Virtual Memory technical information

[Guest]

Hello, I'm trying to understand the whole Virtual Memory thing and it's
really awkward at the very moment. According to Microsoft's information,
Virtual Memory (pagefile.sys) is being used when the RAM's total memory is
exceeded, and that it will put "pages" (4kb each) into pagefile.sys when this
does happen;to free the RAM from information.

However, I'm having a discussion on another forum right now about this and
they are convinced that the pagefile.sys is being used even if the RAM's
space is not exceeded, and to my surprise, it is! So how is this possible?
According to Microsoft's technical information on this website:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555223 , it shouldn't
be used unless RAM is exceeded.

Anyone that can enlighten me?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Robert,

They are correct in that the pagefile will be used even though demand for
memory has not exceeded the physical ram. This occurs because applications
are generally coded to secure some virtual memory space when initialized
(one reason a user should not disable the virtual memory in a normal run
environment). This allocation of pages is normal and is part of the memory
design (which is extremely complex and beyond the scope of this group).
Suffice it to say that the OS will use physical ram wherever possible, but
there will always be some minimal amount of paging.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply, greatly helped