RE: [IUG] Mouse activity and Millennium freeze-ups

["Brown, Alan" <A dot Brown at bury dot gov dot uk>]

Mark 

We had a similar problem with our Milcirc clients but our problem did turn out to be a lack of RAM (our staff were also using other functions e.g. office, cd rom network at the same time). We upgraded from 256 to 512 (when we were on silver) and have had no problems since. Most of our staff are mouse users

Alan Brown
Library Systems Liaison Officer
Bury Metro Libraries
Resource Services
Textile Hall
Manchester Rd
Bury BL9 0DG
0161 253 5877
http://bury.gov.uk/libraries


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Stoffan [mailto:mstoffan at wncln dot lib dot unca dot edu] 
Sent: 29 November 2005 20:10
To: 'IUG INNOPAC List'
Subject: [IUG] Mouse activity and Millennium freeze-ups


We're a consortium of three libraries sharing a single Millennium system. For the past few months, we've been aggressively trying to migrate our staffs away from the Telnet functions by encouraging use of the Millennium modules as much as possible. Many staff members report frequent client freezes, as many as 9-12 per day, which is generating a negative mind-set toward use of the Millennium clients. In speaking with help desk staff, they recommended the usual actions such as documenting the specific activities of the staff members, identifying conflicting software, etc. We've been doing this now for some weeks.

* The problem occurs in about 75% of the clients.

* It occurs at all three sites.

* It occurs in all modules.

* There is no particular workflow, procedure or function identifiable as a common thread.

* Many of the machines experiencing the problem have no software differences from the machines that don't experience the problem.

* Network issues don't seem to be a factor.

* The computers across the three campuses are a mix of Dell and Gateway PC's of various models. All are Pentiums having at least 512 megs of RAM with many having a full gigabyte, and they meet or exceed the requirements listed by III. 

* The Java engines have been updated to the current release on CSDirect.

* We're running Release 2005 LE (scheduled to install 2005 and 2006 LE in early January)

The only thing we've noted is that users who rely on hot keys rather than the mouse to move around the screen experience a marked reduction in freeze-ups. Several staff members have pointedly avoided using the mouse and the their incidences of lockups dropped from several per day to only 1-2 per week. 

Has anyone else experienced this type of behavior and can any additional light be shed on it? Some staff estimate they lose 10% of their output so it's not just a minor, occasional annoyance. I'd really like to figure out what's causing this problem and solve it if possible.

Thanks,
Mark

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 
Mark A. Stoffan 
Network Librarian, Western North Carolina Library Network 
1 University Heights, CPO 1500 
Asheville, NC  28804                        (828) 232-5095 (office) 
mstoffan at wncln dot lib dot unca dot edu        (828) 231-6285 (cell) 
wncln.lib.unca.edu                            (828) 232-5137 (fax)