Memory warning message with memory still available

  • Thread starter Thread starter ironcito
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I

ironcito

Hello,

I apologize if this issue has come up before, but searching Usenet for
"vista memory" or a similar criteria just results in too many
matches! ;-)

I'm running Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit on a system with an Intel
E6750 and 2 GB or RAM. Sometimes if I open a couple of applications at
the same time, I will get a warning message saying that I should close
a program or risk data loss, because the system is low on memory.
However, at the same time that the message pops up, the task manager
says there is still plenty of free memory. I might get the warning
with 1.2 GB of RAM usage... well over half a gig still available. Is
there something wrong, or is this the default behavior? Should I
upgrade to 4 gigs? Or to 64-bit Vista?

Many thanks in advance.


Diego
 
Diego,

Perhaps you have overridden Vista's control of virtual memory and assigned
an insufficient amount.

Start Orb
right click Computer
Properties
Advanced tab
Settings button under Performance
Advanced tab
Virtual memory area
Change button

check mark the box Automatically manage .....
now Vista will take care of how much to allocate.

FYI on my Vista Home Premium with 2GB memory, it is currently setting aside
2345MB.

If that doesn't help get back with the programs that are causing the problem
and perhaps someone can provide more assistance.
Michael
 
Regarding "...Sometimes if I open a couple of applications at
the same time,..." - depending on the type applications - 1. "Virtual memory
(Page File)" may be maxing out - regardless of the amount of RAM Vista will
still use the HD for virtual memory. 2. An application may be tying up
resources and not releasing them during idle or shutdown.
 
Perhaps you have overridden Vista's control of virtual memory and assigned
an insufficient amount.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I did. One of the first things I did after installing Vista was
setting the page file size to 0, to increase performance. I always did
with XP to prevent it from using virtual memory (sooo slow!), and I
had no problems with it. Is this a problem where Vista *always*
requires virtual memory, or is it a problem where Vista requires
Virtual memory when it only has 2 GB or physical memory? Will I be
able to disable virtual memory (and get no warnings) if I upgrade to 4
GB, or is it always required, regardless?

I still don't understand why it issues a warning with half a gig still
available, though...

Many thanks!

Diego
 
Diego,

When a program asks for a block of memory, and there is not sufficient
memory available, the request is refused and the memory is not allocated. So
if there was 1GB available and the programs asked for 1.1GB, the request
would be refused and when you looked (after the refusal) there would be 1GB
left.

..5GB is not much to load a program and allocate edit space and buffers
especially for a graphics editing program for instance.
Programs tend to need more space to get started then often release the space
used during their initialization.

You can do things Microsoft's way or you can do things your own way. Your
own way tends to be more interesting.

Michael
 
When a program asks for a block of memory, and there is not sufficient
memory available, the request is refused and the memory is not allocated. So
if there was 1GB available and the programs asked for 1.1GB, the request
would be refused and when you looked (after the refusal) there would be 1GB
left.

.5GB is not much to load a program and allocate edit space and buffers
especially for a graphics editing program for instance.
Programs tend to need more space to get started then often release the space
used during their initialization.
Click to expand...

Well the thing is I haven't been doing heavy multitasking since I got
this new computer and upgraded to Vista. All the times that the
warning message appeared I was really only using one "heavy" program,
which uses some 300 megs at most, usually less. With only that program
open, there is no problem, but if I want to open some pictures with
Vista's viewer, for example, I start getting over the red line. Those
image viewers take very little memory. These aren't big pictures
either.

Also, the warnings seem to be rather random. I've been able to open
two instances of the "heavy" program with no complaint, yet sometimes
with just one instance and a couple of small apps it will complain...

I think I will upgrade to 4 GB. I was thinking about doing it anyway.
But it would still be nice for Vista to issue warnings only when
really reaching the limit! I had no problems in XP opening many more
apps than this, with an older system but also with 2 GB.

Thanks again.

Diego
 
Diego,

Vista will 'work' with 1GB but not very well. 2GB was a lot in XP but is
just enough for snappy performance in Vista.
Note that if you upgrade to 4GB of physical memory you are only going to use
a bit over 3GB in a 32 bit Vista.

My system is currently using 1025MB out of 2GB with just Vista Mail as the
active program, there are several background tasks loaded but a pretty clean
machine all in all.

Opening several instances of a program (where permited) does not usually
result in 'doubling' memory requirements as most of the program area is
reused (does need new areas for buffers etc).

If you don't have a memory usage monitor on your sidebar you might consider
adding one just to see how loading programs affects the memory usage. (I am
using one called Multi Meter downloaded from Microsoft site with 'add
gadgets' function).

Michael
 
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