memory

[Guest]

hi,

my computer is using most of the time 75% or more of the 475Mb Memory installed
i have a total of 290Gb of disk space (145Gb free)
is there a way to "free" memory and let programs use the 145Gb free space?

thanks

Ron

 

[Jim Macklin]

It is, look at your virtual memory (pagefile) usage by using
ctrl/alt/del to open the task manager, click the performance
tab.

XP will always use as much RAM as you have installed. You
say you have 475 MB RAM, do you mean 512 less 37 used by
graphics?

see http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message
| hi,
|
| my computer is using most of the time 75% or more of the
475Mb Memory installed
| i have a total of 290Gb of disk space (145Gb free)
| is there a way to "free" memory and let programs use the
145Gb free space?
|
| thanks
|
| Ron

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

my computer is using most of the time 75% or more of the 475Mb Memory
installed i have a total of 290Gb of disk space (145Gb free)
is there a way to "free" memory and let programs use the 145Gb free
space?

First of all, wanting to minimize the amount of memory Windows
uses is a counterproductive desire. Windows is designed to use
all, or nearly all, of your memory, all the time, and that's good
not bad. Free memory is wasted memory. You paid for it all and
shouldn't want to see any of it wasted.

Windows works hard to find a use for all the memory you have all
the time. For example if your apps don't need some of it, it will
use that part for caching, then give it back when your apps later
need it. In this way Windows keeps all your memory working for
you all the time.

Second, using disk space instead of memory is *many* times
slower. You do that, in the form of your page file, only when
there isn't enough memory. Doing it when there *is* enough memory
would dramatically slow down your computer for no reason.

 

[Malke]

hi,

my computer is using most of the time 75% or more of the 475Mb Memory
installed
i have a total of 290Gb of disk space (145Gb free)
is there a way to "free" memory and let programs use the 145Gb free
space?

Hi, Ron. I think you're confusing memory and space. The 475MB of RAM
refers to the amount of memory in your computer. The 290GB (gigabytes)
of your very large hard drive refers to the space on your hard drive
for data. If you aren't running unnecessary programs, have a spyware
and virus-free machine, and your computer works well, then don't worry
about how much memory is being used. An operating system should use all
the memory it can.

If you really have a 290GB hard drive with 145GB free, I wouldn't worry
about the space, either. If you are having problems with your computer,
then repost including all details.

Malke

 

[Alex Nichol]

my computer is using most of the time 75% or more of the 475Mb Memory installed
i have a total of 290Gb of disk space (145Gb free)
is there a way to "free" memory and let programs use the 145Gb free space?

Windows does its level best to find *some* use for all of RAM at all
times. Even if it is just to cache every file so far accessed. Such
trivial uses will be dropped instantly if a more important one comes
along. All is well. See more at www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

 

[Plato]

my computer is using most of the time 75% or more of the 475Mb Memory installed
i have a total of 290Gb of disk space (145Gb free)
is there a way to "free" memory and let programs use the 145Gb free space?

You WANT windows to use ALL your ram, if possible, for best PC
satisfaction/performance.

 

[Microsoft Gump XP]

"Ken Blake, MVP" <[email protected]> asked "what's the
sound of one hand clapping?", and I said it's a bit like this:

Windows works hard to find a use for all the memory you have all
the time. For example if your apps don't need some of it, it will
use that part for caching, then give it back when your apps later
need it. In this way Windows keeps all your memory working for
you all the time.

Out of the Gig of memory I have, only 280MB is used right now, and
rarely is more than 350MB used. In fact, I've only seen more than
500MB used, and that was when I was copying a 2 Gig zip file from one
drive to another.

Does that seem right?


- Dave -
- Remove 123456 to email -
- Ich Bin Ein Irelander -

 

[Alex Nichol]

Out of the Gig of memory I have, only 280MB is used right now, and
rarely is more than 350MB used. In fact, I've only seen more than
500MB used, and that was when I was copying a 2 Gig zip file from one
drive to another.

Does that seem right?

