Memory management program

[Ray]

I have a notebook computer which is running Windows XP Home with 256 MB
memory. That is the maximum memory the computer can support. I notice the
hard disk read & write very frequently. Can someone recommend an effective
memory management software to improve this situation.

Thanks,

Ray

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Yes. It is called Windows XP. No need for any memory management programs.

 

[David H. Lipman]

Reduce the number of programs that load into the background to the most necessary like anti
virus software.
Use the utility MSCONFIG.EXE to check was being loaded and only enable that which is
required, not what is desired.

Dave




| I have a notebook computer which is running Windows XP Home with 256 MB
| memory. That is the maximum memory the computer can support. I notice the
| hard disk read & write very frequently. Can someone recommend an effective
| memory management software to improve this situation.
|
| Thanks,
|
| Ray
|
|
|

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I have a notebook computer which is running Windows XP Home with
256 MB
memory. That is the maximum memory the computer can support.
I
notice the hard disk read & write very frequently. Can someone
recommend an effective memory management software to improve
this
situation.

So called "memory management" programs are all counterproductive.
None of them is effective and they all make things worse, not
better.

 

[Bill James]

If you are running enough programs to require more memory than what is available, Windows will write out to the pagefile on the hard drive. So called memory management programs will not solve your problem and will probably make matters worse.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Windows VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

 

[Ross Durie]

Why not write your own operating system named RayOS with super duper
improved memory management.

 

[Ray]

Thanks for advice from who responded.

Ray

 

[Ron Martell]

I have a notebook computer which is running Windows XP Home with 256 MB
memory. That is the maximum memory the computer can support. I notice the
hard disk read & write very frequently. Can someone recommend an effective
memory management software to improve this situation.

Hi Ray.

A notebook that will only support 256 mb of RAM is probably several
years old and therefore likely has a pretty slow CPU as well. That
combination can be extremely slow with Windows XP.

You might want to give some serious thought to downgrading to an
earlier version of Windows, as these will almost certain give much
better performance on your somewhat outdated notebook.

If you need the NT based operating system then you would probably find
Windows 2000 much faster and more responsive than Windows XP. But
check first with the notebook manufacturer's web site to see if they
provide Windows 2000 drivers for your exact model.

Another option would be to revert to one of the Windows 9x operating
systems. If the computer originally came from the factory with
Windows Me then that would be a viable option. Otherwise the best
choice would be Windows 98 SE, provided that driver support is
available from the manufacturer.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Plato]

I have a notebook computer which is running Windows XP Home with 256 MB
memory. That is the maximum memory the computer can support. I notice the
hard disk read & write very frequently. Can someone recommend an effective
memory management software to improve this situation.

Next time dont put XP on a pc that cant support the hardware needed for
the proper operation of XP.

 

[Ray]

Basically, I might be the first group of people to buy the notebook pc which
designed for Windows XP. My Sony pc in question is marked with "Designed
for Microsoft Windows XP". Later last year till early this year, you
started to see more notebook pcs to support more RAM. I would like to
extend the service life of the pc and wait for more innovative functionality
that is worthwhile of buying a new pc.

Ray

 

[David H. Lipman]

That's Sony for you !

Sony makes fine audio products but they are NOT a computer manufacturer. There support
sucks and their products do as well. The fact is MS may have indicated that 128MB is the
minimal RAM for WinXP but those in the industry will tell you whatever MS indicates is the
minimal RAM you really need to double. Therefore the minimum is really 256MB if you want to
run applications under the WinXP OS. This doubling of the minimal specified RAM has been
true for all the MS Operating Systems. The sticker may have said "Designed for Microsoft
Windows XP" but I doubt it really was and used MS certified hardware but put that label on
there for marketing purposes, not technical reasons. If it was TRULY designed for WinXP it
would have been designed for 512 ~ 1GB RAM.

Dave




| Basically, I might be the first group of people to buy the notebook pc which
| designed for Windows XP. My Sony pc in question is marked with "Designed
| for Microsoft Windows XP". Later last year till early this year, you
| started to see more notebook pcs to support more RAM. I would like to
| extend the service life of the pc and wait for more innovative functionality
| that is worthwhile of buying a new pc.
|
| Ray
|
| | > Thanks for advice from who responded.
| >
| > Ray
| >
| > | > >I have a notebook computer which is running Windows XP Home with 256 MB
| > > memory. That is the maximum memory the computer can support. I notice
| > > the
| > > hard disk read & write very frequently. Can someone recommend an
| > > effective
| > > memory management software to improve this situation.
| > >
| > > Thanks,
| > >
| > > Ray
| > >
| > >
| > >
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a notebook computer which is running Windows XP Home with 256 MB
memory. That is the maximum memory the computer can support. I notice the
hard disk read & write very frequently. Can someone recommend an effective
memory management software to improve this situation.

Any of the programs that purport to manage memory or 'free RAM' will
give no benefit and may well make it worse. The only answer is to avoid
loading too many programs at once. Review what gets started
automatically at boot and eliminate things that are not really needed,
then exit from programs when you finish a job rather than just
minimising them. Internet browser windows in particular can build up -
I have seen people whose Taskbar button for it shows over 15 instances;
avoid this.

In Control Panel - System - Advanced - Performance Settings - Advanced -
Virtual Memory click Change and look at the size page file allotted.
The initial size is probably about 380MB and the Max 650 or thereabout.
Those can with advantage be raised a bit (Custom settings), say to 500
and 900; click Set after changing them