my computer is telling me that my vitrual memory is running low?

Answer 1

Some applications will cause this. You can adjust Virtual Memory by right clicking My Computer, chose Properties, click the Advanced tab and the Advanced tab on that screen. At the bottom is Virtual Memory. If you have enough disk space, you can increase the size of the hidden file that Windows keeps for that purpose.

This page will tell you what you need to know about it, including what size you should set it to: http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php

Edit: Some answerers seem very confused about what uses memory and what doesn't.

1) Virtual memory is a (very large) file on your hard disk. It is normally hidden, so you won't see it unless you show hidden and system files. If your disk is getting full (like 25% or less free space), Windows may not be able to increase the file size enough. Removing unnecessary files and defragmenting will help in this case.

2) Programs and data which aren't open or running don't use memory at all. They simply take space on your hard disk. If you have plenty of space available, they are not a problem.

3) Any program which is open tells Windows how much memory it needs for its workspace. Programs which are open in the background are using memory but Windows should be able to manage the memory and make the fastest memory (RAM) available for the program which you are currently using (in the foreground). More importantly, when a program is closed, it should give up all the memory it used so that Windows can use it for other programs. Some programs do not do this and Windows reports that it is running low on virtual memory.

Check what programs are running when you get the error. Depending on the amount of RAM you have and the condition of your hard disk, you may be able to cure the problem by increasing RAM or by freeing up space on your hard disk. To free space, you can run the Disk Cleanup utility in Accessories, System Tools. This will delete all temporary files and clear the caches. Then run a Disk Check and finally defragment your hard disk. These are good things to do regularly, anyway.

Answer 2

Sometimes this is because there are to many programs running. Even if you don't have any thing opened. Could be programs running in the background, Some will have memory leaks, which means when you close the program it does not let go of the memory it was using.

Open your Task manager to see what is running.

You might also want to check for spyware. If there is enough of it running in the background it can cause these message also.

Clear out your temp IE files and run some spyware and virus programs.

Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/downl...
Install & update run until it shows nothing.

HijackTHIS http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/progr...
Download this scan and save a log. Post the log file at http://www.castlecops.com/f67-hijackthis...
Some great people there that can help. Some of the things this will find are good. Get help with this before stopping things from running.

Run your virus program after updating the data files. If you don’t have one here is a free one to use now. http://housecall.trendmicro.com/......

Look into Zone Alarm,. Its helps to stop the auto downloader’s that can & will screw up your system.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/co...

CWSredder to get rid of Cool Web Search (pain in the butt spyware)
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

Answer 3

Follow the steps to increase the amount of virtual memory allocated on the hard disk. This will work only if you have a extra partition on your hard disk, and has enough empty space on it.
Locate the my computers icon, and right click on it.
Select properties.
System propertied window opens.
Select Advanced panel(Tab)
Click on settings button, under the performance section.
Performance Options window opens.
Again select Advanced Tab/panel in it.
Click on change button, in the Virtual memory section.
Virtual memory window opens.
There you will see all your partitions and the paging file size allocated to it.
Select the other drive letter from it. (We are assuming that there is no empty space, or less empty space on your C drive)
Select the custom size radio button.

In the initial size in MB. wiite a number double than that of actual ram memory on your computer. In the maximum size , write a number double than that of the initial size.
Press OK,
Press OK
Press OK
to come out of the windows.
This should give enough virtual memory for your computer.

In case you do not have another partition,or extra hard disk, then copy some of the files from your computer to a cd/dvd and delete them from your hard disk in order to make some space.

Remember that virtual memory is nothing but the empty space on your hard disk temperorily used by the computer. So keep enough empty space on your hard disk for your PC to function properly.

Answer 4

No problem
1. (On Windows XP) Right Click 'My Computer' and take properties.
2. CLick the Advanced TAB
3. Click settings in Performace Section
4. Click Advanced
5. In the last section you will fine change option
6. IAfter clicking change, you can then increase the space reserved for virtual memory...

Take care

Answer 5

try defragmenting it will clear up alot of space.to do this you need to go into control panel,click administrative tools then computer management then disk defrag.It will take a few hrs if you have never done it but you can continue working on computer while its perform the cleaning but it will take it longer if you do.Hope this helps.You should do this about once a month.

Answer 6

whenever you start a program like word,excel
it requires memory if your ram is 128 mb
and you open a huge excel file it uses the memory out of this
when it utilises more than 80% of this it gives this msg
so open only those programs(in your taskbar) which you need

Answer 7

You need to delete files and maybe a program or two that you no longer use. If you have a lot of pictures or video clips, that uses a lot of memory. Either that or look at expanding your memory.

Answer 8

Delete files. Go to tools, internet options. Delete cookies, files and history. Go to disk clean up and defragment your files. Go to control panel. Add and remove programs, then delete some unused programs. That will help!

Answer 9

Virtual memory are disk space, you need to delete some files in order that error would not appear again...

Answer 10

add more RAM to your PC and don't try to run many programmes simultaneously.

Perhaps you can try to uninstall some of the unused softwares or run disk clean up.

Hope this helps!