Virtual memory?

[Framar]

:help: It has been a while since I have asked any stupid computer kwestions - so here comes a new one:

What is "Virtual Memory"???? - my computer (XP with all the upgrades and service packs) keeps popping up with the message that my virtual memory is too low and Windows is reconfiguring yadda yadda...

I have a 20 gig hard drive with about 1/4 of that free space (according to the defrag thingy) -

Is there anything I can do to help my computer with this virtual memory problem (short of deleting 900 songs or 1000 photos)? Or should I just let the computer do its own thing and me should only try to work on one thing at a time?

Thanks!

[JDS]

If I'm correct it means that everytime the computer comes on it takes a designated portion of the hard drive and uses it just like RAM instead of all of the RAM being on the separate chips. You should be able to set the amount that you want to use for virtual memory. If memory serves me, I think the standard is to set virtual memory at least twice what the regular RAM is.

All of the above could be totally wrong - it's been so long since I had to deal with it. If I'm corrected it won't hurt my feelings.

As for me . . . I love my Mac!!

Good luck!

Jerry S.

[Framar]

Thanks, Jerry - I just wish you Mac people could stop being so darned smug all of the time!!!

(but I am getting a huge charge out of those "Hi I'm a Mac and I'm a PC commercials")

Ya know, when I first got this here computer I tried to learn all about bits and bytes and RAM and stuff and now I have forgotten all of that and just blunder along from day to day trying not to make the same mistakes over and over too many times.

*sigh*

[Ron Eggers]

Mar, virtual memory is kinda like digital zoom or telephone sex.

Does that help?

(You need to free up some drive space.)

[Mike Labbe @ GTP]

Ron was dead on...

In many cases, rebooting will get rid of that error message. This is usually a sign that a program you recently ran is buggy and has a memory leak. (it isn't releasing the memory it used, for other programs)

When the computer runs out of temporary RAM, it utilizes "virtual memory" (aka swap file, page file) by simulating a block of memory in a file that lives on the hard drive. Virtual memory is much much slower than physical memory(chips). This is why computers with less RAM run slower. They utilitize the slower virtual memory, when applications run low on real memory.

Virtual memory is usually managed automatically by Windows XP, and is generally about 1.5x the amount of physical RAM.

How much physical RAM/memory does the computer have? To run trouble free in XP, I suggest a minimum of 512. Right click on MY COMPUTER -> Properties to check how much memory you have...

If you still have this behavior after rebooting, I suggest running a spyware and adware sweep of the computer. I also suggest scanning for viri and other infections with a virus scanner. Web browsers and toolbars are notorious for this sort of thing.

If it still happens after that, there is a way to sort programs by their virtual memory usage in the task bar - to find the culprit. (Taskbar -> view -> select columns -> check next to VIRTUAL MEMORY SIZE -> OK)

I hope this is helpful

Mike

[D_Derbonne]

Ron, I see you have a new tag line and I'm curious.
What has Esther damaged? and who said my life would be easier if I had two dogs instead of one?:party:

[Framar]

Thanks, Mike - I think I have found at least part of my problem - RAM is only 368.

Norton never finds anything in its weekly sweeps and AdAware finds only Grumble cookies (for the most part) - once in a blue moon Norton informs me that it has stopped something like a worm from entering but that is kwite rare.

[Bill Henry-]

Mar,

Even though I am a “smug” MacAddict, I know there are differences between how Windows and the older Mac OS 9 handles/handled virtual memory and RAM disk memory. (The newer OS 10.x handles its memory under the Unix shell, so, the way I read it, it behaves more like Windows in this regard).

Just for my own curiosity I Googled your question and came up with this link (http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_can_i_fix_too_little_virtual_memory_in_windows .html). Maybe it will help.

[Paul N]

Virtual Memory is like the money we thought we had in the bank, but it's not there.....:icon19:

RAM is cheap Mar, add some and you'll never look back.

[Framar]

OK - Here is another kwestion:

I consolidated some stuff and deleted some stuff and the last time Windows brought up the low virtual memory thing it was resolved in a few seconds.

However - now Outlook Express deigned to "consolidate" my email (which it does fairly frequently because I hang on to email...) - anyhoo - after it was done I noticed that the recycle Bin was full - (only I didn't put anything into it!).

The Recycle Bin was full of about 100 megabytes of ".bak" files. I never heard of ".bak" files! Some of them are labeled to coincide with Outlook Express terms (inbox, sent items, etc) but I am wary of deleting them.

What is a ".bak" file and can I delete them and how did they end up in my Recycle Bin anyhow???

[Mike Labbe @ GTP]

The .bak files are a leftover from the Outlook compression process. They are actually your files, before they were compressed - and can be safely erased...

Mike

[JDS]

Framar . . .

http://www.apple.com/imac/

They're beautiful this time of year!:thumbsup:

Jerry S.

[Framar]

Thanks, Mike!

Jerry - I am ignoring you!!! ;)

[Ron Eggers]

I am reminded (by Mac owners) of the homeowner whose beautiful home in the deep south is being threatened by termites (or hurricanes, if you prefer.)

And the homeowner in Ontario tells him, "You wouldn't have to worry about hurricanes if you lived in Ontario."

[Framar]

OK - I just came up with another sort-of related email kwestion:

Since I am always teetering on the edge of not having enough momory (virtual or otherwise) and at the moment I cannot afford to buy any - when an email is forwarded, and ends up in the Sent folder in Outlook Express, does that mean there are TWO copies of it in the computer or just one with separate, I dunno, addresses (?) - like one that goes to the Sent folder and one to the Inbox???

I actually have the same kwestion for File cabinet files - when I subdivide files and place them into new folders and make COPIES of files to put into the new folders - does that mean there are TWO copies of that file or simply two addresses (to access those files)???

If I am not making any sense, does anyone know what I am trying to ask???

Sometimes I think Windows has this thing about making copies of everything - I call it the Sorcerer's Apprentice Syndrome.

[Ron Eggers]

Email files are not being stored on your momery. They are stored on your dadery.

(They are really small files, in general, so they're probably not affecting drive space. It's those 6 gigabyte image files that people like to forward that eat up the space.)

[Dancinbaer]

Framer,
Not long ago that virtual memory message was popping up on my PC. I ran a full scan with Norton, ran Ad-aware and Spy-bot three times in succession and rebooted between each set. I was still getting the message. Took it to a PC repair place. They found 18 viruses and my Norton was corrupted. They took care of everything and added the free utility Windows Defender. I run all of those periodically and haven't had the message pop up yet.

Good luck,

When you COPY a file from one folder to another there are TWO versions of that file.
When you MOVE a file from one folder to another there is only ONE version in the new folder.