Your virtual memory is low? (RAM, hard drive, games, graphics)

[Pikantari]

What does that mean? I don't have a bunch of stuff on my pc, my cookies and history deleted every day...

What am I missing. What does this mean? And... what do I do?

[TnHilltopper]

Originally Posted by cinderobyn

What does that mean? I don't have a bunch of stuff on my pc, my cookies and history deleted every day...

What am I missing. What does this mean? And... what do I do?

RAM is your computer's short-term memory, storing active programs for easy access. Virtual memory is a part of your hard drive that acts as though it’s RAM. Windows swaps information from your computer’s RAM onto the virtual memory section of your hard drive and vice versa, so that memory is always available for the programs that need it most.

Because of the way virtual memory works, it’s also known as the swap file or paging file; Virtual memory ensures that only the most essential information is kept in RAM where it can be accessed quickly, so it can make a big difference to your computer’s performance while running more than one program simultaneously (multi-tasking).
How much virtual memory?
Normally, Windows allocates hard drive space for virtual memory. The amount of space varies depending on the type of tasks you're working on. So for graphics-intensive games, or running many programs at once, Windows will expand the virtual memory to make your system perform better.

If you have a large number of programs running there is a good chance you are exceeding your virtual memory allocation. If you are familiar with using the MSCONFIG/Start Up, then you can see how many programs are starting up when you boot your system.

You can also alter your virtual memory settings and allocate more hard drive space.

If you are not familiar with this level of system settings, then I would recommend you ask for help from a local PC specialist or someone you might know that is familiar with these settings.

[Pikantari]

Thank you!

[Tek_Freek]

Hey Cinder!

Do one thing for me. Open Windows Explorer or My computer, whichever is the one you use.

Browse to the Drive C: icon. Right click this icon and then click on Properties.

How much drive space is free? The pink part.

Appreciate it.

Tek

[Pikantari]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

Hey Cinder!

Do one thing for me. Open Windows Explorer or My computer, whichever is the one you use.

Browse to the Drive C: icon. Right click this icon and then click on Properties.

How much drive space is free? The pink part.

Appreciate it.

Tek

61.4 GB

Now what?

[alleycat]

Now see how much virtual memory is allocated. You can check it by going to: My Computer > View system information > Advance (tab) > (Performance) Setting > Advanced. How much memory is allocated now? If you click the change button, you will see that it will show the current virtual memory, plus the minimum and maximum allowed.

[Tek_Freek]

I was having you check for the free space because one of the indicators that the drive is filling up is the error message you have been seeing. In your case that's not it

Re: the previous post by alleycat: Normally you want to see that the "system managed size" radio button is picked.

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

I was having you check for the free space because one of the indicators that the drive is filling up is the error message you have been seeing. In your case that's not it

Re: the previous post by alleycat: Normally you want to see that the "system managed size" radio button is picked.

I wasn't suggesting changing anything in my post. Just having them see what their current setting was.

[Tek_Freek]

I did not say you did. I only mentioned the normal setting that she should see.

[alleycat]

Perhaps I misunderstand. I thought you were addressing that to me.