Memory

I have slowed up to almost stop I have a window come up that informs me that my virtual memory is to low. Now I really do not know what to do... not very confidant don't want to crash the blasted thing.... any fool....proof suggestions please

 

I am no expert Rosietu but sometimes if you just switch computer off and wait 12 seconds (my pc man told me) and then log on again - it sometimes does the trick.

If it doesn't perhaps PCMedic might come on line!

 

Rosietu - that message usually means a programm has hit a gremlin eg. its not opened or closed properly and the computuer is using chunks of memory to work. Sometimes you can clear it by just closing all your programmes and then trying again - or restarting your computer. If it happens a second time on restart then as jjordie says shut it down - but I would leave it for 30 seoonds rather than 12.

If it regularly happens, then try and identify the programme that may be causing it and uninstall and reinstal.

 

Thanks girls I have done that...re the gremlin will try to work that one out.

 

Virtual memory is an area of your Hard Disc which the computer sets aside to use as RAM (memory) for itself. If despite restarting etc. you still get the message then you can increase the Virtual memory quite easily. I think there was a thread on it on here earlier.


Found it!

Virtual memory is what XP creates on your hard drive as extra RAM. If your machine is running out of memory, you need either to plug in extra memory chips or manually increase the amount of space reserved by XP for its use as Ram.
Go to Control Panel Double Click on the symbol labelled System. In the Panel which appears find the word Advanced (top right) Click on that. On the next panel which appears find the section labelled Performance. Click on the word Settings in here. In the next Panel again click on the word Advanced. At the bottom of the next panel you should find a section labelled Virtual memory.
Click on change. On the next Panel you can actually change the amount of Virtual memory set aside for XP to use. There is a recommended amount there, change Minimum and Maximum to that amount. Then Click on Set. If it will not allow you then remove the tick from the box which say System Managed Size. Then Click on all the OKs until the panels disappear.

 

You are probably short of hard disk space, try deleting your temporary internet items (Tools > Internet options > Temporary files > delete files...), end emptying the recycle bin.

 

I empty mine by going to Content 1E5,im not sure how i got to this but i do know that when you delete as Sparkle has said these files are still in there and on 1E5 they will take them out,i think perhaps i found this by typing in Delete files and search on the web,not to sure of this

 

Fran... found the gremlin..somehow I don't know how... I had activated the Windows firewall...as I was already running Zone Alarm the two were having a punchup closed Windows reinstalled Zone Alarm seems to have fixed the problem. I will print of the info about increasing the memory bit shattered at the moment thanks every body it was great of you.

 

Good to hear and glad you found the problem.

 

I too had the memory low notice pop up ..I thought it was because of that software i have installed..So i have defragmented cleaned everything and deleted rubbish and it seems to be okay again..I was thinking of buying some memory..But have decided i need a new pc instead a bigger and better one..I am working on it at the moment ! :rolleyes:

 

Palustris..thanks i have now increased my virtual memory and its a bit faster..guess it will do for now.. :D

 

As mentioned before, you do need to delete temporary files to make more space.

Another thing which slows computers down is registry references which are no longer valid. Windows is good at registering references for future use but does not remove them when they are not needed. I use ErrorGuard which finds and removes these.

 

temporary files will not make any difference to the running of the computer memory

two things you need to do......go to start.....then run.....in the run box type.....msconfig........when the msconfig screan appears you need to click on the startup tab.......in here you will find all the programs that use up your physicall memory on the computer, this is the reason why your computer is using virtual memory.

untick the programs that you do not use......do not untick antivirus or fiewalls.....it will say next to the ticks what the programs are.....if you are unsure as to what the programs are send me a photo on here and i will help

Or you can go to your local computer shop and ask for a memory upgrade.

[ 09. November 2006, 09:59 PM: Message edited by: PCMedic ]

 

Temporary internet files DO make a big difference - quote often they take up so much space on HD that there's no room for virtual memory.

 

I agree with sparkle. The first time I knew about .TMP I had thousands and once I'd cleared them I had no further probs.

I also recently discovered another cache of .tmp associated with photography and image editing. It's called the scratch file and I got a pop-up wanring saying it was full whereupon the computer just froze!

I Googled for a solution and found that you do a search for *.tmp and then select all and delete them. They won't all get deleted because some are in use but it made a heck of a difference to the computer's running.