memory issues under Windows XP, assistance required

[Guest]

Hi. I require your assistance. My level of knowledge about pc hardware and
software is somewhere between beginner and expert. I'd say, about in the
middle.

256 MB of ram is installed on my computer. It should be more than enough for
Windows XP (service pack 2), Home Edition.

First, when you press alt-control-delete (Windows task management?) you can
see that one svchost.exe has a size of about 10 MB RAM. explore.com has 25.3
MB RAM, iexplore.com has a size of 36 MB. There are a few other svchost.exe
processes, but they consume much less memory. PCTOOLS'anti spyware doctor has
a size of 13 MB. I have a recollection that before I messed with RAM
(utilities) it had a size of about 30 MB, but I could be wrong. It could try
to reinstall it, but that's not the issue here. All other processes,
displayed under control-alt-delete, are small. The total Ram in use, measured
this way, is a bit less than 100 MB (when I measured it before I started
messing with RAM utilities, and measured it the same way, it was much lower).
Even then, there should be 156 MB free RAM left ! But the (other) utility,
built into windows, (sorry, I have a Dutch Windows XP and don't know what it
is called in the English version), using start etc to go to this utility,
says I have about 50 MB free Ram left ! Honestly, I have no clue about memory
and Windows XP. The memory use of processes is right now something between 90
and 100 MB (or so I think), using the information from alt-control-delete,
processes. When I did the very same thing earlier, I got a much lower figure.
Especially strange, explore.com appears to consume 25.3 MB RAM and
iexplore.exe appears to consume 35 MB. I think these figures used to be lower
! At least before I tested a few programs that either display or optimize
RAM. God knows what those programs may have done (downloaded from
download.com, something like Idleram, Cyberlit/Cyberlet ram Cleaner and
Freeram Xp Pro. And maybe something else.)

When I first checked how much of that 256 RAM is available, the utility (not
the alt-control-delete thing) built in under Windows XP claimed that I had,
of all that 256 MB RAM, a bit more than 50 MB free !

Using idleram, it displayed something between 50 and 70 Mb of free RAM.

With Cyberlit/Cyberlet Ram cleaner I could get (after taking action) 111 MB
RAM free. It said: memory in use: 78 MB.

Really, I don't have a clue. What is clear to me is that Windows XP occupies
most of my RAM. I'd like to change that.

Could someone explain this please, what is this issue with my memory ? Other
than the limited amount of RAM that is available, my computer seems to be
running just fine. TweakNow Ramidle LE said that 78% of my memory was in use
(I was not running a "real" program.) It said that available RAM was 54 MB.

I my notes are correct, FreeRamXP Pro or another program said that 176 Mb
was in use.

I tried the program hijackthis, but I do not see any unusual programs that
could be hogging memory. Nor did the company from whom I bought my computer
see anything unusual (but that was a few weeks ago).

I cannot get support from Microsoft because I bought a computer with Windows
pre-installed. And I don't want to bug the company from whom I bought the
computer again, did that too many times lately.

So, can someone please explain the basics for me ? If I can get enough free
memory without keeping active utilities on my computer, I'd prefer that. I
also really don't understand how an utility can free a large amount of RAM,
while not affecting the functioning of the computer in a negative way. I also
checked MSconfig, and I didn't see a clarification of this situation.

Other question: do I need both explore.exe amd iexplore.exe ? And are these
files supposed to be that large ? I'm a bit apprehensive in replacing
internet explorer, as soon as I delete the old version I lose contact with
the internet.

What actually brought the situation of having a limited amount of free RAM
to my attention, was that I intended to install a second program against
spyware (I've given up on WIndows defender).

I really am not going to format the hard drive and install everything again.

So, please help !

 

[Alias]

Hi. I require your assistance. My level of knowledge about pc hardware and
software is somewhere between beginner and expert. I'd say, about in the
middle.