Quite possible. In your work pattern, you evidently don't need more
than 500 MB of RAM. As Ken says, the system will *try* to find some use
for the rest of it, but if there is just nothing sensible around it has
to leave it going to waste. When you did the big file copy, it set out
to try to cache the file - then when it was bigger than spare RAM, it
will have given up in disgust

 

[Microsoft Gump XP]

Alex Nichol <[email protected]> asked "what's the sound
of one hand clapping?", and I said it's a bit like this:

Quite possible. In your work pattern, you evidently don't need more
than 500 MB of RAM. As Ken says, the system will *try* to find some use
for the rest of it, but if there is just nothing sensible around it has
to leave it going to waste. When you did the big file copy, it set out
to try to cache the file - then when it was bigger than spare RAM, it
will have given up in disgust

My RAM hates me. It's bored, living an un fulfilling life, and I'm
hated for it.


- Dave -
- Remove 123456 to email -
- Ich Bin Ein Irelander -

 

[Sabrinna83]

I have tried to make my computer faster & I don't understand if I have 81%
free space why is it so slow anyway. With the Disk Defragmenter it says
Capacity 144 GB Free Space 117GB so if I have all this free space why is
everything so slow & what is the difference between physical memory & virtual
memory because it says for Physical Memory I have 1022.07 MB total & only
315.47MB free so how do I get that to go up to the total, & the Virtual
Memory I have 2 GB total & 1.79 GB are free so can I change it to use that
instead of the Physical & then it says Page File 2.40 GB total & 2.40 GB free
so I don't know if anyone can help me but if you think you know what I can do
to fix this or why it says this I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Gerry]

Sabrinna83

RAM is a card installed in the computer, which provides the system with
temporary memory storage. The hard drive can also be used for memory
through a pagefile. The system reads and writes to memory, which in the
first place is to RAM. When the RAM is being fully utilised some of the
data stored in RAM is moved to the pagefile. Reading and writing to RAM
is quicker than reading and writing to the pagefile. The pagefile is
needed to cope with times when the system requires more memory than RAM
is able to provide. If there is insufficient memory the system will
crash. If RAM cannot meet current memory requirements the system will
increasingly use the pagefile and operations slow down.

Increasing the size of the pagefile does not normally improve
performance. If the pagefile is of sufficient size or if it is set to
"Let Windows manage" it will normally prevent the system crashing from
lack of memory.

There are a number of factors that can cause slow performance and you
need to ascertain which apply to your computer. You then need to
consider what you can do to improve the performance. Wil lyou please
answer the questions which follow.

What is the CPU and how much RAM does your computer have? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties to get this
information.

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report . Open Disk
Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and click on Save
As and Save. Now find VolumeD.txt in your My Documents Folder and post a
copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it is more
informative.

Something to do which will improve performance.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake]

I have tried to make my computer faster

Exactly how? What did you do?

& I don't understand if I have 81%
free space why is it so slow anyway.

The amount of free disk space you have is unrelated to the speed of your
computer. There are essentially only two things that affect your speed: your
hardware, and what's running at the time.

 

[Sabrinna83]

Sabrinna83

RAM is a card installed in the computer, which provides the system with
temporary memory storage. The hard drive can also be used for memory
through a pagefile. The system reads and writes to memory, which in the
first place is to RAM. When the RAM is being fully utilised some of the
data stored in RAM is moved to the pagefile. Reading and writing to RAM
is quicker than reading and writing to the pagefile. The pagefile is
needed to cope with times when the system requires more memory than RAM
is able to provide. If there is insufficient memory the system will
crash. If RAM cannot meet current memory requirements the system will
increasingly use the pagefile and operations slow down.

Increasing the size of the pagefile does not normally improve
performance. If the pagefile is of sufficient size or if it is set to
"Let Windows manage" it will normally prevent the system crashing from
lack of memory.

There are a number of factors that can cause slow performance and you
need to ascertain which apply to your computer. You then need to
consider what you can do to improve the performance. Wil lyou please
answer the questions which follow.

