Computer Question....Memory

[Tonji]

Hi all,

I've had a windows pop up saying some thing like "Virtual Memory Too Low, Increasing Size of Virtual Memory Paging Files"

I'm a complete dunderhead with regard all things computers, what does this mean? is it dangerous? do I need to do anything?

Any advice appreciated

[boldie]

I've seen that a couple of times..means nothing as far as I can tell.

I'm no computer expert though..but I'm online and bored so I thought I'd post.

Wait untill TK comes online..I'm sure he knows all about losing your memory and all that.

[The_duke]

not that great myself but see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826513 for Microsofts explanation. It tells you how to increase the size of the paging file

[M3boy]

Vista or xp?

Go to windows task manager and see what programs are using your memory - disable them from startup if you dont need them.

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php that website will tell you if you need the programs running

[relaedgc]

Happens on my laptop all the time. Just means you have loads of crap running in the background that are draining your resources.

[boldie]

Happens on my laptop all the time. Just means you have loads of crap running in the background that are draining your resources.

hmm wonder what that could be?

[Tonji]

My computer runs XP

I've been looking around & my C drive is 90% & critical, done a disk clean, that may have helped (I'm not sure).

I guess I need to move some files to the D drive (thats only 10%, why I don't know), but which files? & do I just copy them over?

Thanks M3 & Duke, I've looked at your suggestions, & its probably beyond my severely limited technical know how. I've found the Task Manager, am I supposed to be looking at the Applications or Processes?

Apologies for any ineptitude, I'm trying to do some work, with two bored & hyper daughters creating havoc, ....don't you just love peaceful Sundays! 

[The_duke]

If the C drive is down to 10% available you will have performace problems. If you want to move stuff move all your holiday snaps and other large personal files to the other drive.

[M3boy]

In task manager, click on processes.

You will see "Image name" "User name" "CPU" and "Mem Useage"

If you click twice on CPU it will list the programs that are using up your CPU - highest first
If you click twice on Mem Useage it will list the programs that are using your Memory - highest first

If you are unsure, take a screen shot (Print Screen button, then open a paint program and paste the image) and send it to me.

[Ecosse]

The problem here is definetly low hard disk space on the c: drive.

Windows will automatically increase the size of the page file (c:\pagefile.sys) if running out of RAM. That's why your getting that message.

You'll notice your system running alot slower due to all the paging activity to the drive.

Move non essential files (as suggested photos, videos etc) to your d: drive. Don't remove anything from c:\program files\

Also control panel / add remove programs. get rid of any apps you don't use.

Dougie.

[kinboshi]

Out of interest, how much memory have you got?  If you can remember...

[Tonji]

Out of interest, how much memory have you got?  If you can remember...

forgotten 


M3 thanks, I think I understand this, just need to figure out what each process does.

By deleting unused files I've got the c drive memory to 84% high, but no longer critical.

Ecosse, I'll have a go at doing this later, when my brain feels cooler & the kids are back with their mum 

[RichEO]

Only having 10% space isn't a problem if you have a 100GB hard drive. It is if you have a 20GB hard drive.

I usually move all music over to the D drive to free up space. You can then use Tweak UI to change the location of your special shortcuts etc. If you drag the music folder over it may update the locations itself, sometimes it does, sometimes it doens't.

(- If you didn't follow this it doesn't really matter. It's just getting the My Music folder on the start menu to point to the new location of your Music.)

Kinboshi is elluding to the best option though. Upgrade to 1GB of RAM and windows uses the paging file less.

You can also move the paging file to the D drive if you wanted and increase it's default size, that way windows won't have to resize it, and you won't have to move as much stuff.

[Tonji]

After a bit of fiddling around, & following some of your suggestions, I've now got Disk C: 45%, Disk D: 47%. RAM 512MB. This should improve the running, right?

Thanks all for your input 

[Ecosse]

After a bit of fiddling around, & following some of your suggestions, I've now got Disk C: 45%, Disk D: 47%. RAM 512MB. This should improve the running, right?

Thanks all for your input 

You certainly shouldn't be seeing that message again ! (for a while anyway..)

Well done.


Dougie.

edit :- last step would be Start|All Programs|Acessories|System Tools|Disk Defragmenter

Run that on your C: Drive, takes a while (maybe even overnight), you'll notice a difference.