Experiencing very dramatic swings in load times here, sometimes blazing fast, sometimes slow as hell, when slow I do get browser freezes, no crashes, longest freeze about 30 seconds.

FF 3.0.3

Ran a tracert to WC forums, seems to be on their end

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert https://forums.wincustomize.com

Tracing route to https://forums.wincustomize.com [66.28.242.222]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    10 ms     9 ms    23 ms  bas3-oshawa95_lo0_SYMP.net.bell.ca [64.230.200.1
41]
  2     8 ms     8 ms     7 ms  dis4-oshawa95_GE2-0-8_SYMP.net.bell.ca [64.230.1
62.29]
  3     9 ms     9 ms     9 ms  core1-toronto12_POS1-1-0.net.bell.ca [64.230.137
.177]
  4     9 ms     9 ms     9 ms  core3-toronto12_POS0-1.net.bell.ca [64.230.242.1
94]
  5    20 ms    20 ms    19 ms  core1-chicago23_pos13-0-0.net.bell.ca [64.230.14
7.18]
  6    22 ms    22 ms    22 ms  bx6-chicago23_POS0-2-0-0.net.bell.ca [64.230.186
.198]
  7    20 ms    20 ms    20 ms  te8-7.mpd02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.11.
29]
  8    20 ms    20 ms    20 ms  te8-1.ccr02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.6.1
78]
  9    21 ms    20 ms    21 ms  te3-1.ccr01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.24.
178]
 10    21 ms    21 ms    20 ms  vl3503.na03.b002326-3.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [
66.28.65.126]
 11    21 ms    20 ms    20 ms  StardockCorporation.demarc.cogentco.com [38.112.
15.250]
 12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 14     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 15     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 16     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 17     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 18     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 19     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 20     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 21     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 22     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 23     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 24     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 25     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 26     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 27     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 28     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 29     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 30     *        *        *     Request timed out.

Trace complete.

....we're all going somewhere....some sooner then others.......

Those pesky 'Web Protection' programs that everyone and their brothers are including in their AV and Suite apps....you know....the one's that protect us from ourselves....create a bit of havoc on some sites. That's not to say that WC is one of them.....ever notice the Stardock Corp site pops up immediately.....first time...everytime. Hmmmmmm......

Hell, for all I know, Pat forgot to feed the hamsters and they're all dead......... 

Actually it loaded pretty fast. The only thing I don't use the Impulse forums. It says my last reply was Oct 21. This thread isn't even in there.

WC has never crashed my Browser But I do get the Freeze.  The freeze can last a long time to where i open task manager and force it to shut down.

Hasnt crashed anything for me but freeze and geez the HICUPPS .. I just RUN to a different site when it starts acting funny

SED

I have never had WC crash a browser, only sites that do that for me occasionally are video heavy sites.  The servers were switched over last week, and I know before I went on vacation that there were still a few issues left to work out. 

You want everything

You want a new computer.

Nice...the ole "...you ain't layin' this rap on me" 

If I remember right, Neowin is on the same servers....now, if you really want a walk on the slow side, cruise their forums awhile.....

Neowin seems fast to me although I'm not registered there. The WC forums are fine it's just loading the home page.

And yes I want everything

For kicks a tracert and ping of WC home page

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>Tracert https://www.wincustomize.com

Tracing route to https://www.wincustomize.com [66.28.242.222]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     9 ms     9 ms     9 ms  bas3-oshawa95_lo0_SYMP.net.bell.ca [64.230.200.1
41]
  2     8 ms     8 ms     8 ms  dis4-oshawa95_GE2-0-8_SYMP.net.bell.ca [64.230.1
62.29]
  3     9 ms     9 ms     9 ms  core1-toronto12_POS1-1-0.net.bell.ca [64.230.137
.177]
  4     9 ms     9 ms     9 ms  core3-toronto12_POS0-1.net.bell.ca [64.230.242.1
94]
  5    19 ms    20 ms    20 ms  core1-chicago23_pos13-0-0.net.bell.ca [64.230.14
7.18]
  6    23 ms    22 ms    23 ms  bx6-chicago23_POS0-2-0-0.net.bell.ca [64.230.186
.198]
  7    20 ms    21 ms    20 ms  te8-7.mpd02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.11.
29]
  8    20 ms    20 ms    20 ms  te8-1.ccr02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.6.1
78]
  9    21 ms    20 ms    20 ms  te3-1.ccr01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.24.
178]
 10    20 ms    20 ms    20 ms  vl3503.na03.b002326-3.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [
66.28.65.126]
 11    21 ms    21 ms    21 ms  StardockCorporation.demarc.cogentco.com [38.112.
15.250]
 12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 14     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 15     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 16     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 17     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 18     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 19     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 20     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 21     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 22     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 23     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 24     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 25     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 26     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 27     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 28     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 29     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 30     *        *        *     Request timed out.

