windows xp gone crazy

[George]

Something happened to my Dell 2400 with windows XP. Some
programs are telling me "not enough memory" when I know I
have got plenty, 256. Also windows update won't install
updates, System Restore will not restore no matter how
many restore points I pick, all graphics are fuzzy, etc.
I have tried to contact Dell, but it looks like my pet
fish is more knowledgeable than the tech force. Does
anyone have any clues to what happened? Should I erase
hard drive and start fresh, and if so, how do I go about
it? I am only a novice, please advice. Thanks in advance.

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
Something happened to my Dell 2400 with windows XP. Some
programs are telling me "not enough memory" when I know I
have got plenty, 256. Also windows update won't install
updates, System Restore will not restore no matter how
many restore points I pick, all graphics are fuzzy, etc.
I have tried to contact Dell, but it looks like my pet
fish is more knowledgeable than the tech force. Does
anyone have any clues to what happened? Should I erase
hard drive and start fresh, and if so, how do I go about
it? I am only a novice, please advice. Thanks in advance.
.

Not sure if this is part of the problem but 256 is
not 'plenty', its the bare minimum for XP.

 

[stevemiller]

You have a pet fish too?? heh heh, I was just wondering if
you had some disk space allocated for virtual memory? If
you go to control panal then click on system then hit the
advanced tab then you'll see performance. Click on
settings and in the window that opens you can choose what
settings you want in the visual effects tab...I have
custom settings with 1 box ticked for drop shadows. Then
on the advanced tab you can choose what you want for
processor and memory...mines for programs. then at the
bottom is a button to open a page where you adjust your
paging file. I got mine set pretty high for C:\ drive
since I run a flight sim. I think the initial size has to
be 2MB at least and I set the max to 1000 MB for D:\ its
600 MB. Also, In the system properties on the general tab
you can verify your RAM. Next, I would go into device
manager, <system properties> <Hardware> <device manager>
expand all [+] and verify that all hardware is
functioning. ie (no yellow triangles with exclamation
points). If no problems i would visit Dell and see if they
have any driver updates for your system/hardware.

just some thoughts...hope you catch that fish!

 

[stevemiller]

Just wanted to add that you might try defraging drives and
optimizing the registry. XP has a built in defrager and
for the registry I use xen tweak, www.x9000.net. BTw I
have only 256 MB RAM and don't have problems like your
talking about... Also, I think xen tweak has a memory
defrager...

-----Original Message-----
You have a pet fish too?? heh heh, I was just wondering if
you had some disk space allocated for virtual memory? If
you go to control panal then click on system then hit the
advanced tab then you'll see performance. Click on
settings and in the window that opens you can choose what
settings you want in the visual effects tab...I have
custom settings with 1 box ticked for drop shadows. Then
on the advanced tab you can choose what you want for
processor and memory...mines for programs. then at the
bottom is a button to open a page where you adjust your
paging file. I got mine set pretty high for C:\ drive
since I run a flight sim. I think the initial size has to
be 2MB at least and I set the max to 1000 MB for D:\ its
600 MB. Also, In the system properties on the general tab
you can verify your RAM. Next, I would go into device
manager, <system properties> <Hardware> <device manager>
expand all [+] and verify that all hardware is
functioning. ie (no yellow triangles with exclamation
points). If no problems i would visit Dell and see if they
have any driver updates for your system/hardware.

just some thoughts...hope you catch that fish!

-----Original Message-----


Not sure if this is part of the problem but 256 is
not 'plenty', its the bare minimum for XP.
.

.