why does my computer keep telling me "windows virtual memory too low"?

Question

i have windows xp. a balloon pops up saying that and then tells me that during the paging process memory wont be available for other applications. this happens every couple of weeks or so. please dont answer unless you have a clue what you're talking about. thank you

Answer 1

You probably have spyware that uses more memory that you would normally use.

Keep your own Anti-virus up to date, and check the status regularly.

Get and update several Anti-spyware solutions. I use AD-AWARE and SpyBot Search & Destroy. I use the free versions from http://www.download.com Update and run these regularly. Especially IMMEDIATELY after an upexpected pop-up.

Download and install FireFox free from http://www.mozilla.com This is a browser that is safer to use than IE. Use this for general surfing and google searching. Only use IE when you MUST have IE, such as Windows Updates.

If you have Windows XP with SP2, activate the Windows firewall and check the status. If you don't, get Zone Alarm the free version from http://www.zonelabs.com

Take these steps to keep your computer ALIVE.

Answer 2

You probably need more memory in your computer. The norm today is 1GB and many people are upgradding to twice that. Next time you get that message right click on your task bar and open the Task Manager. Click on the tab that says Performance and look at what is listed for each of the boxes. The one for Physical Memory will tell you how much RAM you have and how much is currently available.

Look at how many processes are running. You may have stuff going on that is unnecessary or even a spyware program. If you don't recognize the name of some process do a search for it and see what is said. There are numerous web sites that will identify each process and recommend what should be done with them.

If you need more memory you can get it online at places like newegg.com which offer a wide selection at good prices. Installing more memory is the easiest upgrade you can do since it involves nothing more than opening your case, removing the existing chips, and installing the new and larger ones.

Answer 3

There many applications that can be run in Windows XP, written by different programmers at different companies. Some is better, at memory management than others.

You apparently are running an application (or a few!) that 'features' a memory 'leak' and doesn't properly manage the memory as it is quit. So, after you have opened that application, for about the third time, you will have three stacks of memory reserved for it's usage!

In two weeks time, opening and then closing that app., you have run low on memory resources.

There are updates, upgrades, out there for many of your third party applications, that can correct this. But, for me or any other tech. to figure out the exact problem entails running your system with a test program that analyses memory usage.

At $75 to $100 per hour for the bench labor, you might seek your solution on http://google.com in a search for 'memory leak', 'memory test', 'buffer overflow'. http://www.ss64.com/nt/ look at 'clearmem', and run it in a system console. See if it works!

I got disgusted enough at the poor programming in all the commercial and proprietary software, that I switched to Unix, BSD, and GNU/Linux on all my computers, and give out the disks free, to all the folks I meet!!!

You can download PClinuxos, burn the ISO, and then run it, and invoke it's tests for memory, to see if it finds similar problems, and then you could replace any bad memory sticks, but, I doubt you will find any bad memory, only bad programming in the WIN32 applications!

That test would be (running in the LiveCD) 1. open the console, 2. type 'free', and, then you know what memory you have, and then, do 'ps' to see what processes are using memory, and if any are slow, or lost... (Control>C stops any app. so you can start the next one). Also, there are tons more commands and even graphical consoles on-screen to monitor the system for say, 4 to 12 hours! The logs will tell all!

Good surfing!

Answer 4

That means that your running too many things at once. Try restarting your computer, or do alt+ctrl+del, goto processes tab, and end any process names you know you dont need and that they dont belong to SYSTEM. Virutal memory is the RAM available, and its used directly during running applications. If you start donig a paging file, that means your hard disk, (hundreds of times slower than RAM) is being used, which will be crap speed for ur pc and means you need to exit some programs, or get more RAM space.

Answer 5

in simple terms the hdd acts as ram,close some of your paging files that are open but the best way to keep that windows virtual memory is low from showing up is to increase your ram as your ram is increase so is your virtual memory check at website that sells ram they have a program or enter in your model,the manufacture they will tell you the max amount of ram you can use if you at the max then delete some of your programs and old updates

Answer 6

Virtual memory is the space your PC uses when it's short of RAM (Random Access Memory), which is the memory used when running programs liek Microsoft Office Word or Power Point.

The following web site at microsoft will give you some easy solutions:

1. Bump up your virtual memory
2. Add more RAM to your PC (memory)

To see the instruction to bump up your memory follow the link to microsoft. Good Luck!!!

Answer 7

change virtual memory settings
click on start
click on control panel
click on systems
click on advanced
under performance click on settings
click on advanced
click on change
now you need to know how much ram your computer has this can be found if u hit cancel and general it will say 128 mb ram or 256 mb ram or 512 or 1024..or uh-oh 64 mb ram.
knowing this number now change initial size and maximum size to 2.5 times times your amount of ram if you have 256 change it to 640, 512-1050
you now have more virtual memory

Answer 8

I've had that problem in the past. A technical support person told me to shut my computer down more often. I started doing that, and it helped. I later added more RAM as someone else suggested, and I rarely get that message.

Answer 9

i would add more RAM. virtual memory is hard drive space that is used to store currently running programs. adding more RAM will reduce the amount of virtural memory the computer needs.

Answer 10

Mine used to do that so the dude who sold us the computer put mor memory onit. and noe it's ok.