256 MB of ram is installed on my computer. It should be more than enough for
Windows XP (service pack 2), Home Edition.

First, when you press alt-control-delete (Windows task management?) you can
see that one svchost.exe has a size of about 10 MB RAM. explore.com has 25.3
MB RAM, iexplore.com has a size of 36 MB. There are a few other svchost.exe
processes, but they consume much less memory. PCTOOLS'anti spyware doctor has
a size of 13 MB. I have a recollection that before I messed with RAM
(utilities) it had a size of about 30 MB, but I could be wrong. It could try
to reinstall it, but that's not the issue here. All other processes,
displayed under control-alt-delete, are small. The total Ram in use, measured
this way, is a bit less than 100 MB (when I measured it before I started
messing with RAM utilities, and measured it the same way, it was much lower).
Even then, there should be 156 MB free RAM left ! But the (other) utility,
built into windows, (sorry, I have a Dutch Windows XP and don't know what it
is called in the English version), using start etc to go to this utility,
says I have about 50 MB free Ram left ! Honestly, I have no clue about memory
and Windows XP. The memory use of processes is right now something between 90
and 100 MB (or so I think), using the information from alt-control-delete,
processes. When I did the very same thing earlier, I got a much lower figure.
Especially strange, explore.com appears to consume 25.3 MB RAM and
iexplore.exe appears to consume 35 MB. I think these figures used to be lower
! At least before I tested a few programs that either display or optimize
RAM. God knows what those programs may have done (downloaded from
download.com, something like Idleram, Cyberlit/Cyberlet ram Cleaner and
Freeram Xp Pro. And maybe something else.)

When I first checked how much of that 256 RAM is available, the utility (not
the alt-control-delete thing) built in under Windows XP claimed that I had,
of all that 256 MB RAM, a bit more than 50 MB free !

Using idleram, it displayed something between 50 and 70 Mb of free RAM.

With Cyberlit/Cyberlet Ram cleaner I could get (after taking action) 111 MB
RAM free. It said: memory in use: 78 MB.

Really, I don't have a clue. What is clear to me is that Windows XP occupies
most of my RAM. I'd like to change that.

Could someone explain this please, what is this issue with my memory ? Other
than the limited amount of RAM that is available, my computer seems to be
running just fine. TweakNow Ramidle LE said that 78% of my memory was in use
(I was not running a "real" program.) It said that available RAM was 54 MB.

I my notes are correct, FreeRamXP Pro or another program said that 176 Mb
was in use.

I tried the program hijackthis, but I do not see any unusual programs that
could be hogging memory. Nor did the company from whom I bought my computer
see anything unusual (but that was a few weeks ago).

I cannot get support from Microsoft because I bought a computer with Windows
pre-installed. And I don't want to bug the company from whom I bought the
computer again, did that too many times lately.

So, can someone please explain the basics for me ? If I can get enough free
memory without keeping active utilities on my computer, I'd prefer that. I
also really don't understand how an utility can free a large amount of RAM,
while not affecting the functioning of the computer in a negative way. I also
checked MSconfig, and I didn't see a clarification of this situation.

Other question: do I need both explore.exe amd iexplore.exe ? And are these
files supposed to be that large ? I'm a bit apprehensive in replacing
internet explorer, as soon as I delete the old version I lose contact with
the internet.

What actually brought the situation of having a limited amount of free RAM
to my attention, was that I intended to install a second program against
spyware (I've given up on WIndows defender).

I really am not going to format the hard drive and install everything again.

So, please help !

Buy more RAM. With 256, XP is very slow. Go for at least 512, preferably
one GB.

Alias

 

[Rock]

Hi. I require your assistance. My level of knowledge about pc hardware and
software is somewhere between beginner and expert. I'd say, about in the
middle.

256 MB of ram is installed on my computer. It should be more than enough for
Windows XP (service pack 2), Home Edition.

First, when you press alt-control-delete (Windows task management?) you can
see that one svchost.exe has a size of about 10 MB RAM. explore.com has 25.3
MB RAM, iexplore.com has a size of 36 MB. There are a few other svchost.exe
processes, but they consume much less memory. PCTOOLS'anti spyware doctor has
a size of 13 MB. I have a recollection that before I messed with RAM
(utilities) it had a size of about 30 MB, but I could be wrong. It could try
to reinstall it, but that's not the issue here. All other processes,
displayed under control-alt-delete, are small. The total Ram in use, measured
this way, is a bit less than 100 MB (when I measured it before I started
messing with RAM utilities, and measured it the same way, it was much lower).
Even then, there should be 156 MB free RAM left ! But the (other) utility,
built into windows, (sorry, I have a Dutch Windows XP and don't know what it
is called in the English version), using start etc to go to this utility,
says I have about 50 MB free Ram left ! Honestly, I have no clue about memory
and Windows XP. The memory use of processes is right now something between 90
and 100 MB (or so I think), using the information from alt-control-delete,
processes. When I did the very same thing earlier, I got a much lower figure.
Especially strange, explore.com appears to consume 25.3 MB RAM and
iexplore.exe appears to consume 35 MB. I think these figures used to be lower
! At least before I tested a few programs that either display or optimize
RAM. God knows what those programs may have done (downloaded from
download.com, something like Idleram, Cyberlit/Cyberlet ram Cleaner and
Freeram Xp Pro. And maybe something else.)