What is the CPU and how much RAM does your computer have? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties to get this
information.

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report . Open Disk
Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and click on Save
As and Save. Now find VolumeD.txt in your My Documents Folder and post a
copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it is more
informative.

Something to do which will improve performance.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dell Dimension DM051
Intel(R)
Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
2.99GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM

Commit Charge (K)

Total 1429752
Limit 2515312
Peak 1882504

Disk Defragmenter Report:
Volume (C
Volume size = 144 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 27.44 GB
Free space = 117 GB
Percent free space = 80 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 1 %
File fragmentation = 2 %
Free space fragmentation = 0 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 85,762
Average file size = 513 KB
Total fragmented files = 190
Total excess fragments = 4,799
Average fragments per file = 1.05

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 1.50 GB
Total fragments = 1

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 8,518
Fragmented folders = 13
Excess folder fragments = 57

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 104 MB
MFT record count = 95,631
Percent MFT in use = 89 %
Total MFT fragments = 3

 

[Gerry]

From the information provided it is clear that your system is making
extensive use of the pagefile notwithstanding that there is is installed
1 gb RAM, which is more than adequate for most users. We now need to
establish what it is that is using so much memory.

You should be able to gather more information from Task Manager. With
the Processes tab open select View, Select, Columns and check the boxes
before Peak Memory Usage and Virtual Memory size. What are the figures
for the 6 processes using the largest amounts?

Do you leave your computer on 24/7?

What are your anti-virus and ant-spyware arrangements?

Can you please post a copy of the Most fragmented files list, which is
part of the Disk Defragmenter report.

What do you mainly use the computer for?


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Sabrinna83]

I added the columns & then listed the highest 6 processes from each column &
resorting it with each column & this is what they were...

Peak Mem Usage Virtual Mem Size
138,120k Mcshield.exe 112,144k
iexplore.exe
104,752k iexplore.exe 100,252k
SMSystemAnalyzer.exe
96,300k waol.exe 72,700k
waol.exe
90,572k svchost.exe 37,296k
DesktopWeather.exe
51,468k SMSystemAnalyzer.exe 32,000k Mcshield.exe
29,360k McAfeeDataBackup.exe 24,968k explorer.exe

Mem Usage
99,020k iexplore.exe
34,756k SMSystemAnalyzer.exe
32,320k svchost.exe
18,016k DesktopWeather.exe
16,264k waol.exe
11,584k MBackMonitor.exe

We do normally leave the computer on 24/7 I do shut it down all the way
about once a week. Here lately we have had to restart it alot because when
you click on start to do something the menu comes up black & won't let you do
anything unless you restart.

We have the McAfee Security Center for anti-virus & anti-spyware.

We really just use it to go online & pay bills & just have Microsoft Word
for if we need to type letters mainly the only time we use it is internet &
email.

This is the Most Fragmented Files from the same report as before...

Fragments File Size Most fragmented files
3,212 432 MB \Documents and
Settings\AllUsers\Documents\101108_

09-03-21F\a0baaa82-eb71-443d-afd5-35d9a8b4b6bf-0
300 30 MB \System Volume
Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-

49B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}\RP1062\snapshot\_
REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
141 9 MB \WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\
DataColl\CollectedData_25154.xml
120 7 MB \Documents and Settings\Smith
Family\MyDocuments\
Pics from Deb\B-day-halloween.zip
120 7 MB \Documents and
Settings\SmithFamily\MyDocuments\Pics
from Deb\B-day-halloween\Picture020.zip
60 2 MB \Documents and Settings\Smith
Family\LocalSettings\
Temporary
InternetFiles\Content.IE5\index.dat
38 4 MB \System Volume
Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-49

B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}RP1062snapshot\_REGISTRY_

USER_NTUSER_S-1-5-21-3915620104-2578902649-
3587346527-500
36 151 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\ApplicationData
\McAfee\MCLOGS
\MISP\mcupdmgr\mcupdmgr002.log
36 150 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\

