Java SE (Java Platform, Standard Edition)

I've been trying to figure out why I get browser hangs for about 4years now. 3 Different computers, multiple OS installs and I WAS stumped. UNTIL NOW!

Every time I have installed a fresh OS... the browsers fly. No hangs, stalls. Fast page loads. Then within a few days browsers begin to hang or stall on page loading. Refresh no help. Requires browser close and reopen. Sometimes more than once.

I've always tried to pay attention to exactly when this occurs thinking its some software I'm installing since I usually re-install most of the same apps in the new OS build. I've thought maybe its related to the VIA chipsets since both my old PCs (3000XP not that old) used the same chipsets. Even bought a new LAN card to test if it was the onboard LAN. Same problem occured.

Microsoft patches maybe? Bellsouth latency problem? I've called Bellsouth a half dozen times over 4 years. On their suggestion...I've been through 3 LAN cables and 4 westell modems 2100, 2200, 6100. Back to a 2200 now.

I just built a new system. Biostar Tf550SE Mobo/ AMD X2 5600+/ 2GB Adata PC6400 DDR2...etc.

System extremely fast... and to my surprise NO broswer hangs. Instant page loads. FINALLY! I was just waiting for the slowdown to occur...but it didn't... UNTIL TODAY!!

What did I do differently? INSTALLED JAVA!!! I was trying to do an internet speed test and it required Java....so....I installed JRE Vers 6 Update2. Rebooted after install. IMMEDIATELY browser hangs in IE6 SP1 and Firefox2. IT FINALLY HIT ME after all this time what's been causing this for 4 years!!!

I checked my browser settings and all were ok. Took forever for MSN home page to come up. Ocassionally it loaded a bit slower than normal but 6 of 10 times it would just hang on IE6 and Firefox2. I Immediately uninstalled JRE and rebooted. Guess what? PROBLEM FIXED!!

I began searching for references to Java and browser hangs and found LOTS of topics....mainly involving older versions but some discussing V6 Upd2 so....I guess this issue still exists!

Is there ANYONE using JRE who has had this problem and cured it WITHOUT uninstalling Java. Would be nice to be able to run java based applications. Some pages don't work correctly without it.

At this point however....I'm tempted to keep it OUT of my programs list unless I go to a site that absolutely needs it. Then I'll install it, do what I have to ...and IMMEDIATELY uninstall it again.

There has to be a better solution than this though....

Anyone???

(Least I found the problem after all this time. )

For all who respond...Thanks for your time.
Dave