Community Newsletter: Q&A: What do you mean, Windows Virtual Memory is too low?!
- 6/28/07 3:54 PM
Virtual memory
by wbowblis - 6/19/07 6:41 AM In reply to: What do you mean, Windows Virtual Memory is too low?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Virtual memory is space on your hard drive that Windows uses when you need more memory. Windows swaps data from silicon memory into a file (pagefile.sys, usually a hidden file, don't mess with it) and pulls data stored there into memory. The default in every version of Windows I've used recently is for Windows to manage virtual memory. The file size varies with need and usually has an upper size limit based on the size of your hard drive. What may be happening to you is that your hard drive has too little space left and the space for the pagefile is too small. Try cleaning up your drive. Windows has a drive clean utility you can reach by double clicking on "My Computer", selecting the C drive and right clicking on it. Choose "properties". It should open on the "General" tab which has a "Disk Cleanup" button. A good alternative is CCleaner, which I prefer. Either way, you want to delete temporary files and you probably want to delete old browser files. You might want to have someone knowledgeable looking over your shoulder when you do this, since there are files that you might not want to delete. They probably won't cause a problem if you delete them, but you may want to keep them anyway.
I prefer to set up a permanent pagefile which should prevent this from happening, but it takes up a good sized chunk of your hard drive even when it contains nothing. It's a fairly simple job to set up, but a mistake can make a real mess, so I don't advise doing that unless you know what you're doing or have help that knows.
Windows Virtual Memory its easy to solve
by joel_costa - 6/19/07 7:04 AM In reply to: What do you mean, Windows Virtual Memory is too low?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi! That problem is very easy to solve.
First clear all temporary files and regestry errors, I sugest you to use CCleaner, you can fin it on CNet Download secction.
Then reeboot your sistem to completly clean your temp folders and files.
After reeboot just folow this steps: (do this only if you need more virtual memory)
Click on Start -> Control Pannel -> System
Select the advanced TAB then click on the first "defenitions" button that refears to performance.
Again select Advanced TAB.
It Will appear 3 diferent spaces on last you have a button "Change". Click on it and you will have on your screen the Virtual Memory settings.
Choose the hard disk unit then click on the first checbox "personalized Size". Now, for them minimum value don't change it to a lower number because it might result on a crash to your sistem, on maximum size choose how many Mb do you want do make available for Virtual Memory. I sugest 2048 or 3072 depending on free space on hardisk. (theese sizes will give to your windows 2 or 3 Gb to work).
Another important step check if your computer has spyware or viruses like trojans. Virtal Memory faillures normally ocours when you have too many programs executing.
So I Hope it could be helpfull.
Virtual Memory
by Jodyjo06 - 6/19/07 10:10 AM In reply to: What do you mean, Windows Virtual Memory is too low?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virtual-memory.htm
Here is a link to explain V memory. You can turn it up in your computer by going to control panel, system, advanced, performance settings the advanced tab, and click change and set it to a higher number.
It's probably already on automatic
by ````` - 7/11/07 1:12 PM In reply to: Virtual Memory by Jodyjo06so "permanently turning it up" may completely bankrupt you of hard drive space and then windows will refuse to start, even in safe mode!
Try CCleaner
by vattan2005 - 7/22/07 2:57 PM In reply to: Virtual Memory by Jodyjo06This free ware should do a splendid job of clearing out your junk files.
Harry
http://harry.cckerala.com
Expanding Windows Virtual Memory
by JCipo - 6/19/07 6:14 PM In reply to: What do you mean, Windows Virtual Memory is too low?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Windows is so complex that even experienced users forget about the Help and Support section that exists. I use both XP and Vista and by going to this after clicking on Start or the little microsoft circle, you just type in Virtual Memory. Now sometimes an old program is not so compatible with the Windows version and runs into this error message. By right clicking the mouse on the program you want to run and going to properties tab you can go to the compatible window and select the program to run in other systems like Windows 98.
