virtual memory

[Guest]

I got a balloon message that "windows virtual memory is too low" and windows
was reducing the page size. Can anyone tell me what I can do to resolve this
problem? Do I need to delete some programs or photos perhaps? Please
advise. Thank you.

Jeanne

 

[Bob Harris]

Did you mean that windows was "increasing" the page file size?

In any event, memory warnings often suggest:

(1) You are running some program that has gone amok, or XP has made an
error, or you are running too many programs at once, relative to your memory
size.

I have 1 Gig of RAM and a pagefile of 1.5 Gig. On rare occcassions I get a
message about memory too low. If I am not processing a very large digital
image or similar memory intensive application, I take this as sign to stop
all programs and reboot XP.

(1) Buy and install more real RAM (if possible). However, be aware that
some programs will only use a fixed amount of RAM and insist on using the
pagefile for the rest. For example, Acrobat Reader version 7 seems to not
use all of RAM, whereas FOXIT PDF reader (also free) does use all available
RAM., and thus runs much faster on large PDF files

(2) Increase the pagefile size. Note that in XP the page file can consist
of several pieces on separate partitions or hard drives.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your speedy reply. I'm pretty sure it said it was decreasing the
page file size but I could be mistaken. So, does that mean it is only a
temporary problem? I think windows was trying to dowload or install an adobe
reader update and I may have been accessing large photo files at the same
time. I show 512MB physical memory, available 167.24 if that means anything.
Please advise. Thank you.

Jeanne

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Jeanne

How much RAM memory?Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task
Manager and click the Performance Tab. What is the Total,
the Commit Charge and the Peak?

How large is your hard disk and how much free disk space? In
Windows Explorer right click on your C drive and select
Properties. Is the hard disk formatted as fat32 or NTFS?


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Jeanne

The information you provided did mean something to me. Nothing was
obvious wrong from the information so far provided.

In your other post you mentioned that the problem arose whilst accessing
large photo files. Photographic files will place large demands on the
computer for memory, especially if they are edited. Is this something
you do a lot.?

The demands for more memory means that once all the RAM is in use the
system starts swapping data to and from the page file on your hard disk.
Using the page file ( also referred to as virtual memory is much slower
than using RAM memory so tasks take longer. In your first post you used
the phrase "reducing the page size". I think it was temporarily
increasing the maximum. As you have plenty of free disk space increasing
the page file setting would present no problem. I give you a link
explaining virtual memory:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm.

After you have read it post detail of your current settings.

If you regularly play with photos it may pay to monitor the size of your
pagefile whilst doing this type of activity.

A small utility to monitor pagefile usage:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_pagefilemon.htm

However, graphics and camera related programmes will bump
up page file usage.

Please post details of readings so that we can look at whether adding
RAM memory would be beneficial.


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Jim]

I got a balloon message that "windows virtual memory is too low" and
windows
was reducing the page size. Can anyone tell me what I can do to resolve
this
problem? Do I need to delete some programs or photos perhaps? Please
advise. Thank you.

Jeanne

This message means that the pagefile size is too small. You may see such a
message when you are (for example) editing very large photo files. If so,
the shortage is temporary (but do not ignore it).

The solution is to let the system manage the pagefile size.
Jim

 

[Guest]

Thanks to all for your advice. I will follow your instructions and post
again on Tuesday. Long work day tomorrow so will not be online. Thanks
again.

Jeanne