Slow web page action - spinning rainbow beach ball

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Slow web page action - spinning rainbow beach ball

My three year old G4 imac has developed a significant lag in processing web form entry or moving up and down downloaded web pages. For example, I often get the spinning beach ball for 10-15 seconds while the computer waits for my cursor to take effect in a web form entry line. Or a webpage will load in, and then the beach ball will start spinning. This happens with both safari and MS Explorer for mac, and I don't think the problem is my cable modem connection, since down/upload speeds seem to test fine. My hard drive has gotten fairly full - like 75%. ( I also sometimes get the beachball after requesting a print, but that doesn't seem so bad). Can anyone suggest a few ideas as to how I can return my browsing to its former crisp reactions? Thanks!

imac G4 800 Mhz Mac OS X (10.3.9)

imac G4 800 Mhz Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Dec 31, 2005 4:52 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 1, 2006 9:01 AM in response to misternut

Misternut,

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

Try emptying the Cache (on the Safari menu). Keep that Hard disk space reasonably clear. Are you trying to do anything else at the same time? Have you installed anything else that could be having an effect?

mrtotes

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Answer 2

Jan 1, 2006 11:25 AM in response to misternut

hi,
Have you been adding Dashboard items? There are a number of them that will suck the life out of your internet browsing speed. I have just turned them all off and when i want to use them i just call them up.

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Answer 3

misternut Author

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Jan 2, 2006 11:17 AM in response to Adam Coates

Thanks for your suggestions. I did clear the cache and I think that has helped - the "spinning" time has reduced somewhat, although the condition still remains. I have installed some things recently, like Ofoto, Turbotax, and Lodal Easy Share - do you think they might be effecting my machine, even when they arent' loaded and in use? Thanks...

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Answer 4

misternut Author

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Jan 2, 2006 11:21 AM in response to Bill Johanson

Bill - do you mean have I been adding Dock items? I don't think too much about the Dock and I have about 20 items in my dock. How would I turn them off - drag to trash and "remove from dock"? thanks much...

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Answer 5

Jan 2, 2006 11:33 AM in response to misternut

Bill was talking about Dashboard Widget which are a very nice feature of Tiger, as you are running Panther you will not have any.

Not sure about those applications. I was more thinking along the lines of software that uses the Internet regularly (like Widgets in Tiger)....

mrtotes

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Answer 6

Jan 28, 2006 1:00 PM in response to Adam Coates

How much Hard Disk space is usable? 25-30 GB? How does one clear it?
I have started to have "the spinning beach ball of death" on Safari, even when I first boot up. Pages take a half-minute to a minute to load, or just seem to stop altogether.
I have a router attached to a DSL line, and it used to be fast. I haven't loaded anything in except normal upgrades. No extra drain anywhere. I found another thread dealing with AirPort cards wearing out. Is that a possibility?

iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.8)

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Answer 7

Jan 28, 2006 1:08 PM in response to Nancy Rathke

Oh, I know how to clear it: move files to external drive, or trash them. But is there something about operating space that is more subtle? Or, when files are gone, are they truly cleared? I don't want my computer junked up with stuff I don't need, but I'm afraid to clear things without knowing how important they are.

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Answer 8

misternut Author

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Jan 29, 2006 4:05 PM in response to misternut

Thanks for the advice above. Things are much faster now, and I think the primary cure was reducing the amount of data stored on my hard drive. I was pretty close to full, and a lot of deletions (and the critical step of emptying the Trash) got things working better. Thanks again.

imac G4 800 Mhz Mac OS X (10.3.9)

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Answer 9

Jan 29, 2006 8:11 PM in response to misternut

One of the best things I ever did was buy an external drive, 250 GB, and I use that for backup and for movie, photo, and music files that I don't need right at hand. That's how I can keep 25-30 GB for regular business.
They are a snap to install and are truly worth the money. I was advised to get the biggest one I could afford--you fill it up fast!
But I still have the rainbow beach ball, so that's not my problem. Wish I knew what the problem is.

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