virtual memery or something?

Question

Could some one tell mewhat itr is please.
Also i am on windows xp and every day about tea time my pc getsa bubble in the bottom right hand side of my screen
it says something like " windows virtual memory is low windows will increase the size some operations that require virtual memory may shut down"

but nothing seems to shut down.
how can i make my memery biger to stop getting these messages is they a way?

i know very little about pc's

thank you

sorry about the spelling and lack of spaces my nails need cutting lol

Answer 1

If a computer running Windows requires more memory/RAM then there is installed in the system to run a program, etc, it uses a small section of the hard drive for this purpose. This is called “Virtual” memory, or “Swap Filling”. If the “Swap” file is to small, then you will get a warning that the system can’t perform the operation that you have requested because sufficient “Virtual” memory isn’t available.

You need to enlarge the size of your “virtual memory/swap file”. So, do the following.

Right click “My Computer” and choose “Properties”.
In the “System Properties” window, click the “Advanced” tab.
Under “Performance”, click “Settings”.
In the “Performance Options” window, click “Advanced”.
Under “Virtual memory”, click “Change”.

Increase the size of the “Paging file” so that it is at least twice the size of your RAM. You can increase the size to “Maximum”, it won’t hurt your system at all.


Best cure.

If you really want to eliminate this problem, all you need do is to install more “Memory/RAM”.

Answer 2

virtual memory is what the computer does to remove the data on ram to the hard disk. It allocates a part of your hard disk and calls it virtual memory and dumps all data from ram there. It is used also when you put your computer to standby or hybernation because ram is wiped clean when your pc is powered off. The computer will automatically allocate more space for virtual memory if it runs out and will hang for some time when it does that. You can also set it mannualy. for that press windows key with pause brake key to get a dialog box called system properties and on this select advanced tab. now comes the performance dialog in which you click the virtual memory settings and change it to a higher figure from 768mb or what ever it shows. You need to reboot pc before it takes effect.

If you want to make your pc run as a new one just follow these instruction given at http://wingstonmathews.googlepages.com/speedupcomputer It is easy for even a beginner to do. Keep doing it every month at least once for maintaining a super speed computer.

Answer 3

this normally occurs when a system is running too many progs with too little ram.
windows uses ram to store data in the short term (until the data is saved to hard drive or the pc is restarted)
imagine your ram as a car park that can hold 100 cars, all is running well, never more than 50 cars in all day, plenty space and no problems....then rush hour comes, in no time the park is full, now, if no cars leave then no more can get in so someone comes up with the bright idea od an overflow park for busy times (swap drive/virtual memory).

with it so far?
now, the swap drive uses a portion of the space on your hard disk (normally 10% is set aside i think) if your drive is getting full then the space kept for your swap files gets smaller, and this is where the warning comes from.
one answer explained how to increase virtual memory, but the plain and simple fact is that if you are using an almost full hard drive then increasing it will not help.
removing unwanted progs, stop unwanted progs from auto running in the back ground, getting a bigger hard drive or as mentioned, aquire more ram, one gig should be considered minimum for desktops.

Answer 4

It's nothing to worry about.
It can help if you regularly clean up behind what you are doing.
In your browser click on tools and clear private data - clear the cache.
Every so often open the properties for your hard disc. (Start menu -my computer then place curser on local disc (usually C) and right click - this brings up a menu - left click on properties. In properties click "disc clean up"
this brings up a box which will take a few minutes to run. It will then display a list of things that can be cleaned from your system. Click clean and then yes in the box that appears.
All of this helps to clean up and release some memory but as I said the virtual memory is well looked after in windows and wont usually create any problems.

Answer 5

in basic terms"virtual memory is part of your hard drive used as if it were real memory"
another name for it is the "page file",and this is used when your system memory(ram)has all been used
virtual memory can be changed by going to start>control panel>system properties>advanced>performance>advanced>then press set to change the size
the rule of thumb is your virtual memory is one and a half times the size of your system memory,so for example if you have 1gb ram installed on your p.c then your virtual memory shall be 1.5gb...easy!
to stop these messages appearing the answer is simple...purchase more memory,the more the better
however i use 1.5gb ddr ram on my p.c and i never get those messages anymore,but when i first bought the p.c with just 512mb i was allways receiving "virtual memory too low" messages
with not enough memory programs and applications will take forever to shut down,and multi tasking(running more than one program)is out the question
any more advice let me know
good luck!

Answer 6

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