What is Virtual Memory?

[Guest]

My computer keeps saying it's to low?

 

[jimvernon2003]

Virtual memory is hard drive space that your computer uses when it is
running low on RAM. The easiest way to fix this is to add more RAM to
your machine.

 

[Ron Martell]

My computer keeps saying it's to low?

See the article by the late Alex Nichol MVP on XP Memory Management:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm


Also use the Help and Support function in Windows XP and search for
Virtual Memory. Here is the definiton from the Help and Support
Glossary:

virtual memory
Temporary storage used by a computer to run programs that need more
memory than it has. For example, programs could have access to 4
gigabytes of virtual memory on a computer's hard drive, even if the
computer has only 32 megabytes of RAM. The program data that does not
currently fit in the computer's memory is saved into paging files.
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Gerry Cornell]

P

Virtual memory in Windows XP:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

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

You may check on pagefile (virtual memory) usage with
Page File Monitor for XP:
http://www.dougknox.com/

If you get anything much more than 50 mb virtual memory
usage for most users this means you need to add RAM
memory. The system uses virtual memory for a limited
number of tasks rather than RAM memory.

Make sure you study the readme.txt file carefully to ensure
you get the utility to work as it should.

How large is your hard drive? Is it partitioned? How much free space on
each drive / partition. How is the drive formatted -FAT32 or NTFS. To
get this information whilst in Windows Explorer place the cursor on each
drive in turn, right click and select Properties.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Mak]

Virtual memory is an imaginary memory realized by process of mapping virtual
address space into physical done by hardware (usually CPU) and controlled by
software (virtual memory OS).
Concept and first realization goes back to late 50th and belongs to
University of Manchester (Atlas).

In Windows world virtual memory is often confused with disk space / some
special file due to lack of information / wrong information in both Windows
help and Microsoft online resources.

In Windows XP, virtual memory is always operational. There is no way through
user interface / clicking / typing / adding or removing to stop Windows XP
use virtual memory or even reduce paging.

^The above is the answer to your subject question.

To your problem: this error message triggers when paging file is absent or
initial size is not adequate for your workload.
Increase initial size (and maximum if needed) - go System properties |
Advanced | Performance settings | Advanced | change.