I AM DESPERATE! Please, I need someone who knows about RAM and space on computers!?

Question

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Okay, I have no idea what the crap is wrong with my computer! It keeps telling me I have barely any disk space at all. I am a big Sims 2 player and I know my games slow my computer down, but I have 512MB of RAM, so this is ridiculous! I have deleted all unused and unwanted files and everything else I can think of. PLEASE HELP ME! What else can I do to make my computer faster and clear space? I am even defragmenting right now and I had the computer clean disk space!

Answer 1

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You are on the right track, and you've done well so far.
Removing programs you don't use, Disk Clean Up, and Defrag are all great steps to helping your computer work more efficiently.
But I'm guessing that you have a good number of personal files and games installed on your computer that are taking up a lot of the HARD DRIVE space you NEED
for a good size VIRTUAL MEMORY swap file
that you NEED for gaming.

Burn all of your own files to CD that you can, and access them from the CD.
Check your hard drive free space.
START > MyComputer > then RIGHT click drive C
You hope to see 3.5 GB of free space

Then you want to "dedicate" at least one GB or better 2GB to virtual memory.
>>>Virtual memory is free unused hard drive space (ROM) that the computer can swap to make extra RAM
It swaps ROM to RAM.

TO INCREASE VIRTUAL MEMORY ALLOCATION:

1. Start> RIGHT click MyComputer > Properties >
2. tab for Advanced > frame for Performance > click button Settings
3. window Performance Options >
tab Advanced > Frame for Virtual memory > click button Change >
4. window Virtual Memory > Frame Paging File >
Before changing the paging file size note the Registry size frame amount, and subtract the amount you've set aside for Maximum registry size, from the free Drive space amount.
You can set your paging file up to the difference.
Example:
Minimum 800 < for WinXP
Maximum 2800 < gives you 2 Gigs of virtual memory on demand
5. click OK
6. Restart your pc


If that still does not meet your needs
then just pop in a second "formatted" 40GB hard drive, and use that for storage and give yourself an additional 4GB of virtual memory.
Leave your OS and Programs on the first hard drive.

Even if you get a bigger #2 hard drive, the system will only utilize 40GB,
so don't waste your money on larger.
You can get a "used" one that will do fine.
You will install the second hard drive on the SAME "System" IDE ribbon inside your computer.

Trust me, I sped up my old buggy that only has a
*blush*
10GB hard drive...but with all I advised you above, she's working great !!!

h2h

Answer 2

Go into My Computer, and right click on the C: drive. Look at the Properties. There will be a pie chart in the middle of the properties window. The amount of free space is displayed above that chart. You will want a minimum of 2 gig of free space, or 10% of the hard drive free, for Windows to be able to run. More then that is recommended (about 1/3 of the drive). You will need to delete files you do not need, move some of your older music, pictures, etc off the hard drive and on to a CD or DVD, and uninstall any programs you can live without. That disk space has nothing to do with the 512 mb of RAM.

Answer 3

512 MB is not enough for gaming. You need AT LEAST 1GB. Disc space should not be a factor, unless you haven't cleaned up your computer and that there is alot of junk on it. Download http://www.ccleaner.com/download/, check every box under the tabs, "windows", "applications," and "issues." "Run Cleaner" on all 3 tabs. You will be surprised the amount of disc space you will regain. ALSO, delete all but the most recent "system restore" point. That eats an enourmous amount of space. START-CONTROL PANEL- PERFORMANCE AND MAINTANANCE. CLICK "FREE UP SPACE ON YOUR HARD DISC." CLICK "DRIVE C", when it is through, click "more options", "system restore", then "clean up." Make sure that you do these once a week, at least, to keep your computer running smoothly, and be free of clutter. St♥rmy. It is a good thing to defrag, and after the clutter is gone, defrag again. Also, delete all unused programs. I find it hard to believe that you only have a very small hard drive. I think the clutter has messed it up. {I have noted that a number of your basic programs need to be updated.} Also, empty your recycle bin.

Answer 4

Your RAM isn't the issue. The RAM refers to memory, which is used to load and run applications while the computer is on.
Your problem is hard disk space. That's where everything from your operating system to your Sims games are stored.
You have 18g hard drive and your using about 15g.
Try to remove more unused programs. Also, clear your Internet cache, that might help.
Since your Sims game takes up so much space, you may want to add a second, or even an external hard drive.

Answer 5

If oyu have been running SIMS2 in the past with not problems, its probably what you have running under system startup. These items consyantly run in the background taking up valuable resources. To find out whats running in the background do the following:

Select the START button
Select RUN
int the window that opens type MSCONFIG
then ENTER

A small window opens up with several tabs, click the one that says StartUP

You're presented with a list of whats running all the time on your PC. Uncheck the ones you don't want running and that will free up some resources. If your not sure what to uncheck, you can search each itme by name to see if you can uncheck it.

Also, you may want to make a few changes under the Options when your in the game.

By the way, I'm playing Sims2 also. Great game. Good Luck!

Answer 6

You only have a 20 gig hard drive which is small now a days, The easy and fastest thing to do is add another drive. If $$$ are a problem look at some local computer repair shops for a use drive or I seen them in flee markets. If your just into the Sims, another 20 gig would fix your space problem.

Answer 7

Delete anything you don't need. Has nothing to do with RAM if the concern is hardly any disk space. Go through installed applications and uninstall games you no longer play, they take up ALOT of space.

Answer 8

first of all how much free disk space do you have, with as big as games are now a days I would get at least a 100 gb hard drive and make sure you keep at least 3gb of free space for windows to use as virtual memory, so if you cant get another hard drive, clear out at least 3 gb of free space for windows to use on your current drive or your going to end up with your computer crashing soon.

Answer 9

Don't be confused.

RAM is used for all running processes on your system, it clears with a computer shutdown, or reboot. Everything you see on the monitor, and open programs (shortcut icons by the clock) are using RAM. (running processes)

Hard drive is a storage space for programs and data, it holds data until you clear it. Does not clear with a shutdown. Just like a cupboard, you put things in it, it gets full. The same bases as a hard drive. (storage)

Answer 10

I think that you are confused. RAM is different form disk space. Disk space refers to your hard drive capacity. Delete unneccesary files and uninstall any unused programs to free up hard drive space.