IE7 and Outlook HTML e-mail create is slow
Using XP-SP2, IE7, Outlook 2003 and the HTML format, there is a significant typing delay creating new e-mail messages, both using stationary and not. Using text or rich text, there is no lag. Also, IE7 in general seemed slower.
I have eliminated anti-spyware and ant-virus as a cause. Office Detect and Repair did not fix anything.
Resetting IE7 fixes the problem.
Control Panel>Internet Options>Advanced>Restore>Reset.
Caution: this resets the IE7 add-ins also, which must be investigated and re-enabled as necessary.
Open IE7>Tools>Manage Add-ons>Enable or Disable add-ons.
I have traced the issue down to SpyBot Immunization and Spyware Blaster Enabling Protection for Restricted Sites. Either one causes the problem. This is repeatable. The problem started around 1/20/07.
In addition, I have found that Sun Microsystems BHO (ssv.dll) slows IE7.
Disable SSV Helper class - (It's from Sun Microsystems) It's a BHO - ssv.dll
Close browser and then re-open.
Cheers
I Know What's Causing This!
Hey Everyone!
Looks like we are the only people on the earth who know about this problem, and that's a shame because it really stinks! Anyway, after reading through the posts I was definitely able to apply the work-around fix of unimmunizing my system, but that to me was unacceptable, so I have been pounding away at this in my spare time.
Okay, I still do not know how to permanently apply a fix for this, but I DEFINITELY know why your typing/e-mail create/e-mail open is so slow. Of course, the amount of slowdown will vary per-machine, but that is irrelevant.
I decided to run a process viewer on my machine, and I was amazed to discover that with Immunization enabled, Outlook was literally scanning each and every single blocked domain that Spybot had added to the Security Zones every time I opened an e-mail or even typed a letter. Yes, each time I pressed "A" on my keyboard, my CPU was running through all 13,000+ entries in the registry's Zonemaps. In fact, anything that had to do with HTML text editing was causing this. Opening a HTML-formatted e-mail, typing HTML-formatted text, or even highlighting said text would all result in my CPU having to run a marathon. The more you type, the more gets added to the CPU's work queue, and you can see where the progressive slowdown comes from. With Immunization turned off (i.e. all bad domains removed from the Zonemaps section of my registry), not only does Outlook work flawlessly, but what's most peculiar is that unlike before it doesn't even try to scan the Zonemaps.
So, long story short:
Immunization turned on = CPU makes 13,000+ queries to your registry.
Immunization turned off = CPU takes a breather and doesn't even check.
You get the point... :eek:
It would make a lot more sense if during the latter, the CPU did check the registry, but because the list was either non-existent or short, everything moved smoother. However, since it is not like this, I would have to assume that there is either some setting in Outlook that can be changed, or that Spybot (or the kind folks that code and operate it) could hold the secret.
Is there a secret setting or registry entry?
Is there a particular Zonemap that should be changed?
Is there some control somewhere else in Windows that can be modified?
These are the questions that I pose to the readers and to the forum masters. One thing is for certain, this is a very real and very annoying problem!
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BTW: Since this problem seems isolated to this message board, perhaps we can start by trying to find some similarities between our software/hardware setups. Obviously, I know for a fact that the main issue here is with the addition of IE7, but because it is so closely integrated with Outlook (when viewing messages in HTML mode), I figured it wouldn't hurt to also see if we could spot some additional similarities to help narrow down the cause of the problem.
My Specs:
-Hardware-
AMD Athlon 64 3500+
2GB RAM
2x 250 GB HDs
ATI Radeon x3100 w/512MB DRAM
-Software-
Windows XP Media Center Edition (AKA: Win XP Pro SP2)
Microsoft Office 2003 (Includes Outlook)
Norton's AntiVirus 2006 w/Office Scanning Turned On
Internet Explorer 7 (Primary Browser)
Firefox 2.0
Netscape Browser 8.0
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Good hunting, folks! Let's win one for the Gipper...
-Ronald Reagan
I've just wasted hours......
Today I discovered I couldn't type emails. Googling Outlook 2003 + slow didn't find anything and it was some time before I discovered it was only in HTML format that the problem was happening. New search and found this thread. Thanks!
There has been a rash of MS updates in the last day or so coming through progressively on all three pc's although currently I only have this problem on one. This also coincides with the fact that from yesterday sending and receiving mail seemed to take ages.
In fact I have just rechecked and the other two are still ok. They don't have either spy programs installed although it seems that might be a red herring.
Is this a cunning plan to make us move to Vista in desparation?
I've just wasted hours......
:oops: Sorry; double posted and can't see where "delete post" is hidden
Number of IE7/Spybot issues increasing
After this last Windows Update 2 days ago, I started experiencing the issue with slow typing in Outlook and slow performance in opening HTML e-mails in general. Similar to what I did about a month ago on my in-laws computer, removing the immunization from Spybot restored the performance in Outlook.
I would like to keep the immunization, but would prefer to not reduce my security level in Outlook and feel it is much more likely for Spybot to come out with a fix for what is likely a IE7 problem than for Microsoft to do it.
Dell E510 Dual core 3.0 GHz
1 GB RAM
Windows XP Media Edition SP2
IE7
McAfee AntiVirus and Firewall
Let me know what else you'd need to know. It would be nice to get this nailed down.
Rgds/Mark M.
General Re-Summary Of Problem.
My Fellow Americans, (I just felt like using it this one time!)
