The virtual memory on the computer is half full...?

Question

...what will I have to replace when there's no memory left. I have 1.41GB virtual memory and 730.00MB available memory

Answer 1

Virtual memory is similar to RAM except that it's an area allocated on your hard disk for temporary use by Windows. You can adjust the amount of hard disk allocated for virtual memory via the Control Panel, System Properties, Advanced, Performance, Advanced, Virtual Memory.

If you increase the size of virtual memory, you will be taking away from your hard disk permanent memory space. Only increase your virtual memory size if Windows indicates an increase is needed.

Answer 2

Virtual memory isn't an overflow of the physical memory, it keeps a copy of everything which is in the physical memory AND the overflow, it's called the "swap file" for a reason, if the memory usage is higher than the physical memory, inactive parts of the physical memory are swapped with active parts from the swap file if that makes sense - which is why windows doesn't fall over if the memory usage is higher than the physical memory, but macs for example do.

Answer 3

virtual is not really there when you get low on memory it uses the hard drive for more memory if that gets low windows will ask for more and adjust it accordingly