What really is virtual memory and if it's low how can i fix it?

Answer 1

Here's my answer since the others aren't really useful.

The title "virtual memory" gives the impression that it is not real memory. The particular type of member meant is RAM, where programs actively store their variables for fast retrieval and modification. Virtual memory, also known as paging (in Windows) or swap (in Unix), is a way for the operating system to let more programs run at once. If you do not have enough actual RAM for all of your programs to run, the operating system will begin to move some of that data to the hard disk, which is slower, but much larger.

In most operating systems, virtual memory is only used when it is needed. However, there are some bugs with Windows NT's kernel's paging handling. You may often see a warning that you are running low on virtual memory when hardly any of your actual RAM is in use. This can usually be ignored (but make sure that's the actual problem).
If that is not the problem, or the warning is really annoying, you can increase the Windows virtual memory allocation using one of the methods mentioned above. (Settings will take effect when you restart.)

Answer 2

Windows uses hard drive space for virtual memory. The method for changing the amount of virtual memory you have depends on the version of Windows that you have. Also, most versions of Windows automatically adjust virtual memory.

If you need to find out how to adjust it manually, go to start, then help. Type in virtual memory. A topic should pop up on how to adjust virtual memory.

Answer 3

To change the size of the virtual memory paging file
Open Computer Management (Local).
In the console tree, right-click Computer Management (Local), and then select Properties.
On the Advanced tab, click Performance Options, and under Virtual memory, click Change.
In the Drive list, click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change.
Under Paging file size for selected drive, type a new paging file size in megabytes in the Initial Size (MB) or Maximum Size (MB) box, and then click Set.
If you decrease the size of either the minimum or maximum page file settings, you must restart your computer to see the effects of those changes. Increases generally do not require a restart.

Notes

To open Computer Management, click Start, and then click Control Panel. Click Performance and Maintenance, click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Computer Management.
You must be recognized as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group on your computer and on the computer you are managing to perform this task.
You can view or change system properties on a remote computer or a local computer. To access a remote computer, right-click Computer Management (Local), click Connect to another computer, and then select the computer you want to connect to in the list.
For best performance, set the initial size to not less than the recommended size under Total paging file size for all drives. The recommended size is equivalent to 1.5 times the amount of RAM on your system.
Usually, you should leave the paging file at its recommended size, although you might increase its size if you routinely use programs that require a lot of memory.
To delete a paging file, set both initial size and maximum size to zero.

Answer 4

Virtual Memory=Disk Space.

To fix, increase the size in binary increments!

128 x 1,024, 000=131,072
256 x 1,024,000=266,144

If you use WinXP

Right click on My Computer
Select Proporties
Left click on Properties
Left click on Settings for Performance

Pick, Let Widows choose what is best for my computer

Answer 5

Virtual memory works like a RAM. I gets its memory from the hard drive. To change it go to control panel> system. You can specify the memory from each disk drive.

Answer 6

You increase it.
Start>Control Panel> (If in Classic switch to Category) Performance and Maintainance>See basic information about your computer>Advanced>Performance - Settings>Advanced>Virtual Memory - Change>
Initial Size (MB) - 1024
Maximum Size (MB) - 2048
>OK>OK>OK.

Answer 7

close some of the programs that are running in the background, or get more RAM

Answer 8

close programs,delete programs or files or justt add more rams