So as I've been reading through the various posts from all of the readers, I've noticed that some people may not know exactly what's causing this. Obviously, the thread is getting a little deep, so naturally many people may be losing the facts in the process because they're getting buried under a bunch of other helpful posts. So to make things easier, I just wanted to sum up the major issues, and to see if I couldn’t clear some ideas up in the process.
Okay, here goes... :eek:
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(The Problem)
When typing or accessing HTML-formatted text in Outlook 2003 (possibly other versions of Outlook as well), there is a great slowdown with either typing or opening an e-mail.
(The Cause)
This problem is ultimately triggered by a combination of factors. Although there have been many potential causes listed for this problem, the root causes are as follow:
- Outlook 2003
- Internet Explorer 7
- Spybot 1.4 + Immunizations (Not At Fault, But Does Add To The Delay)
(The Summary)
By running Spybot Immunizations, Spybot is placing several thousand entries into a user's registry in order to help specify which websites Internet Explorer should not under any circumstances open or run. These are known as "bad domains," and they are actually a very handy way of enhancing security in Internet Explorer.
The main problem is that inexplicably, Outlook will scan this entire list of "bad domains" each time that it has to access an HTML-formatted e-mail or any of its text. For example: If you start Outlook and open an HTML-formatted e-mail, you may notice a delay. Conversely, if you create a new e-mail and begin to type, you may notice a gradual typing delay that will eventually build into a complete stall with no text appearing until you stop typing.
The reason for this awkward behavior is because Outlook is instructing your CPU to scan each and every single entry listed as a "bad domain," which when combined with the 15,000+ (at present) entries that are also added by Spybot in addition to anything that may already be there, causes a tremendous slowdown.
(The Solution)
Officially, there is none yet. However, there are several work-around solutions. These are:
1) Each time Outlook is started, go to Tools/Options (in your menu bar), click on the Security tab, and then click OK to exit.
- This is a revised solution to the one I originally proposed, and after doing more tests I noticed that no change/revert was needed under the Security tab, only an OK click. -
2) Don't use HTML formatting.
- By disabling HTML formatting in your Outlook Mail Format options you circumvent the problem entirely, as all e-mails (not matter what their original format) are presented in either RTF or plain text mode. Although in theory this is a safer way of viewing e-mails, many people (myself included) do not wish to use this format setting. -
3) Using Spybot, go to Immunize, and click the "Undo" arrow in between the "Check Again" magnifying glass icon and the "Help" icon.
- Doing this will instruct Spybot to remove all of the entries that it had previously entered into your "bad domains" list, and thus greatly improving (if not entirely) solving your slowdown. *It is important to know that by doing this, the real nature of the problem is not resolved, in addition to this fix turning off what would otherwise be a very strong security feature offered by Spybot. This can of course be re-enabled at anytime by going to Immunize and by clicking the green cross icon labeled "Immunize." -
(The Questions)
Why does resetting my Internet Explorer fix this problem?
- Resetting Internet Explorer, amongst other things, clears all of the entries listed as "bad domains" in the registry. Doing this removes the enlarged list that is ultimately scanned by the CPU when reviewing HTML-formatted text or e-mails. This problem will absolutely return as soon as any substantial entries are replaced in this section of the registry, i.e. when running a Spybot Immunization. -
Where are the "bad domains" stored?
- To answer a previous reader's post, this list of "bad domains" can be viewed manually with the registry editor under:
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains"
This list includes any domains that have been added by default, manually by the user, and by any other program (such as Spybot).
*Please be advised the editing the registry manually or accidentally deleting important keys/entries could result in serious system software damage. Do not view or edit the registry unless you are confident in your abilities. -
Are Windows Updates to blame?
- Possibly, although not in my case. Although this may be different for other users, I can personally comment and say that I do not believe this to be the result of a Windows Update. I myself do not run an Automatic Update (permanently disabled for all user accounts), and I do not visit the Microsoft Windows Update website unless I am going there to manually download a hotfix or new software. In this case, I did not have any hotfixes or anything else of that nature installed, and my computer began exhibiting the typing delay exclusively and immediately following my upgrade to Internet Explorer 7. Obviously, with each Spybot Immunization update that I performed, my problem continued to get worse, as my CPU progressively had to run through more and more entries in the "bad domains." I have a very well-powered machine that is relatively new (9 months old), and in my case I can attest to not having many of the components associated with Windows Updates (such as Windows Defender) installed on my computer. -
Will a Service Pack or Windows Update to either my Windows or my Office 2003 fix the delay?
- At present, no. No Service Pack or individual update yet exists that addresses this problem. -
Does my Anti-Virus program (such as Norton's or McAfee) cause this problem?
- Fortunately, it does not. This problem is not in any way caused by the presence of an Internet Security or Anti-Virus program. This has been verified by me, as well as by many other competent users. -
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Well folks, there you have it. A nice and complete summary for anyone who may be visiting this thread for the first time. If I neglected to mention any other important facts, please feel free to tack them on as replies. Of course, I will also post again should I have any more answers or input to give.
I can only hope that my continuing research turns up more answers. Of course, judging by the explosive progress of this thread, it is likely that Microsoft will jump on this before I or anyone else ever figures out what's really wrong. Or at least I hope that they would! Anyway, I have filed a bug report with Microsoft detailing my findings, so hopefully they will be able to act upon it and many other similar ones that I'm sure they have also received.
Until this happens, my only course of action is to say, "Mr. Microsoft, please tear down this delay!" :laugh:
My Best,
-Ronald Reagan