Unable to launch new programs until restart

[Brian]

I'm having an interesting problem on my workstation, and I've also seen
it on my home pc. Both are running WinXP Pro SP2 + all latest windows
update patches.

System is a P4 3.0GHz machine, 2.5GB RAM. I am using virtual desktop
software (virtuawin), and have 4 desktops set up. 3 of the 4 desktops
usually have something running on them. I use the Maxthon web browser
(tabbed IE based browser), with 16 tabs open all day, also have firefox
with multiple tabs, thunderbird, outlook, and a bunch of putty (ssh)
sessions, various instances of word, and trillian. I frequently switch
virtual desktops.

Problem is, after a long day of using the system, I sometimes hit a
point where I cannot open any more programs. When I try to open
something, either nothing at all will happen, or windows will "boop" at
me, then do nothing. I can temporarily fix this by closing down outlook
or maxthon, but it doesn't last for long. 1 or 2 more programs, and
nothing will open again. Only fix is a reboot.

I'm not running out of RAM, nor do I have any viruses or adware, etc...
I'm a sysadmin and know how to handle that stuff. This problem that
seems to defy explanation, making a Google search difficult. I did look
into "running out of resources", but that seems to be a 95/98 problem,
though it sounds strangely familiar.

Anyone have any ideas about this one?
Thanks.

 

[Dr. C.Joseph Drayton, Ph.D. AS&T]

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Hi Brian,

Are you sure you are not running out of physical RAM?

The reason I ask is because I run 2GB of RAM on my HP Pavilion
zd8205us laptop with the pagefile turned off. I get great
performance, but if I run out of physical RAM the only thing I can
do is close an application to free up some physical RAM.

Now days I keep the System101 widget running all of the time so that
I KNOW when I am running out of physical RAM.
Ciao . . . C.Joseph

That which a man buys too cheaply . . .
He esteems too lightly

I'm having an interesting problem on my workstation, and I've also seen
it on my home pc. Both are running WinXP Pro SP2 + all latest windows
update patches.

System is a P4 3.0GHz machine, 2.5GB RAM. I am using virtual desktop
software (virtuawin), and have 4 desktops set up. 3 of the 4 desktops
usually have something running on them. I use the Maxthon web browser
(tabbed IE based browser), with 16 tabs open all day, also have firefox
with multiple tabs, thunderbird, outlook, and a bunch of putty (ssh)
sessions, various instances of word, and trillian. I frequently switch
virtual desktops.

Problem is, after a long day of using the system, I sometimes hit a
point where I cannot open any more programs. When I try to open
something, either nothing at all will happen, or windows will "boop" at
me, then do nothing. I can temporarily fix this by closing down outlook
or maxthon, but it doesn't last for long. 1 or 2 more programs, and
nothing will open again. Only fix is a reboot.

I'm not running out of RAM, nor do I have any viruses or adware, etc...
I'm a sysadmin and know how to handle that stuff. This problem that
seems to defy explanation, making a Google search difficult. I did look
into "running out of resources", but that seems to be a 95/98 problem,
though it sounds strangely familiar.

Anyone have any ideas about this one?
Thanks.

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