggish a few months ago, an Apple tech told me my computer "couldn't have the latest OS" because it was too old to be compatible with it. Well, I have it, and it works fine. I think my problem was honestly that it had been possibly a year or more since I had shut my computer down. With all the trouble shooting I went through with them, they had me restart my computer many many times. It now works fine. But for a while there, trying to open system preferences or something similar would take 5 minutes.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. It seems that it's not just me, but that there's likely something with the ads on this site that will slow down an already compromised computer.

[Kai in Seattle]

I have no idea if turning a computer off is important or not. I always turn it off each day when I'm off for the night, usually around 5 PM. I, also, clear out old e-mails daily and was clearing my recycle box about every month until Windows 10, after which nothing is the same. Last time I cleared my recycle box I managed to disable my spam filter and now am getting constant ads for Russian brides and Viagra. so I'm afraid to delete anything else.


I tried clearing my history but got a warning: "You are about to delete your entire history. Vital data may be lost. Do you want to proceed?" Well...not if they put it like that, I don't! So I didn't.


I don't really notice the ads on FGRV...a few along the edges, I see, but they don't bother me. Do they slow things down? I don't know.


BEST
Kai

[Glenn Baglo]

When you clear your history, you will find that you have to log in to sites anew. If you log out anyway, it's no big deal. 'Remember me' info will have been erased.
You will also have to re-enter information, like account number for online banking. I have my account number on "remember". Still have to enter password.
Not a great hardship and no harm done.

[tschager]

Hey,

Running Firefox on Sierra and the site works well. Make sure you've got Adobe Flash add-on disabled or "ask to activate". There's another glitch with these machines that involves running on battery where the CPU goes to a crawl. Many folks say you have to get the logic board replaced but in truth one of the settings clears the issue up. It's also the glitch that causes the fan to run fast when browsing on Firefox. Here's the link to give more info: “Fixing” kernel_task CPU Problems in MacOS 10.7/10.8 | rdoxenham.com. There are other links too, so check it out. Be aware that ever since El Capitan, you have to run a thing called csrutil that you have to disable in order to edit the file in the link above. Enable csrutil when you are done.

As info, how much memory do you have? 8 gig runs well, but I upgraded to 16 and my machine has zero issues.

Terry

[ZachO]

Yep, it's a scary message, but all it means is exactly what Glenn said. Any forum or anything you stay logged-in to will require a password the next time you go there.

It's important to clear it out now and then.

Shutting down/restarting the computer seems to allow some "house cleaning". When the computer starts back up I think there are some system processes that go on and check things and clear things out. I don't think it's necessary every night, but it's helpful now and then. I think my manual says to shut down if I won't be using the computer for a few days. Something like that.

No I agree, the ads don't bother me. I don't really consciously notice them. But I'm assuming that a bunch of flashing and video ads all over the header and sides has to be taking up some cpu.

[Carl V]

OS X automatically performs some maintenance scripts, usually early in the morning between 3 to 5 am. Some scripts are done daily, some weekly, some monthly.

If the computer is off or in sleep mode (cover closed for a laptop) during this time, OS X will try to perform the scripts as soon as possible after boot or wake up. This is done in the background and usually hardly noticeable.

As I mentioned, the scripts can be manually triggered using software such as Onyx, or in Terminal if you can speak Unix.

[Mike Magee]

The mention of having a "commercial running" from this site surprised me. I don't get any video commercials. Just the static picture ads along the margins. I'm using the "default style" (old blue-page version) if that makes any difference. And I have firefox set to block popups, FWIW.

No slowdowns or crashes here for me.

[Huck]

It could be as simple as adding memory (if not already maxed out).

[Gerry]

I run an old..OLD 2000 desk top with dial up service and other then the minute of so to get to the first page it doesn't have any other issues.
We do not have cable in the town we live but others who have satalite service says it doesn't work for beans, very slow and some others who have a wifi box hooked up to the tellephone system say the same thing that it will bog down when there are alot of graphics.
I do let the computer clean itself and it gives me the option to choose the files I want to dump...I dump all that say "Temporary Internet Files" and yes when opening up a page for the first time it does take a bit longer but over all it does work faster.
I do this about once every 2 weeks.

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

The mention of having a "commercial running" from this site surprised me. I don't get any video commercials. Just the static picture ads along the margins. I'm using the "default style" (old blue-page version) if that makes any difference. And I have firefox set to block popups, FWIW.

No slowdowns or crashes here for me.

Like you I'm using the default skin. The video only happened once early in the morning. It was in the right hand margin below the recent threads. Perhaps someone was doing a test? This is the only forum I am a member of so I'm not sure what goes on elsewhere? I am starting to see video on the news sights so perhaps forums are next.