What does it mean and what do I do when my computer says I am almost out of virtual memory?

Question

Computer is running very slowly-

Answer 1

virtual memory or swap memory is used by computer as ram but it is actually hard disk space, some other answers mentioned how to change it :)

Answer 2

Increase the Virtual Memory. VM is a part of your Hard Drive which computer uses a RAM (memory to run programs).

You can Increase Virtual Memory by going to Start> Control Panel> System> Click Advanced Tab> Click Settings under Performance> Click Advanced Again and Click on Change at the bottom under Virtual Memory.

Answer 3

Assuming Windows XP here.
You have probably succumb to the inevitable baggage bog that happens to windows computers. There are probably so many things going on at once that your machine is crapped for available RAM and has to rely on it's swap file for all of it's processes.
If this is the case, you don;t need more ram (although this is always nice) nor will a restart really cure your problem. You need to purge the system. Not a full wipe or any of that, just a good old cleaning should get you back up on your feet.

If you know your way around msconfig you play there, but if not. try using all of the following software on your system. In order:

AVG antivirus. Available for free at http://free.grisoft.com.

Startup Mechanic. www.startupmechanic.com. Also free last time I checked.

Lavasoft adaware: www.lavasoftusa.com... again no charge for the lite version

Spybot- search and destroy. http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ Free of charge as well.

Run all of those, and eliminate as many start-up and background processes as possible.

Next up: defrag your drive.
Then defrag it again.
Restart:
When windows comes all the way up hit CTRL-ALT=DELETE and choose task manager.

On the bottom of the windows are three key numbers: Commit Charge, processes and cpu usage. on a relativly moden computer with 512 megs of ram that has been used for a while, you want to be seeing around 35 or processes running, and a commit charge in the high 200s low three hundreds. If you have 256 megs, get those numbers lower.

Things like AIM and other instant messangers can slow things down a bit too. also if you have any peer-peer traffic going halting that will free resources as well.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

Reboot the computer. Shutting down applications will only release some of the memory. A full reboot will clear the virtual memory.

You might need to install more memory too. High use of virtual memory means the computer is swapping applications from RAM to the hard disk.

Answer 5

To put in simple words, virtual memory is used when your pc falls short of RAM to run the app. You have to assign ample hard disk space as the virtual memory page file. If you are low on disk space, it is advised that you set the page file to a size 1.5 times your RAM.
e.g. If you have 256MB RAM set the page file to 384MB. You can do this to a higher value if u have enough disk space.

To change the size of the page file,
R-click on My Computer>Properties.
Under the 'Advanced' Tab, click on Settings in the block titled "Performance".
In Performance Options, go to the "Advanced" tab.
In the Virtual Memory block, click CHANGE and put the desired file size. After you've set the value, click SET and click OK.

Answer 6

like your first answe says u can go in and increase ur virtuila memroy but chances are its set as max. by default. so therefore you seem to have a lot of prgrammsn running requirng memory. this sometimes occurs running mulitiple appicatons at same time. to many items running in yout start up. which will run eveytime ur computer is startd up and keep on ruinning. try a few these options try get your system running better click start then type in MSCONFIG in the run box. when this appears at the top open up start up tab
now if you see millions items checked each and everyone of these are running in ur back ground at all times. all u need is the Microsoft operatings system usually like 2 of those. and your antivirus software also needs to be checked to start up. all else such as msn ,yahoo messengers , camaera setting software , that can be started if u need it keep this out of your start up. HP Printer software etc. also keep ths outta there. all just few examples t help ya. try this and do a reboot. then go into your system tools/maintence and do a defrag and disc clean up. again will need to dop a rebbot after comopleting these. see how this helps. still running slow.look for any programs installed that you dont evetr use anymore and uninstall each of these. . If ya got a memory extense screen savir or desktop background take them off,Excessive anmount of pictures and music mp3 files, video files. etc. all of this slow your system down.try backing these up to a external devive or a CD /dvd.after all this poer the system off for a few minutes and wait like 5 minutes before resuming power. give it time to close any drivers etc. many tim,es a normal restart?reboot doesnt do what it needs to do. see if this helps your compuiter any?????????? Good Luck. about all i can off off the top of my head with out seeing the computer and knwoing the specs etc. for as how much memory etc. best of luck email me with ??s please let get this machine running topnotch...

Answer 7

which O\S are u using??...considering it to be a win XP/Vista
always create partitions on your drive >2...now the system needs a virtual memory to work fast...if it gets low on that then u need to free sum space on your system to work fine...usually upto 256mb on all drives...just delete the unwanted softwares and applications from your system n reboot...it'll all be fine

Answer 8

Go to the site below for the answer to your problem.

Answer 9

too many programs running.