My system is a Dell Demension XPS T500 (500mhz). I am
using Windows 98 4.10.1998 (patched and upgraded from the
MS site), IE6.0, Norton Internet Security 2004, and I just
downloaded AOL 9.0 for it's supposedly enhanced security
about a week ago. (I have been having some security
warnings from Norton about attempts by someone to contact
my computer using a Backdoor/SubSeven Trojan and other
sweet things and am paranoid.)

Prior to upgrading Norton and downloading AOL 9.0, I was
experiencing some memory problems - getting a lot of page
fault load errors at various Internet sites, getting
dangerously low memory messages when running my online
poker program (www.partypoker.com - fun btw) if I tried to
access more than two tables in one sitting without
rebooting, many unstable system warnings and system
lockups, and (I think this was caused by low memory) when
playing Warcraft III as a single player (not online) -
the game would get more and more sluggish and slow, almost
to the point of inoperability.

My first stab at curing my memory problems was to upgrade
my RAM from 128 to 384 MB. This may have helped some, but
then I started having other memory problems.

I have gotten several error messages while on the poker
site to the effect that party poker had caused a
kernel32.dll problem. I tried to solve that by adding
this to the CONFIG.SYS file:

FILES=65
BUFFERS=40
STACKS=64,512

and by deleting the Windows swap file, WIN386.SWP, and
letting it rebuild itself.

This seemed to help. I stopped getting so many page fault
errors and some other related problems seemed to clear up
a bit. However, I think I am still having some
kernel32.dll problems caused by the poker site. I can't be
sure because the error message box is completely blank
except for the OK button when it pops up - when it rains
it pours - but the result is the same - I get booted off
the site. But now, when I try to reboot the system, it
usually freezes up completely; and I have to resort to the
old tried and true "turn-it-off" method. All very
disconcerting.

If that is not enough to make me pull my hair out, I am
now getting quite often a message on the reboot that the
IPHLPAPI.dll file can't start.

Out of curiosity I ran a search on IPHLPAPI using Windows
Find and found several IPHLPAPI.dll files - one in
C:\windows\system, several in old AOL versions (5,6, and
7 - I did not get AOL 8), and one in C:\program
files\common files\AOL\ACS\net\WIN98, which I assume must
be AOL 9.0.

So I am now thinking that, since it appears AOL provides
its own IPHLPAPI.dll files, my recent download of AOL 9.0
(and its attendant IPHLPAPI.dll file) could be the source
of my recent IPHLPAPI.dll problems. Anybody familiar with
this? If so, anybody have any suggestions? Should I get
rid of AOL 9.0 and see if that solves the IPHLPAPI.dll
loading problem? Or before that, should I contact AOL and
see if they have any input on the matter? (I do kind of
like 9.0 - imagine that.)

Any ideas on a further fix for my other memory problems -
the kernel32.dll, in particular - cause I think I still
have some? (I had a message this morning that Norton Anti-
Virus could not run due to low memory.) Could it be my
video card drivers or the card itself that's causing this
problem? OR should I just say screw it and bite the bullet
and get a new box - they are cheap - and be done with it?

Also, is it possible to change my IP address? Seems like I
might be on some hacker's sh*t list from all the attempted
intrusion attempts Norton has been warning me about. By
the way, I run Norton every night and my computer has been
clean except for the occasional adware programs. I'm
hating this adware crap and if the online experience
continues to be more and more "fun," I might just become a
full-time couch potato.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.