Not sure if Hardware or Software problem

euclid314 · 01-18-2002, 09:08 AM

I have a Dell 1.9, P-4, WinXP, 640k RDRam, with GeForce3 Ti500 64M video card. My aquarium is doing great. I downloaded to my screen saver, when I first paid. Now I have the download on my desktop, as recommended. (I assume the screen saver download is still there, I don't use it as my screen saver, though.) As I said, everything is great... except one thing. I'm getting a small jerk in the picture, about 4 seconds apart.
(When I downloaded the desktop aquarium, it worked perfectly for 1 day.) Is this a software or hardware problem?
Thanks for any advice.

feldon34 · 01-18-2002, 12:37 PM

Try pressing Ctrl-S to stabilize the animation.

It sounds like you have some background task like an anti-virus program that is typing up the CPU every 4 seconds.

euclid314 · 01-18-2002, 12:53 PM

feldon23,
I disabled Norton Anti-Virus... No help
I hit Ctrl + S (You DO mean the letter S?) no help
I was wrong about the timing, it's more like every second. Motion stops, then continues.
I can live with this, but if there is a fix, I would like to find it.
Thanks for your attention and quick reply... as usual. Jim

Jim Sachs · 01-18-2002, 02:05 PM

If there is a network connection, the network software stops everything to check the connection once per second.

feldon34 · 01-18-2002, 04:39 PM

...Depending on the quality of the modem.
If it's a $30 Winmodem, then yes. If it's a $80 or external modem, this won't happen.

These stopples don't seem to occur if you have high-speed Internet.

If you have DSL and are using that Enternet 300 software, that could be the problem.

Jim Sachs · 01-18-2002, 07:28 PM

Yes, an open modem connection can cause timing glitches, too, but I was speaking of actually being on a network. We have had a lot of these "1-second" problems, and in most cases it has proven to be the network software. Turning it off smoothed out the Aquarium timing.

euclid314 · 01-19-2002, 09:10 AM

Good Morning Guys,
Here is a short history of my computer. Dell 8200 1.9GHz, P-4, WinXP, PC-800 640k RDRam, 64MB GeForce3 Ti-500. Computer was set-up Jan. 2nd, 2002. I had to remove the NIC card, in order to install the Intel 2100 DSL modem. (All ports were FULL when received computer.) I don't network, so it was picked as the one to remove. My DSL service is through Qwest, ISP is Qwest.net. 640/272.
Wonder if the fact that I downloaded to the screen saver first, and then the desktop, might have some effect? Option to use as a screen saver is still here, never deleted it. But I am using a different screen saver. (Would not know how to delete screen saver, anyway.... but could find out, if you think it might help.)
I think I might wait to see if the new version corrects the problem, when it comes out.

Socrates · 01-19-2002, 12:03 PM

Just for the record.

All Boradband connections are network connections.

Yes even the internal and USB ones have a network interface.

Don't know about how it all affects the ss or why but just to make it clear...

01-18-2002, 09:08 AM	#1
euclid314 Mathematician Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 8	Not sure if Hardware or Software problem I have a Dell 1.9, P-4, WinXP, 640k RDRam, with GeForce3 Ti500 64M video card. My aquarium is doing great. I downloaded to my screen saver, when I first paid. Now I have the download on my desktop, as recommended. (I assume the screen saver download is still there, I don't use it as my screen saver, though.) As I said, everything is great... except one thing. I'm getting a small jerk in the picture, about 4 seconds apart. (When I downloaded the desktop aquarium, it worked perfectly for 1 day.) Is this a software or hardware problem? Thanks for any advice. Only the dead have seen the end of war. ~ Plato

01-18-2002, 12:37 PM	#2
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	Try pressing Ctrl-S to stabilize the animation. It sounds like you have some background task like an anti-virus program that is typing up the CPU every 4 seconds. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

01-18-2002, 12:53 PM	#3
euclid314 Mathematician Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 8	feldon23, I disabled Norton Anti-Virus... No help I hit Ctrl + S (You DO mean the letter S?) no help I was wrong about the timing, it's more like every second. Motion stops, then continues. I can live with this, but if there is a fix, I would like to find it. Thanks for your attention and quick reply... as usual. Jim Only the dead have seen the end of war. ~ Plato

01-18-2002, 02:05 PM	#4
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,816	If there is a network connection, the network software stops everything to check the connection once per second. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

01-18-2002, 04:39 PM	#5
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	...Depending on the quality of the modem. If it's a $30 Winmodem, then yes. If it's a $80 or external modem, this won't happen. These stopples don't seem to occur if you have high-speed Internet. If you have DSL and are using that Enternet 300 software, that could be the problem. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

01-18-2002, 07:28 PM	#6
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,816	Yes, an open modem connection can cause timing glitches, too, but I was speaking of actually being on a network. We have had a lot of these "1-second" problems, and in most cases it has proven to be the network software. Turning it off smoothed out the Aquarium timing. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

01-19-2002, 09:10 AM	#7
euclid314 Mathematician Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 8	Reply to Jim S. and feldon23 Good Morning Guys, Here is a short history of my computer. Dell 8200 1.9GHz, P-4, WinXP, PC-800 640k RDRam, 64MB GeForce3 Ti-500. Computer was set-up Jan. 2nd, 2002. I had to remove the NIC card, in order to install the Intel 2100 DSL modem. (All ports were FULL when received computer.) I don't network, so it was picked as the one to remove. My DSL service is through Qwest, ISP is Qwest.net. 640/272. Wonder if the fact that I downloaded to the screen saver first, and then the desktop, might have some effect? Option to use as a screen saver is still here, never deleted it. But I am using a different screen saver. (Would not know how to delete screen saver, anyway.... but could find out, if you think it might help.) I think I might wait to see if the new version corrects the problem, when it comes out. Only the dead have seen the end of war. ~ Plato

01-19-2002, 12:03 PM	#8
Socrates Sage Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 1,529	Just for the record. All Boradband connections are network connections. Yes even the internal and USB ones have a network interface. Don't know about how it all affects the ss or why but just to make it clear... Bat rays? We don't need no stinking bat rays!