Likely a Dumb Question about RAM/Available Memory

Hey guys,

I've always wondered how you can determine how much available memory there is on your machine. Whenever i hit ctrl+alt+del and look at Task Manager I always assume that looking at how much physical memory is in use can tell me how much is available, ie. if 29% is in use then naturally 71% would be available...is there more to it? I assume that there is...also, is it just the active processes and services that take up physical memory, or is there more to that too?

Thanks for any help. I can provide screenshots of Task Manager and Resource Monitor/Services list (I'm on Vista), if anybody thinks they may help in explaining.

 

Can't answer your question, will give you some info to read re how memory is handled. Hope it helps. I'm curious by nature too, so understand your interest.

http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2008/07/21/3092070.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2008/11/17/3155406.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/archive/2007/02/23/memory-management-101.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms810616.aspx