Windows Virtual Memory Low

Discussion in 'Software' started by Apernicus, May 14, 2006.

  1. Apernicus

    Apernicus Private E-2

    I get this message about once a week, how can I clean up the virtual memory to make more room, or can I add some memory, how can I fix this problem? And is this a XP problem or hardware?
     
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Virtual memory is usually set to limit at 1 1/2 times your ram .... you could google for how to enhance your virtual memory ...one tweak is to put it on a partition that doesn't have your operating system on it .... could also put it on a different hhd ...but that makes memory dumps unsaved. Find it under ...right click my computer ..properties ... advanced.
     
  3. lionrampant

    lionrampant Specialist

    How much RAM do you have installed?
     
  4. Apernicus

    Apernicus Private E-2

    256 DDR SDRAM. I got the message again today, so I cleaned out some stuff on the partition that XP is installed on. But I think I do need more RAM.
     
  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Download CCleaner here:
    http://www.majorgeeks.com/CCleaner_d4191.html
    Then go in and check that your virtual memory is set to at least 1 1/2 times your ram ... also note that I mentioned you can move where your vm is located on the drive (different partition, or different drive all together ...with the noted memory dump exceptions).
     
  6. languy99

    languy99 Corporal

    i found this on a site, it might be of some help:

    Problems with Virtual Memory

    It may sometimes happen that the system give ‘out of memory’ messages on trying to load a program, or give a message about Virtual memory space being low. Possible causes of this are:

    * The setting for Maximum Size of the page file is too low, or there is not enough disk space free to expand it to that size.


    * The page file has become corrupt, possibly at a bad shutdown. In the Virtual Memory settings, set to “No page file,” then exit System Properties, shut down the machine, and reboot. Delete PAGEFILE.SYS (on each drive, if more than just C: ), set the page file up again and reboot to bring it into use.


    * The page file has been put on a different drive without leaving a minimal amount on C:.


    * There is trouble with third party software. In particular, if the message happens at shutdown, suspect a problem with Symantec’s Norton Live update, for which there is a fix posted here. It is also reported that spurious messages can arise if NAV 2004 is installed. If the problem happens at boot and the machine has an Intel chipset, the message may be caused by an early version (before version 2.1) of Intel’s “Application Accelerator.” Uninstall this and then get an up-to-date version from Intel’s site.


    * Another problem involving Norton Antivirus was recently discovered by MS-MVP Ron Martell. However, it only applies to computers where the pagefile has been manually resized to larger than the default setting of 1.5 times RAM — a practice we discourage. On such machines, NAV 2004 and Norton Antivirus Corporate 9.0 can cause your computer to revert to the default settings on the next reboot, rather than retain your manually configured settings. (Though this is probably an improvement on memory management, it can be maddening if you don’t know why it is happening.) Symantec has published separate repair instructions for computers with NAV 2004 and NAV Corporate 9.0 installed. [Added by JAE 2/21/06.]


    * Possibly there is trouble with the drivers for IDE hard disks; in Device Manager, remove the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers (main controller) and reboot for Plug and Play to start over.


    * With an NTFS file system, the permissions for the page file’s drive’s root directory must give “Full Control” to SYSTEM. If not, there is likely to be a message at boot that the system is “unable to create a page file.”

    Visit Microsoft.com
     
  7. MadEddi

    MadEddi Private E-2

    I have 192 of RAM, DDR i think (celeron 2.93Ghz)

    I have set my page file to 768MB. Will this be ok ?
     
  8. languy99

    languy99 Corporal

    well if you have 192 it should be about 288, why not just tick the box that says "system managed size" that will work the best.
     
  9. Mada_Milty

    Mada_Milty MajorGeek

    I have to agree with you! 256MB isn't alot of memory to be running XP on. The advice you've received here is valid however. Adjusting your pagefile will relieve the virtual memory messages, but adding more RAM would be a step towards lowering pagefile usage completely! (if you didn't know, when the OS runs out of memory, it uses space on the hard drive as 'virtual memory' - your warnings indicate that you are running out of both RAM and Virtual Memory!)
     

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