Good instructions, mate!
by ````` - 7/11/07 1:20 PM In reply to: Expanding Windows Virtual Memory by JCipoI clicked start (XP) and began typing but no help appeared. I had a program ask me "please do not run this program in compatibility mode" even though I had not told XP to, so the "run in compatibility mode" must be a leftover feature from Windows 2000 Prfessional.
Low virtual memory
by El Alquimista - 6/19/07 11:38 PM In reply to: What do you mean, Windows Virtual Memory is too low?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Any programs currently running on your computer must reside in memory. These programs include Windows itself and any programs that you have started; they may be running in the foreground – where you interact with them, or in the background – where they act on their own or await your interaction.
The main memory in your computer is the physical memory, or RAM (random access memory). This physical memory generally is not large enough to hold all of the running programs, so Windows sets up some additional virtual memory as a file on the hard drive. It then swaps portions of the programs between the physical and virtual memories, always having the currently active portion of a program in the physical memory.
Windows sets the default minimum size of virtual memory at 1.5 times that of the RAM, and the maximum size at 3 times the minimum. Windows then manages the actual size, expanding and contracting it as needed within these limits – provided you have adequate space on the drive. You can override this and set the minimum and maximum limits of virtual memory yourself; however, I usually do not recommend this for most users.
The message that virtual memory is low means that the programs you are running need more space, but Windows cannot find enough within the constraints imposed. So, lets try to find out why this is so in your case. You say this problem has only arisen recently, and this suggests it may be due to recently added programs or perhaps due to your hard drive getting too full.
First I would check the drive: Go to Start, click on My Computer, right click on the hard drive icon, click on Properties, and select the General tab. If you don’t have at least eight or ten percent free space, the drive is getting too full. This would be a good time to perform a Disk Cleanup by clicking that button, even if the disk is not full; you probably will recover quite a few megabytes of wasted space. If the disk is too full, you should also archive some seldom-needed files to CDs or to an external drive.
Too many programs running can also deplete your virtual memory, and you may have some running that you do not know about – especially if you have installed new ones recently. Some programs (actually, the programmers) egotistically think that you will always want that program running; therefore, when it is installed, it places itself in your startup group. It is now always sitting there, idling in the background and using up resources, even if you seldom use it. To find such programs, go to Start and click on Run. Enter msconfig in the dialog box and click OK. When the System Configuration Utility comes up, select the Startup tab. You will see a list of programs that can start immediately when Windows boots; if there is a check in the box at the left of the name, the program will start; if there is no check, it will not.
You will, of course, want Windows components, security programs (antivirus, firewall, anti-spyware, etc.), control programs for peripherals, etc. to start immediately. Most other programs are optional; you generally can start them when needed through All Programs on the Start menu, or through shortcuts on the desktop. Some of the program names are rather cryptic, so you may need to google the names, or refer to a database of startup names, such as the one from bleepingcomputer, to identify the program and decide if you really need it at startup. To keep a program from starting, simply check the box to uncheck it.
Hopefully, the above actions will resolve your problem. If not, you should check to see if the amount of virtual memory has been set to less than the Windows default. Go to Start, Control Panel, and then click on System. Choose the Advanced tab, and under Performance, click on Settings. Choose the Advanced tab, and under Virtual Memory, click on Change. If System managed size is indicated, the Windows defaults apply. If Custom size is chosen, and the size is less than the Windows default, change to System management. You could also customize it, setting the minimum to at least the recommended minimum and the maximum to more than the Windows default – say four or five times the minimum. If you make a change, click on Set and then on OK.
However, if the Windows default is inadequate, I would want to find out what is creating such a demand. Simultaneously hold down Ctrl and Alt, and hit Del to bring up the Task Manager. Select the Processes tab; click View on the Menu bar, click on Columns, and select Virtual memory. You will now see how much RAM and how much virtual memory each process is using. Look for anything using an inordinate amount of virtual memory – perhaps hundreds of MB. This is the culprit, but you may need to google the process name to learn what program is involved. It could be a memory intensive program such as movie editing, or it could be a poorly written, poorly debugged program that gives rise to “memory leakage.” This is when a program does not release memory when it is finished with it. It then will take new memory the next pass, and not release that. This can continue until all available memory is used.