McAfee\MCLOGS\MISP\mcupdmgr\mcupdmgr001.log
33 150 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\

McAfee\MCLOGS\MISP\mcnasvc\mcnasvc001.log
28 2 MB \System Volume
Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-

49B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}\RP1062\A0105775.GDB
28 2 MB \System Volume
Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-

49B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}\RP1061\A0105765.GDB
26 6 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application
Data\iolo\IOLODB.FDB
21 2 MB \Documents and Settings\Smith Family\Local
Settings\Temp\IMT742.xml
18 953 KB \Documents and Settings\Smith
Family\LocalSettings\
Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\6IMJB2H1
\jsbundle_f[1].js
18 30 MB \Documents and Settings\Smith
Family\Application Data\
iolo\Registry\Last\software
17 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\Suppo

rtSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\state\logs\sprtcmd.log
16 64 KB \Documents and Settings\Smith Family\Local
Settings\
Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\7WIDDOTQ
16 70 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\ApplicationData\

McAfee\MCLOGS\MpsConfig\mcmscsvc\mcmscsvc001.log
15 745 KB \WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\DataColl\
CollectedData_25144.xml
15 719 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\ApplicationData\Suppo

rtSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\data\manifest.xml
14 42 MB \WINDOWS\Temp\WFV13.tmp
14 1 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\default.LOG
13 603 KB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\
031108_09-03-42F\Index.arb
13 13 MB \Documents and Settings\Smith Family\Local
Settings\
Application
Data\Microsoft\POD\Pictures.pd3
13 56 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\ApplicationData\

McAfee\MCLOGS\MISP\mcmscsvc\mcmscsvc001.log
13 603 KB \Documents and Settings\AllUsers\Documents\
101108_09-03-21F\Index.arb
12 928 KB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application
Data\AOL\C_AOL
9.1\idb\sabrinna15\MyDB.idx
11 1 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\software.LOG
11 377 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\AOL\
UserProfiles\All
Users\SUDS\METRICS\Stic.log

 

[Gerry]

Sabrinna83

McAfee requires a lot of memory. For this reason many choose less
resource hungry freeware alternatives such as AVG and Spybot S& D. How
long before the McAfee subscription comes up for renewal? You may win by
rescheduling daily scans in McAfee to times when the computer would not
normally be used.

SMSystemAnalyzer.exe = System Mechanic. This suite of utilities is one
which I, and many others posting here, would not use. It contains a
registry cleaner and a memory optimiser. Both undesirable. I would
uninstall.

AOL software by reputation historically has been poor often replacing
updated files with earlier versions. It is less common than it was and I
have not seen much written about it recently. I would not consider it to
be a priority for removal.

DesktopWeather.exe is a known resource hog. It can be configured to load
on demand rather than on start up,

The computer should not be run on a 24/7 basis. Restart or turn it off
at least once a day. If you have any software with memory leaks this is
the only way to return memory for reuse. Closing the programme does not
release the memory so memory in use progressively increases over time.

The use you describe should not generate the high use of the pagefile
you are experiencing. Obviously the factors identified above are
contributing to the high usage. We are unlikely to have identified all
problems.

The reports from Disk Defragmenter indicate the need for maintenance.
You need to follow the routine described below once a week. Done
regularly it should not take too long. Are there any files listed in the
Most fragmented files list on completion? You should have none.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.

You should check Event Viewer for Warning and Error reports.

Please post copies of all Error and Warning Reports appearing in the
System and Application logs in Event Viewer relating to the last boot in
normal mode . No Information Reports or Duplicates please. Indicate
which also appear in a previous boot.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.



--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I added the columns & then listed the highest 6 processes from each
column & resorting it with each column & this is what they were...