When I first checked how much of that 256 RAM is available, the utility (not
the alt-control-delete thing) built in under Windows XP claimed that I had,
of all that 256 MB RAM, a bit more than 50 MB free !

Using idleram, it displayed something between 50 and 70 Mb of free RAM.

With Cyberlit/Cyberlet Ram cleaner I could get (after taking action) 111 MB
RAM free. It said: memory in use: 78 MB.

Really, I don't have a clue. What is clear to me is that Windows XP occupies
most of my RAM. I'd like to change that.

Could someone explain this please, what is this issue with my memory ? Other
than the limited amount of RAM that is available, my computer seems to be
running just fine. TweakNow Ramidle LE said that 78% of my memory was in use
(I was not running a "real" program.) It said that available RAM was 54 MB.

I my notes are correct, FreeRamXP Pro or another program said that 176 Mb
was in use.

I tried the program hijackthis, but I do not see any unusual programs that
could be hogging memory. Nor did the company from whom I bought my computer
see anything unusual (but that was a few weeks ago).

I cannot get support from Microsoft because I bought a computer with Windows
pre-installed. And I don't want to bug the company from whom I bought the
computer again, did that too many times lately.

So, can someone please explain the basics for me ? If I can get enough free
memory without keeping active utilities on my computer, I'd prefer that. I
also really don't understand how an utility can free a large amount of RAM,
while not affecting the functioning of the computer in a negative way. I also
checked MSconfig, and I didn't see a clarification of this situation.

Other question: do I need both explore.exe amd iexplore.exe ? And are these
files supposed to be that large ? I'm a bit apprehensive in replacing
internet explorer, as soon as I delete the old version I lose contact with
the internet.

What actually brought the situation of having a limited amount of free RAM
to my attention, was that I intended to install a second program against
spyware (I've given up on WIndows defender).

I really am not going to format the hard drive and install everything again.

So, please help !

Firstly, explore.exe is associated with malware:
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/explore/
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/worm.explore.zip.html

Secondly, iexplore.exe, though associated with internet explorer, can be
malware too, so if it's running even when internet explorer is not
that's another infection on the system.

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/iexplore/

Make sure the system is clean of all malware.

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Richard Harper’s Guide to Cleaning Pests
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Thirdly ditch all the memory management programs you are using. They do
absolutely no good and are a total waste of money. To put it succinctly
free ram is wasted ram. It's not like older operating systems. XP
works very hard to put all the ram in your system to good use. It's own
memory manager works quite well, and needs no assistance from those
"snake oil" programs.

Lastly 256 MB ram might be fine for some users. It all depends on what
programs are run. Others find that 512MB or even 1GB or more works much
better for them.

How much ram is needed depends on how you use the system. As long there
is enough ram so that use of the page file is kept to a minimum, then
more ram won't make a difference. See this page from the the late Alex
Nichol, MVP on virtual memory in XP and how to set the page file. It
has a link to a small program you can run to monitor the use of the page
file. Use that to determine if your system needs more ram.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

And get rid of those memory management programs.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

It should be more than enough for Windows XP (service pack 2), Home Edition

256MB is truly underpowered. 512MB is fine. Real performance gain starts
from 1GB.

I agree with many experts' advises mentioned here on performance
improvement, increase the amount of DRAM is the most cost effective approach
to begin with.

Since I increased the memory of my desktop and notebook from 512MB to 1G, I
have gained much performance improvements especially during multi-tasking
works.

Hope this helps.

 

[David Candy]

It's not like older operating systems. XP > works very hard to put all the ram in your system to good use
So which ones didn't put all RAM to good use. Are you referring to Dos 6.22 and earlier?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi. I require your assistance. My level of knowledge about pc hardware and
software is somewhere between beginner and expert. I'd say, about in the
middle.

256 MB of ram is installed on my computer. It should be more than enough for
Windows XP (service pack 2), Home Edition.

"More than enough?" Only if you don't really use the computer; I'd
call 256 Mb the bare minimum to run WinXP, let alone any applications.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Guest]

I thank you all for your answers. However, one utility increased free ram
from 50-70 Mb to 111 Mb free RAM. And it didn't cause any problems. Do you
really think it's bad ?