Trace complete.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ping https://www.wincustomize.com

Pinging https://www.wincustomize.com [66.28.242.222] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 66.28.242.222:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

Yrag, Neowin's forums are fine for me, speed-wise. WC forums load far slower than those at Neowin. Strange how many of us have different experiences.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Big Dog>tracert https://www.wincustomize.com

Tracing route to https://www.wincustomize.com [66.28.242.222]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  home [192.168.1.254]
  2    13 ms    11 ms    11 ms  76.201.159.254
  3    12 ms    11 ms    11 ms  68.249.70.50
  4    11 ms    11 ms    11 ms  bb2-g8-0.mdsnwi.ameritech.net [65.42.115.116]
  5    15 ms    17 ms    17 ms  ex1-p6-1.eqchil.sbcglobal.net [151.164.191.249]

  6    17 ms    15 ms    17 ms  te7-2.ccr02.ord03.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.11.
237]
  7    18 ms    17 ms    17 ms  vl3498.ccr02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.
1]
  8    19 ms    17 ms    17 ms  te3-1.ccr01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.24.
178]
  9    17 ms    17 ms    19 ms  vl3503.na03.b002326-3.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [
66.28.65.126]
 10    18 ms    17 ms    17 ms  StardockCorporation.demarc.cogentco.com [38.112.
15.250]
 11     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 14     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 15     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 16     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 17     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 18     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 19     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 20     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 21     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 22     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 23     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 24     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 25     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 26     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 27     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 28     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 29     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 30     *        *        *     Request timed out.

Trace complete.

C:\Documents and Settings\Big Dog>

Interesting, it would seem there is something unusual with the WC site that blocks the tracert from completing.  I get good access times to the WC Home page.

i too am getting frustrated with the slowness of WC, i have never had it crash my browser but it takes an age to load at times, regardless of which browser i use, tried it on FF, opera, IE8, Maxthon, seamonkey, chrome and safari and it's sloooooooow.

each of my browsers are plugin/toolbar free as i don't like all the extra crap and all other sites load lightning fast even if they are graphically intensive. Hopefully something will be done to correct this

hey! we love traditions...

Yes, indeed I do. Send the new one this way Yrag.

For those of you reporting problems with WC and IE7 what are your Internet Security and Privacy settings in IE7?  Are they set too high for WC?

I have my Internet Security set to medium-high and my Privacy setting for cookies is medium.

I live in the US, use IE8 on an XP Home 32 bit system on DSL and currently have no problems.  That's not to say that I at times will experience slow loading and navgating on the site.

Very good point BigDogBigFeet, those setting will make a difference.

Thanks Philly! You're right setting those too high will not allow the WC site to run properly.  I also noticed that yrag had mentioned script blockers and other security software as another source of site conflict.

I have the same settings as you.

Both are set to defaults for me.

I suspect something that gets changed once a while are causing this bug, since it happens randomly and irregularly. That is, once it happens, it randomly happens for couple of months then it's gone for long while

Last year was worse at about 4 months, and year before were shorter period. The unusual pattern confuses me - why do those happen??

I have only one thing to say here.  I have only been with WC for 4 years now. They have always come through for me. I assume they always will. They have told us they are moving the site. They have told us they're making things better. I don't know about what goes on where you all are from, but around here, when they upgrade the Interstate Highway, it really slows traffic down for a while, detours, and all.  It's called progress. Same with this site. If we just be patient and give them some time, they are making things better....progress usually means sacrificing the now, for the better future.

  I feel that , given time, WC will once again be the stable, enjoyable site we have grown accustomed to.   My 2 Cents.  

I've been using every version of Firefox since becoming a member here years ago and I've never had it crash on me. But I will agree that the site seems to always be slow, It'll start out running fine...then slow to a crawl...then I just go do something else.

It’s just a thought but could it simply be a lack of ram? Mine freezes from time to time but fortunately only when I try to get too fancy in PSP so I’m sure it’s a ram thing with me.

I have never had a "crash" using FF.  That being said, there have been many times when the site was all but useless in terms of navigating  throufh the galleries , etc. The page draws just take forever.  Ten mnites later all is fine.  Ten minutes later slower than watching rocks grow.  I am aware of the server transitions etc.  Be that as it may, it seems to me that this random lack of performance has been the case since Impulse came to the fore, although I certainly have no way fo proving that.  The times of poor performance have dramatically increased without doubt.

see the thing is,these problems are "new" 2 months ago, never ever had any problem with WC loading,none whatsoever

now it is time for WSI  (Wincustomize Scene investigation (another version of CSI) to investigate these recent events