Windows Vista forum: Increasing Virtual Memory to Improve Laptop Performance

By default, Windows increases and decreases the amount of virtual RAM as needed, so there's little reason to set a specific amount manually. Until you upgrade the RAM, just limit yourself to running those applications you actually need.

John

Several reasons really... You might be running with limited disk space, or you need to maintain a minimum level of free space, but want to keep costs down by having as small a disk as possible in there. Windows is used on many different things, not just desktop computers. Sometimes you'd never know it to look at it, because you see some custom program with it's own interface. But it's Windows powering it.

One example, that's a little scary IMO, is Diebold ATMs run Windows. I know this, because I once walked past one where the ATM program had crashed, and it was just sitting there at a standard Windows desktop. They also (used to at least) store all ATM data in an unsecured Excel file on the internal hard drive. But this is the same company that makes most of the electronic voting machines which are routinely picked apart by security experts. In one rather amusing example, they actually trained a chimp to hack one of them, it was that easy to do. That should make you feel secure about putting your sensitive bank info into those machines. They spend all kinds of time and money on making sure the physical security is top notch, and that no one will physically break into the machines... But very little care is generally given to the software side of things. Tops any horror movie for scary in my book.