Total memory used

[D.]

Does Windows XP use more physical memory to load stuff in at boot up,
if it sees it has some extra memory to mess with?

I ask, because I have 1 gig of RAM, but I see 400 MBs are used at
boot.
Total Physical memory = 1024 MB
Available Physical memory = 621.16 MB
(that is a reading with something running).

Now, since I know that a computer can run XP on even as low an amount
of RAM as 128 MBs, then these programs & Windows must be seeing extra
RAM & using it, as opposed to lower memory systems maybe using more
"virtual memory"? Or how is the memory issue handled?

 

[Jay]

Does Windows XP use more physical memory to load stuff in at boot up,
if it sees it has some extra memory to mess with?

I ask, because I have 1 gig of RAM, but I see 400 MBs are used at
boot.
Total Physical memory = 1024 MB
Available Physical memory = 621.16 MB
(that is a reading with something running).

Now, since I know that a computer can run XP on even as low an amount
of RAM as 128 MBs, then these programs & Windows must be seeing extra
RAM & using it, as opposed to lower memory systems maybe using more
"virtual memory"? Or how is the memory issue handled?

OS's/Applications don't "see" memory and use it. They just continue to use
what is there until there is no more available at which point it will
attempt to use virtual memory. To see what applications are hogging your
memory pres ctrl+alt+delete go to processes and look at the mem usage
column. Clicking the mem usage column will sort the processes in order of
whose using the most.

Jay

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

WinXP will try to find a use for all available memory. Your assumption about
low memory systems is essentially correct, it will use what it finds, then
use the virtual memory. With large amounts of ram, the system will use what
is needed at boot to load programs. The rest will be used for caching of
data and anything else you initiate. If it starts to peak out, it will start
to use the pagefile.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Tom]

Does Windows XP use more physical memory to load stuff in at boot up,
if it sees it has some extra memory to mess with?

I ask, because I have 1 gig of RAM, but I see 400 MBs are used at
boot.
Total Physical memory = 1024 MB
Available Physical memory = 621.16 MB
(that is a reading with something running).

Now, since I know that a computer can run XP on even as low an amount
of RAM as 128 MBs, then these programs & Windows must be seeing extra
RAM & using it, as opposed to lower memory systems maybe using more
"virtual memory"? Or how is the memory issue handled?

400megs is quite a lot, I would check your startup and see what is being
allocated to programs when you finish loading Windows.

Clcik Start/Run, then type

msconfig

Then under the startup tab, see how many items are loading up. There may be
quite a few that you really do not need loading up, and you can remove them
from doing so from there, by selecting the the "selective startup" radio
button, then making the changes (unchecking the items) there. Reboot, and
then when you get a prompt that you made changes, just check the box at the
bottom left of that prompt as to not get that message in the future.

But being you have this much RAM, I don't see it as an issue for now, unless
you really start loading up other thing that dwindle your resources down.

 

[Tom]

To see what applications are hogging your
memory pres ctrl+alt+delete go to processes and look at the mem usage
column. Clicking the mem usage column will sort the processes in order of
whose using the most.

After hitting ctrl+alt+delete, one has to then click on the "Task manager"
button to get to what you refer.

 

[Plato]

I ask, because I have 1 gig of RAM, but I see 400 MBs are used at
boot.

That's EXACTLY why it's recommended that one has at least 512 for XP.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Does Windows XP use more physical memory to load stuff in at boot up,
if it sees it has some extra memory to mess with?

I ask, because I have 1 gig of RAM, but I see 400 MBs are used at
boot.
Total Physical memory = 1024 MB
Available Physical memory = 621.16 MB
(that is a reading with something running).

Windows tries its hardest to keep all of RAM in use at all times, even
if uses are trivial. In particular, just after boot, if there is room,
it will be caching every file that has so far been accessed at all -
which could well add up to this level. It will drop trivial uses
instantly as soon as something more important comes along if there is
not unoccupied (a better term than 'free') RAM
Read more at my page www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

 

[Jay]

After hitting ctrl+alt+delete, one has to then click on the "Task manager"
button to get to what you refer.

Really? Pressing ctrl+alt+del takes me straight into TM on my PC

 

[Tom]

Really? Pressing ctrl+alt+del takes me straight into TM on my PC

The it is setup as your HOTKEY to that. XP Pro gives me more choices than
just task manager.

 

[Jay]

The it is setup as your HOTKEY to that. XP Pro gives me more choices than
just task manager.

Not by me it wasn't and I set it up (and it is XP Pro)
What other choices are you given?

Jay

 

[Tom]

Not by me it wasn't and I set it up (and it is XP Pro)
What other choices are you given?

Jay

- Lock Workstation
- Task Manager
- Change Password
- Log Off......
- Shutdown
- Cancel

 

[Jay]

- Lock Workstation
- Task Manager
- Change Password
- Log Off......
- Shutdown
- Cancel

Which is identical to what I see on my work Win2k machine if I give it 3
fingers.
Strange!

 

[Joh N.]

That's EXACTLY why it's recommended that one has at least 512 for XP.

Interpretation: And, it's a dàmn shame XPee *has* to have so much RAM just to
*startup*, but if I'd said that too, then I'd be saying something bad about
XPee and Miss Persperation Stink or some silly mvp would come along andscold
me!

 

[D.]

Hey guys your control-alt-delete thing, yea it brings up the task
manager, but I knew about that. I just want to point out that you can
right-click on an empty part of the Windows Start bar and there will
be a choice offered that says "task manager". Easier than finding 3
keys and pressing them simultaneously.

....D.
-------------------------------

 

[Jay]

Hey guys your control-alt-delete thing, yea it brings up the task
manager, but I knew about that. I just want to point out that you can
right-click on an empty part of the Windows Start bar and there will
be a choice offered that says "task manager". Easier than finding 3
keys and pressing them simultaneously.

Naaa I'd have the task manager up and be on the required tab before you
could even draw for your mouse

Jay