'your system is low on virtual memory'--meaning and user action?

Question

This alert appears on my computer screen and Windows informs me about adding to virtual memory but then cautions that some requests for memory can be denied in the process. I get this alert when I am using Nortan anti-virus for updating virus definitions.

Answer 1

"Virtual Memory" is a hard drive file that your computer uses when it runs out of RAM (hardware) memory. It is often called the Windows "swap file". By default, it is set to a small size.

If you run an application that needs more "swap file" space, Windows will give you that warning. Then it will go ahead and temporarily increase the file space as needed.

It is nothing to worry about - especially if you only get it from Norton updates.

You would "fix" the problem by adding more RAM memory (assuming you have $100 to purchase it) or by resetting the default swap file to a larger size (giving up hard drive space). But neither is necessary.

Answer 2

Don't worry about it, Windows will fix it. Virtual memory is an extension of actual memory. Your computer might have 512 MB of ram, but what happens when more than 512 MB is needed by the programs on the PC? The result is virtual memory: the hard drive is used as memory. Usually Windows doubles your RAM by using the same size ram as page file (the page file is virtual memory). If it runs out, it will increase the size of the page file, but while this is happening an application can be denied memory. It's not a major concern, if that happens just restart and try again. You don't need to do anything, Windows will take care of it.

Answer 3

You can increase your virtual memory (also called the page file or swap file) by doing the following:
(It may vary a bit with your operating system)
Right click my computer, go to Properties
Click the advanced tab.
Click on Performance.
Virtual Memory click settings or change.
In the box type a higher number than the one you have and click set. it should be about double your ram so if you have 512 ram you should have virtual memory about 1024.

Answer 4

It means that your Virtual Mem is too low. IE that you don't have enough RAM in the computer to run all of your applications. When the computer uses up all of the RAM it has to go to the Harddrive to place temp info, like RAM. But the setting for the Harddrive is set too low. Buy more RAM or set your Virtual Mem to a higher number or select "Let Windows Manage my Virtual Memory".

Answer 5

Typically that translate to hard drive near/full, paging file (correct name for virtual memory) is managed automatically since the days of Windows 95. Just delete/uninstall some stuff first.

Answer 6

It means your computer is using all of its RAM and is starting to use your hardrive for extra RAM...that is virtual memory...so to be low on Virtual Memory you are using all your RAM and Hard Drive Space allowed...so you need to add RAM to your computer basically...

Answer 7

it means u r RAM is not enough. ur RAM is not the only randomacess memory used when it exeeds ur ram size it stores it on ur hard disk. if even this size goes too high u get the low virtual memory error. so basically u probably need to increase u r RAM.