What does this mean??

Question

Every once in awhile this box shows up in the lower right hand corner of my screen at the task bar: "Virtual memory minimum too low. Windows is increasing the size of the virtual memory paging file." Then it goes on to say the pc will be working slower while this is done.

What does this mean and what is a virtual memory? Thanks very much and if you could include a link or two, I'd appreciate it.

Answer 1

The virtual memory is the space your computer uses when it runs short of RAM memory. The paging file is the place where Windows handles your virtual memory settings. If your computer wants to change it, you should go ahead and let it because XP will adjust the setting to meet the current memory needs. I do not recommend changing these settings manually as Windows can manage the size much more efficiently than the user can. Making your virtual memory setting larger will increase the number of addresses and will make Windows lazy.

Adding more RAM may also be of benefit as this will reduce the need for virtual memory to be used in the first place. For running Windows XP, I suggest at least 384MB. In general, adding more RAM is the most cost effective means of boosting a computer's performance

Answer 2

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 3

"Virtual" is the opposite of "invisible".

If something is invisible, it is really there but you can't see it. If something is virtual, it is not really there, but you can see it.

Virtual memory is a section of hard drive disk space that the operating system uses to simulate memory. When you run out of the allocated simulated memory, your operating system automatically increases the amount of hard drive disk space allocated to the simulated virtual memory.

This activity consumes computer resource leaving fewer resources, such a CPU, available to other programs which, as a result, will run slower.

It's perfectly normal for your computer to do this. But if you wish to speed up your computer, take it to a computer store and ask them to install more memory.

Answer 4

You may have too many programs open and your RAM (memory) is filling up and unable to run the programs how they should be run.

Maybe its time to upgrade, how old is your PC?