Decreasing general memory usage

  • Thread starter Thread starter overbored
  • Start date Start date
O

overbored

I have 256 MB RAM, and when Windows boots (came preinstalled on the
machine, I didn't do a thing but run taskmgr), it already consumed 150+.
This is ridiculous. All that swapfile activity is aggravated by the fact
that this is a laptop (i.e., slooow disk). I'm now trying to decrease the
general amount of memory being gobbled up by the system. I went through
each of the items in msconfig and researched what they were. Most were 3rd
party but important, e.g. apoint touchpad enhancements and quickset volume
control, yet I ended up disabling almost everything. Now my system boots at
126MB. This makes me turn green with envy at my Penguinized friends who are
quick to show off how fluxbox is barely using up any memory for them.

Now I have several questions (I've tried searching, but all I find are a
bunch of programs clearly riddled with spyware from ugly ad-plastered
sites):

1. Is the 'Windows Classic' appearance going to save me some memory, or is
it actually also a full-blown visual style?

2. I looked through Services but all the stuff running seemed pretty
important. Then again, what do I know. Can someone recommend what services
I can probably do without?

3. I read on slashdot a user's post claiming that their XP needed no more
than 50 MB after booting. This is my holy grail; does the grail exist?

4. Any other tips to really flatten down that memory graph?

Thanks in advance!
 
1. "Windows Classic" is the basic theme for Windows

2. May we see a list of the services?

3. Not Sure

4. Lessen the ammount of programs running at the same time, in the
background, or ones you don't really need running at the time
 
grail thinking that it takes 128 mb to run but what do i
know, try make page file larger if slow disk it will cause
software to run slower, but less ram memory, more work
for CPU but just a guess
hope it helps
 
Increase your physical memory to at least 512mb ram...
when I did, the increase in computer speed increased
dramatically.
 
"I didn't do a thing but run taskmgr), it already consumed 150+. This is
ridiculous."

Why is it rediculous? In your opinion, how many MB of RAM would be
appropriate?

Ted Zieglar
 
overbored said:
I have 256 MB RAM, and when Windows boots (came preinstalled on the
machine, I didn't do a thing but run taskmgr), it already consumed 150+.
This is ridiculous. All that swapfile activity is aggravated by the fact
that this is a laptop (i.e., slooow disk). I'm now trying to decrease the
general amount of memory being gobbled up by the system.
Click to expand...

You are thoroughly misunderstanding the way Windows deals with memory.
It tries to find *some* use for all of RAM all of the time, even if only
to cache every file so far accessed, just in case it is needed again.
Figures for 'available physical memory ' are misleading, as are those
for page file usage. Read up at my page www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm
 
Of course memory is used as much as possible, even my class project OS had
a file cache. All I'm saying is that I see major performance problems - as
soon as my memory graph exceeds 256 MB, everything becomes orders of
magnitude less responsive. It takes five to ten seconds of disk activity to
alt-tab between various windows. It takes five to ten seconds of disk
activity to scroll around some docs. And all this happens and continues to
happen once my physical memory is depleted.
 
Simple solution----------don't load any program at bootup that is not needed.
When the program IS needed simply double click on its Icon. In
msconfig--startup---delete everything and then put back as needed.
 
Back
Top