Re: clientaz.dll

From: Patrick Dickey (pd1ckey43_at_msn.com.removethis)
Date: 09/04/05 

Date: Sun, 04 Sep 2005 04:58:42 -0500

Rick wrote: {My answers are inline}
> Dear Pat,
> I installed the Taskinfo as you suggested.
> None of the running processes were using the 'clientax.dll'.
> I also looked under 'files' on the top right and did not see it there.
> And I looked under 'files' on the bottom right and did not see it there.
> However I noticed that there were 9 files that had '0' File Pos. I was
> wondering if I could delete those files since they had '0'. (In fact, two of
> the files were both named: ADSAdClient31.dll[1] and had the same path to
> Temporary Internet Files.

Part of this is my error. I misread the name of the file as
clientax.dll, when in fact, it's clientaz.dll. So, if you didn't look
for clientaz.dll, I would do so now.

As for the ADSAdClient32.dll file, that file is how Microsoft runs it's
advertisments on MSN and Hotmail (and elsewhere I suppose too). (Quoted
from http://www.techsupportforum.com/computer/topic/55747-1.html). You
can probably delete it, but it will return. However, for the rest of
the files, you'll want to search for each filename on Google before
removing them. And, I wouldn't just go by the first result, as you may
find more or varying information in other pages that it offers.

> Also, the Taskinfo showed me: Ram usage 89.27%
> File Cache 54.26%
> Windows & Programs 35.01%
> This surprised me because I wasn't even running any programs! Would my
> system even beable to run an online multiplayer game?

In the TaskInfo main window, if you scroll the list of processes to the
right, it will show you the amount of RAM that each is using. And, you
can sort by that. (You may have to go into Configuration Process
Information Columns and select the Mem columns to see this). That will
tell you what's being the memory hogs.

One nice thing about TaskInfo is that if you right click on it's icon in
the system tray, you can use the "Free RAM fast" or "Free RAM Slowly" in
Tools (also located in the Tools menu on the main disply). While some
people will say that you don't want to do this, it sometimes helps. As
for playing online multiplayer games, it depends on how much RAM they
require, and other factors (such as your processor speed, video card RAM
(which is a bit more important then computer RAM), and connection
speed.). If you've been able to play them up until now, then you should
still be able to. Although I usually run the Free RAM slowly before I
start Wolfenstein Enemy Territory.

> My OS is Windows ME and my RAM is 319MB and I have a Pentium(r)III
> processor.

I would think you should be good to go on the online multiplayer games
then. Windows ME only needs 64MB of RAM to run. One question I would
ask is how big of a Swap file do you have? To find this out, Press the
Windows Key and Pause key at the same time (Or right click on the My
Computer Icon and select Properties). There should be an Advanced tab,
with Performance Settings (Environment and Performance maybe). In
there, it will have an entry called Virtual Swap File (Virtual Memory or
Paging file are other names for it). The number there in MB should be
at least 1 1/2 times the amount of RAM you have. In your case, it
should be at least 500MB (473.5 is closer, but I rounded up). There are
conflicting opinions about setting the minimum and maximum to the same
value, so you'll want to look at the maximum value.

> Thanks for your help,
> Rick
>
Hopefully this helps you a little more. And, even though you don't have
any programs running that you can see and work with, there are a lot of
processes running in the background (as TaskInfo shows you). They eat
at your RAM just as much as Word, or Internet Explorer does. 

-- 
Patrick Dickey <pd1ckey43@removethis.msn.com>
http://www.pats-computer-solutions.com
Smile..  someone out there cares deeply for you.