virtual memory too low...

[gorham]

...just got a message on my PC sayig that my "Virtual Memory is Too Low". any ideas how i can make it higher without downloading or buying anything?

[Bluesaholic]

Vitamin B?

[Smallfrie_Omega]

i got that a long time ago before i redid my pc.. just go into ur control panel and go to add/remove software. and uninstall all of the junk software.. i.e messengers,games, and etc.

[fretflyer]

you can go into the settings and adjust it, also, your probably running alot of programs in the quick launch area, that uses up alot of ram

[fuze11]

virtual memory usually refers to your systems RAM, when that is too low it means your system is trying to run too many processes at once. Close a few programs or something.. if that doesn't help and you persistently get this message, that means it's your computers hard drive that is low on memory, you will have to go to control panel, then add/remove programs and delete a few unnecessary programs from your computer to free up space on your hard drive.

[gorham]

okies. cheers people

[fretflyer]

virtual memory usually refers to your systems RAM, when that is too low it means your system is trying to run too many processes at once. Close a few programs or something.. if that doesn't help and you persistently get this message, that means it's your computers hard drive that is low on memory, you will have to go to control panel, then add/remove programs and delete a few unnecessary programs from your computer to free up space on your hard drive.

not the ram, im quoting from my system settings "virtual memory:a paging file is an area on the hard disk that windows uses AS IF it were ram" so you may be running outta hard drive space, if not id adjust the virtual memory in system settings

[gorham]

how do i get to system settings?

[reeced]

Control Panel -> System -> Performance -> Virtual Memory

[gorham]

that route dont work...im on XP if that helps

[gorham]

OK im gonna let it de-frag all day 2moro n see if that helps at all.

[reeced]

that route dont work...im on XP if that helps

Good tips here :-
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php

[fretflyer]

how do i get to system settings?

right click on my computer and go to properties, its faster

[FuriousGrimlock]

If this is a one time thing, reboot first and hope for the best...otherwise what all y'all said ^^^^

[stratman56]

Like said above, to many things running on startup consuming your resources or you are running memory intensive programs.

[zero]

I know this thread is a couple days old but just in case you still need help ....

Your virtual memory is what is known as your "Swap File" and actually has nothing to do physically with your RAM. yes it is something that helps your RAM out but the swap file is actually located on your hard drive. Its a buffer that when your RAM is maxed out from too many programs and processes running. When your RAM is maxed out the swap file takes over(the hard drive) and picks up the slack your RAM cant handle.

So when your have 5 web browsers open, powertab, audacity, winamp and AIM all running at the same time your RAM is full but Windows still needs to run those programs so the resources are diverted to the swap file.

the best thing you can do to fix this is not changing the size of your swap file but to turn off everything that starts up when you turn on your computer. Go to Start>Run>type msconfig>click Startup tab then go down the list and turn off everything you dont need to be running. You'll be amazed at how many programs are in the list

[Eclectifish]

zero's points are good. Here's more:

Run a spyware check using both SpyBot and AdAware. Almost everyone gets spyware. If you've never checked it you're probably drowning in it (I've seen as many as 200 spyware apps running).

Virtual memory is not necessarily a set amount. You need hard drive space. Check your available space. If you're low, back up and delete as much as you can. Also, run the Disk Cleanup and Deframenter utilities.

Finally, if all else fails there are two more options. You can buy more RAM (that might not work, but it ought to help) and you can backup everything and re-install windows and all applications. Theh second one is the biggest possible pain, but a clean install is the best way to get a computer running at top efficiency.