MS Paint - Can't close due to not enough memory or resources?

[Debbie]

My boyfriend's son loves MS Paint. Unfortunately after using it,
when trying to close it, we get the following error:

"There is not enough memory or resources to complete operation.
Close some programs, then try again."

I have WindowsXP Pro w/service pack 2 installed on my Athlon 3500+
with 2 GB RAM and a Nvidia GeForce 6800GT with 256MB. I can't understand
how I'd be out of resources. I've uninstalled and reinstalled Paint but
still no luck.

If anyone has an ideas, I'd appreciate the help and so boyfriend's
son would be very grateful.

Thanks!!

 

[johnf]

Do you do a regular Disk Cleanup?
2 GB RAM is an overkill, so that can't be the problem.

 

[Guest]

A variety of things could be causing this. Usually, when Windows refers to
"resources", it's referring to memory. Windows utilizes two different types
of memory: system RAM and Virtual Memory. System RAM is your physical 2GB of
RAM. Virtual memory is a file on the hard drive that Windows uses as "fake
RAM", thus allowing it as much as it needs it. You might need to modify
your virtual memory settings.

This could also be a simple error in an extremely old program. MS Paint was
designed waaaay back in the heyday of Windows 3.11/95, and the code probably
hasn't changed much (if at all) since then. MSPaint simply may not be
capable of addressing 2GB of RAM! Or it could be that he's creating images
that are so big that they are foiling MSPaint's outdated memory schema.

Also, you might want to take a look at some kind of memory management
program. If you're using one, try turning it off. If you're not, try one
out and see if it solves the problem.

In any case, I would advise taking a look at these links:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;129545
http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?qu=mspaint&range=1-20

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Debbie,

This fix usually works:

Close any/all instances of MSPaint. Then start/run regedit, navigate to this
key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Applets\Paint

Hightlight (click on it) that key and delete it. Close the registry editor
and reopen Paint.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Debbie]

Rick,

You are awesome!! Do you think you could talk MS into posting this
fix in their Support database?

Curiosity and quest for MS knowledge leads me to ask, why/how does
this happen?

In my 15 years owning PCs with MS O/S's, I've probably made less
than 5 posts to Help Newsgroups and every time a MVP has responded and
solved my problem. Thank you and all other MVPs who take the time to help.
Your help and support is invaluable!

Debbie