Peak Mem Usage Virtual Mem Size
138,120k Mcshield.exe 112,144k
iexplore.exe
104,752k iexplore.exe 100,252k
SMSystemAnalyzer.exe
96,300k waol.exe 72,700k
waol.exe
90,572k svchost.exe 37,296k
DesktopWeather.exe
51,468k SMSystemAnalyzer.exe 32,000k
Mcshield.exe 29,360k McAfeeDataBackup.exe 24,968k
explorer.exe

Mem Usage
99,020k iexplore.exe
34,756k SMSystemAnalyzer.exe
32,320k svchost.exe
18,016k DesktopWeather.exe
16,264k waol.exe
11,584k MBackMonitor.exe

We do normally leave the computer on 24/7 I do shut it down all the
way about once a week. Here lately we have had to restart it alot
because when you click on start to do something the menu comes up
black & won't let you do anything unless you restart.

We have the McAfee Security Center for anti-virus & anti-spyware.

We really just use it to go online & pay bills & just have Microsoft
Word for if we need to type letters mainly the only time we use it is
internet & email.

This is the Most Fragmented Files from the same report as before...

Fragments File Size Most fragmented files
3,212 432 MB \Documents and
Settings\AllUsers\Documents\101108_

09-03-21F\a0baaa82-eb71-443d-afd5-35d9a8b4b6bf-0
300 30 MB \System Volume
Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-

49B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}\RP1062\snapshot\_
REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
141 9 MB \WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\
DataColl\CollectedData_25154.xml
120 7 MB \Documents and Settings\Smith
Family\MyDocuments\
Pics from
Deb\B-day-halloween.zip 120 7 MB \Documents and
Settings\SmithFamily\MyDocuments\Pics
from
Deb\B-day-halloween\Picture020.zip 60 2 MB
\Documents and Settings\Smith Family\LocalSettings\
Temporary
InternetFiles\Content.IE5\index.dat
38 4 MB \System Volume
Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-49

B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}RP1062snapshot\_REGISTRY_

USER_NTUSER_S-1-5-21-3915620104-2578902649-
3587346527-500
36 151 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\ApplicationData
\McAfee\MCLOGS
\MISP\mcupdmgr\mcupdmgr002.log
36 150 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\

McAfee\MCLOGS\MISP\mcupdmgr\mcupdmgr001.log
33 150 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\

McAfee\MCLOGS\MISP\mcnasvc\mcnasvc001.log
28 2 MB \System Volume
Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-

49B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}\RP1062\A0105775.GDB
28 2 MB \System Volume
Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-

49B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}\RP1061\A0105765.GDB
26 6 MB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application
Data\iolo\IOLODB.FDB 21 2 MB \Documents and
Settings\Smith Family\Local
Settings\Temp\IMT742.xml 18 953 KB \Documents
and Settings\Smith Family\LocalSettings\
Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\6IMJB2H1
\jsbundle_f[1].js
18 30 MB \Documents and Settings\Smith
Family\Application Data\
iolo\Registry\Last\software
17 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\Suppo

rtSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\state\logs\sprtcmd.log
16 64 KB \Documents and Settings\Smith
Family\Local Settings\
Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\7WIDDOTQ
16 70 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\ApplicationData\

McAfee\MCLOGS\MpsConfig\mcmscsvc\mcmscsvc001.log
15 745 KB \WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\DataColl\
CollectedData_25144.xml
15 719 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\ApplicationData\Suppo

rtSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\data\manifest.xml
14 42 MB \WINDOWS\Temp\WFV13.tmp
14 1 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\default.LOG
13 603 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents\
031108_09-03-42F\Index.arb 13 13 MB \Documents
and Settings\Smith Family\Local Settings\
Application
Data\Microsoft\POD\Pictures.pd3
13 56 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\ApplicationData\

McAfee\MCLOGS\MISP\mcmscsvc\mcmscsvc001.log
13 603 KB \Documents and
Settings\AllUsers\Documents\
101108_09-03-21F\Index.arb 12 928 KB \Documents
and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\AOL\C_AOL
9.1\idb\sabrinna15\MyDB.idx
11 1 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\software.LOG
11 377 KB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\AOL\
UserProfiles\All
Users\SUDS\METRICS\Stic.log