Virtual Memroy too low
 

What is this? Sometimes I get a little yellow yeild sign in the tool bar and a message saying the virtual memory is too low and Windows is increasing the size of the page.

From my experience it's caused by a program taking up too much memory. For instance, if you try to open up a 2GB file when you only have 1GB of RAM, you'll get that error. Usually a reboot does the trick. Of course if you wanted to save whatever you're doing, it's hit and miss.

--Aric

In a lot of cases you get that error because applications are not using RAM (memory) efficiently. The paging file (also called "virtual memory") is a file that Windows creates on your hard drive to supplement RAM. RAM is much faster, but is also more expensive. When your operating system (Windows) runs out of RAM and runs low on "virtual memory" it has to bump up the paging file to compensate. If you're getting that message a lot with normal applications, it's probably a good idea to increase the amount of physical RAM in your machine.

For lots more info on paging file, you can click here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paging_file

Neither computer is over half full.

If I understand your comment correctly, it has nothing to do with the amount of storage on the hard drive.

TR

Maybe I misunderstood about the RAM?

That's correct. The RAM is the little memory sticks inside your computer. Most computers these days have 256 MB to 2 GB of RAM. Your hard drive would be anywhere from around 20-300GB.

You can get additional RAM for low prices these days depending on the type of computer you have and the type of RAM it takes. If you want to post or PM more detail, I'd be happy to advise. Or you can ask your local geek :)

To find out how much physical RAM you have (in Windows), right click on your "My Computer" icon and select "Properties". It should list the amount of RAM near the bottom. If you're running Windows XP on 256 MB or less of RAM, it's a good idea to upgrade if you do anything more than basic web browsing and emailing.

I keep getting this message:

This one has 512 - it's only done it once. I'll check the laptop Sunday.

LOL - IT'S GOING TO GET THE HOSE IF IT ISN'T CAREFUL!

If it's only done it once, I'd reboot and not worry about it.

--Aric

Roger. Laptop does it more often - usually when I've got a bunch of por...I mean A&P vids and pics open.

Thanks for the help.

No problem. :D

--Aric

Probably the biggest bottleneck in computers today is the memory latency and bandwith. It takes time to transfer data from one place to another, and to store it in between being worked upon. While distance has an effect on the speed of this during operations on data, the bigger issue is the technology for storing the information. Alas, you have a number of different storage area on your computer of varying size and speed. Normal (non-CF) hard drives are not fast enough to feed the processor, hence you have RAM. RAM works for programs in general, but for operations currently underway or too be revisited, it is too slow, and you thus have a number of CPU level caches.

This goes both ways. As have been said, your RAM can only hold so much data. When it has been used up, it shifts the data over to the next level of working memory storage. In this case from RAM to hard drive swap file. That is why a reboot helps, because it clears the memory.

Another way to fix it would be to increase the size of your swap. Start the Control Panel, open System. A window pops up with a number of tabs, click Advanced and then under the Performance heading, click settings for "Visual effects, [...] virtual memory". Once more click on Advanced, but in the new window named Performance Options that has popped up. Click on Change under Virtual Memory. Either set a bigger Custom size, or switch to System Managed Size.

HTH

Martin

There is a cool little utility that can help opitmizer RAM in the background on your machine. Free Ram XP Pro I started using about 2 years ago after reading the reviews on CNET and have not had any problems with it.