I'm going to have a look at adding another 256 Mb ram. I'm not exactly an
export on motherboards/mainboards (or what is it called?) and RAM. I'm sure
the RAM chips have to fit to certain technical specs. Maybe you people can
help me with this.

On the invoice of the purchase of my computer it says that I have a Biostar
M7NCD SocketA ATX Mainboard. I also have 256 MB PC-3200 DDR memory. I hope
you can understand this, it's a Dutch computer system. (But I decided to post
in the English section because there are many more English speaking people
who are knowledgeable about computers) I know almost nothing about RAM chips.
Is anyone able to inform me to what specs new RAM should confirm/or is
recommended ? Perhaps it makes sense to replace the 256 MB with a "package"
of 512 MB that is somehow better ? Also, although they could probably explain
this to me at a local computer shop, how can I identify/locate the mainboard,
and how do I locate the place where I should put or remove the RAM ? Anything
in particular that I have to pay attention to when trying to install new RAM
?

Thank you.

 

[David Candy]

So you forced code and data out of memory. So it will be slower to reload it back. Or you reduced your disk cache so it will be slower to access files.

You computer tells you as it boots or read the manual.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

My two cents of sharing,

Now familiar with the motherboard you have, so it'd be better for you to
write down the models of the motherboard and DRAM and go to a reputable
local store for purchase the DRAM.

In general, it will be a good idea if you purchase another 512MB DRAM in one
package (SIMM), it will give you a total of 768MB for now which should be
enough for most of general works.

The reason the bring motherboard and DRAM information to the store is that
not all DRAMs are supported by motherboard and/or compatible with each
other.

Hope this helps.

 

[Guest]

HELP PLEASE !

I intended to install new RAM, and maybe I will, but the situation may be
more complicated. I've investigated the situation further.

I used the windows task manager (is that a correct translation?), you know,
the control-alt-del thing, and looked under processes, displaying processes
of all users (that's just me), and there it shows that for about 124 Mb RAM
is occupied by several processes. (not using any ram utilities right now, but
I've tried in the past, all ram utilities not native to Windows Xp have been
deleted, computer booted up again etc.)

With only one page open, (no applications active) that is the microsoft
page, and the page of the forums you need to add a reply, iexplore.exe
occupies about 35 Mb ram, explorer.exe occupies 10 Mb (not explore.exe as I
said earlier, sorry). For firewall and antivirus less than 20 Mb is occupied,
some anti spyware occupies about 35 MB, one svchost.exe takes 10 MB, and
many other smaller programs that look legitimate. Yet, it all adds up to
about 124 MB. Since I have 256 MB Ram installed, ABOUT 132 MB SHOULD STILL BE
FREE ! At least, at the first glance that seems obvious. (I'm certainly no
expert)

But also: at the control-alt-del utility, the tab at the right of processes
(maybe in English it's called performance), the following data is displayed:

fysical memory: about 260000 KB total,*AVAILABLE* 58000 Kb, system cache
nearly 100 MB.

Kernel memory (I don't completely understand it) is about 48 MB, in
"wisselbestand" (swap file, I think) 38 MB, not in "wisselbestand" about 10
MB.

Memory use: 304000 KB, limit 635000 Kb, peak 32000Kb.

Also, under totals: entries nearly 8000, threads 397, processes 35.

I really don't understand. Maybe someone can explain, and something else
needs to be done instead of (or as an addition to) installing more RAM.

About the fysical memory available: that's 58000KB. That's also
(approximately) the free memory that another windows (part of windows)
utility claims to be free, (sorry, I'll try to explain this as careful as I
can, Dutch Windows Xp here: Start, programs, desk accesories (probably called
not like that in English), but from "desk accessories" you can also acces a
calculator, system recovery, windows explorer, (dos??) prompt, defrag the
disk, etc.)

SUMMARIZING: FOR AS FAR AS I SEE I SHOULD HAVE 256-124=132 MB OF FREE RAM.
(SEE THE THIRD PARAGRAPH) Yet, elsewhere it's indicated THAT I HAVE ABOUT 58
MB RAM FREE. Someone, please help ?? I've tried to understand this, but I
can't make heads or tails of it.

Both an explanation and advice about how to deal with this would be very
much appreciated.

 

[David Candy]

It too long to explain. Most of your missing is in system cache (disk cache).

 

[David Candy]

It would require tens of thousands of words.