The message "Virtual Memory is Low" keeps appearing! Please help a novice understand what this means! Thankyou

Question

Thank you everybody for your help! Now, could you please give me idiot-proof inst. to close programmes I don't need? Told you I was a novice!

Answer 1

Usually running out of virtual memory means that you are running too many applications at the same time for your system or one of them is attempting to use too much memory.

Increasing virtual memory is one way of compensating for lack of RAM. However, it's optimum should be set at 1.5 times the amount of RAM on your computer. Virtual memory can be increased, but it comes with a risk if you increase it too much as it can eventually lead to hard drive damage.

To increase VM on Windows XP (should be in similar locations for other versions) look in Control Panel: System, Advanced, Performance Settings, Advanced, Virtual Memory.

You can see if your computer can handle more RAM at http://www.crucial.com/index.asp

Note: The presence of Malware (viruses, spyware, etc) can also eat up your system resources.

Answer 2

Virtual memoery is a way for a computer to extend the amount of physical memory it has by mapping some of it onto the hard disk. This gives a "pool" of virtual memory only some of which is really in RAM.

The virtual memory low message means this pool is getting filled up. There can be a number of reasons. One is that it is set to be too small - choose a system managed size (1.5 x physical memory is not at all a good rule of thumb).

More likely you are either running too many programs or have some memory hog programs. Typical memory hogs are Internet Explorer - which has known memory leaks, especially if you are using JavaScript - and graphics applications.

Try restarting these applications (this generally frees their memory, unless they have a very bad memeory leak bug). Also for graphics programs try turning off the "undo" option or reducing the number of "undo" operations saved - these hog a lot of memory.

You can see the memory hogs by hitting control-alt-delete all at the same time and choosing the Processes tab - it tells you how much memory each process is actually using (though it does not list all).

Answer 3

You need to look at how many applications you are running, to begin with. Get rid of unwanted stuff then try this:

1. Open System by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System.

2. In the left pane, click Advanced system settings. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

3. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.

4. Click the Advanced tab, and then, under Virtual memory, click Change.

5. Clear the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives check box.

6. Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change.

7. Click Custom size, type a new size in megabytes in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum size (MB) box, click Set, and then click OK.



Increases in size usually don't require a restart, but if you decrease the size, you'll need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. We recommend that you don't disable or delete the paging file

Answer 4

Virtual memory and free space are two different things. What you need to do is either follow Johns advice or if you have a another drive try putting your paging file on a drive that you use the least. To move the pagefile go to the C drive, go to folder options, uncheck hide hidden files and uncheck hide system files. Look for a file called pagefile.sys and move it to the drive that you use the least. Otherwise you can get better RAM.

Answer 5

I think you have too much stuff on your comp do a system difragmentation and disk cleanup also go to add/remove and get rid of programs your not using

Answer 6

I had this message appear frequently, while using Windows ME, I bought Windows XP and it disappeared. If you upgrade now, go to Vista.

Answer 7

you need to increase your memory with a upgrade when you run out of memory your comp uses some of your hard drive instead this means your comp will run slower try a upgrade its not hard to do it was my first try on a comp and i done it

Answer 8

it means your computer is doing too many things and can't keep up. to stop it close a program when you see it

Answer 9

you need more ram

cheap to buy from ebay or misco.co.uk if you are in uk

Answer 10

uninstall programs that you dont need/use