Is virtual memory part of an OS, or do you have to buy it as a software package? If so, how much does it cost? Or does it come as part of Mac OS 10.4? How do I access it?
2006-12-28 06:44:08 · 7 answers · asked by Maximillian 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
Virtual memory is partly set-up by the OS on the harddrive so that if the RAM of the computer is being overused, the OS uses the space on the Harddrive to make up the difference.
2006-12-28 06:50:58 · answer #1 · answered by cloakedstorm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Virtual memory is a setting in the OS. Typically - at least from a Windows standpoint, the virtual memory is set to "double + 11". For instance, if you have 1 GB of RAM - you'll set virtual memory to 2GB or RAM, plus 11 MB.
I don't know where the setting is in a MAC OS, but I'm sure it can be set without having to purchase anything!
Be careful, and good luck!
2006-12-28 06:48:33 · answer #2 · answered by gatesfam@swbell.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure about your Mac, but on a Windows machine Virtual Memory is a Page File which is set aside on the hard drive to store used files in for quicker access. A sort of Cache. It can be changed to nearly any size and should be flushed out every so often to get rid of any old un-used files that weren't forced out by use.
Ron
2006-12-28 06:50:21 · answer #3 · answered by Ron75 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the sense you are after, virtual memory is usually the combination of RAM (sticks of memory in your computer) and parts of the hard disk used by the operating system to allow programs to load and store information.
If you don't know how what it is, you probably don't need to worry about it. To increase the amount of virtual memory available to programs on your computer, either:
buy and install more physical ram
OR
allocate more space for your page file / swap space
for the latter, the method required depends on your OS
2006-12-28 06:52:25 · answer #4 · answered by Sam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Virtual memory is hard drive space which is used in place of real memory. I know on a Windows PC you can adjust the amount of virtual memory manually. On a Mac running OSX virtual memory is in /var/vm. You wont see it in Finder unless you have it set to show hidden files. I also don't recommend messing with it. If you're having problems and think it has to do with virtual memory, I recommend Applejack.
2006-12-28 06:52:01 · answer #5 · answered by dajon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For OS X read this about vurtual memory.
http://8help.osu.edu/1261.html
2006-12-28 06:56:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its when part of your harddrive is is used as "virtual" ram go to help and suppport and type in Virtual Ram
2006-12-28 07:49:15 · answer #7 · answered by Aaron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