In either of the above cases, you must minimize the programs running concurrently with the memory hog. If memory leakage is suspected, I would try to find another, better written program to do the job.
I hope this helps explain the cause of your problem and provides possible resolutions.
Frank
Low virtual memory
by randarac - 6/22/07 5:26 PM In reply to: Low virtual memory by El AlquimistaNormally is the same cause.
1. Click on My Computer and "right click on the C: drive".
2. Select "Properties" y then "Disk Cleanup"
3. Wait for Windows do the cleanup and then click on "More options"
4. Go to "System Restore" and READ what it says and then click on "More options"
5. After it finish "go back" to "Disk Cleanup" in the upper left part.
After it finisg then you should have more space on hard drive (HD) if it is not enough you should Free space from your HD or buy a new and large. Then it is a good idea to defragment it.
I'm quite sure this will solve your problem. GOOD LUCK!
clean-up
by john riddle - 6/23/07 3:34 AM In reply to: Low virtual memory by randaracit looks like to me that you need a program that will help heep you system clean.i use system Mechanic-7.it works very well on my vista ops.john
There is no display and no beep sound
by okselva - 6/22/07 9:18 PM In reply to: Low virtual memory by El AlquimistaI am very grateful to El Alquimista for giving explanation about Low Virtual Memory. I have one more problem and I hope you will solve it. My systems configuration is MS 6526 ver:2 motherboard, P4 1.7GHz Processor, 40 Gb Harddisk, and 128 Mb DDR RAM. The problem is no display when i switched on the Computer even there is no beep sound. Someone says that is board problem due to lack of Powersupply but I have 10KiloWatt UPS. Please help me. I am awaiting your reply. Thanx
no display or sound
by randysvh - 6/23/07 12:31 AM In reply to: There is no display and no beep sound by okselvaIf you are getting any power to the system and see the lights on the front of the box turn on when you switch the computer on then it is not the power supply. Even if your UPS is working or so it appears it may be the issue. Unplug your system from the UPS and try it out plugged into an outlet directly. It is possible that the UPS is the problem. If the computer does not appear to receive any power, than likely the PS has died and replacing it will solve your problem.
If the system is getting power and still does not boot, then it is likely that either a card plugged into your system has shorted, or that you have a CPU, RAM, or motherboard that has shorted out or died.
My bet is the UPS or the PS.
I would like to hear what you find out.
randy
motherboard problem maybe.
by janner471 - 6/23/07 9:32 AM In reply to: no display or sound by randysvhHello Randy, I remember my first desktop. Buying one at the time was beyond my pocket. I saw a second one advertised in the local. I went to the house that was on the advert, he showed be down to his workshop. He had few desktop on his work-bench. The one he was selling had only one fault. Just replace a battery inside the cabinet he said. It was very cheap, and I thought I should be able to cope with that. I took it home and open the pc, sure enough there was a small battery hanging above the motherboard, with two wires soldered to the motherboard. The battery was a typical one, not dear, so I bought one and replace it in the pc. After connecting monitor etc... Switch the computer on, and after a while, up come Windows 95 on the monitor. Well there's thing, I did'nt expect that.
After familliarizing in how window 95 works, and more about computer make-up. I wanted to know, what that battery I put in, was for. Looking up books again, it was for to power the ROM called the bias chip. normally the power is from a charge capacitor.
So the computor was like your's. Switch ON no display and no sound until I replace the power to the bias rom.
I don't know if this will help you. Today's computers have a disc type battery for the bias rom. All the best janner471
quite
by Dotuletz - 6/23/07 12:17 PM In reply to: There is no display and no beep sound by okselvayour probably using some new programs that require more virtual memory than u have now.
or you may be infected with a virus ... try to clean wint a av (anti`virus) soft
put some more RAM in it or try
Maybe your memory chip came loose.
by ````` - 7/11/07 1:34 PM In reply to: There is no display and no beep sound by okselvaopen the case and give it a little pressure on the top to seat it in the socket. And while you're in there, sniff around the fans to see if you smell something electrical burned. If not, the power supply is probably OK.
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