Virtual memory running low

Hello, I am getting messages that my virtual memory is running low and Window is increasing size of paging file. Here are my computer stats:

Dell Dimension 2400, bought 2004
128MB DDR SDRAM at 333MHz
Windows XP
Memory used: 7.34 GB
memory free 29.8 GB
File system NTFS
VM paging file size for all drives 216 MB
Recently defragged
temp files deleted
C drive compressed

AVG virus software runs everyday, computer clean

No major software, just the basics, Office suite 2003, adobe, macromedia, etc.
I have had a lot of problems with my HP printer, that may be unrelated, but since I installed the HP software my computer has been running slow and I have uninstalled and reinstalled it several times.

 

i'd double the ram memory from 128 to 256 or on up to 512.

128 is not near enough memory.

 

Yep, your asking alot of your machine with only 128 Meg. You could increase your page file size but that would be a temp fix and probably why it seems slow (always accessing the hard drive, thats where the page file is). What do you have for a CPU?

 

I have an Intel Pentium 4 if that's what you mean. I guess I don't understand this issue of actual memory vs. virtual memory. How is it possible that I'm only using 1/4 of my real memory that that is too much for my computer? Can you explain how this works?

 

I think you are confusing Hard Drive Space in your original post...
Memory used: 7.34 GB
memory free 29.8 GB
That would be "Used and Free" Hard Drive Space.

Your machine only has 128 Megs of Physical Memory 128MB DDR SDRAM at 333MHz (your first post). Halo's links explain Virtual Memory, but its basically Hard Drive space used to compensate for a lack of physical memory.

 

I guess I need to bite the bullet and buy new memory. I have a Dell, is any memory card compatible? Can you give me a recommendation?

 

I like using memory configuration tools from Crucial or Corsair, you may have to enable Active X but its a good way to ensure compatbilty & ensure your motherboard can support your choice.
http://www.crucial.com/index.asp
http://www.corsairmicro.com/

 

Anabell, just to put you in the picture, my laptop has 1 gigabyte of RAM (1024mbytes) and with all my stuff loaded at startup and logged onto MajorGeeks, the laptop is using around 320 megabytes of RAM just to run, leaving 677 megs free.

I would recommend that you buy the largest capacity RAM 'sticks' you can afford. For example buy a single 256 or 512 or 1024, whatever your purse and Dell can use.

The benefits of this is if you decide to expand later, again, it will be less costly in the long run. For example my laptop originally was fitted with 2 x 256 sticks = 512megs. Only room for 2 sticks in my laptop. I got the seller to pull out the 2 x 256 and fit 1 x 1024 to double the memory and still have 1 slot free. Max that can be fitted to my laptop is 2 x 2048 to equal 4 gigs. If I want to expand I can still add 1 x 1024 or 1 x 2048 for 2gigs, or 3 gigs, without throwing the old RAM away. Hope this makes sense. Bazza

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Thank you for all your help and the websites. I now know what I'm looking for and all the important details of buying the right kind of memory and I bought 512 MB. I just hope my computer holds out til it gets here.

 

Keep us informed on how you go. Bazza

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just get more R.A.M ,that whats needed and average computer should have atleast 512mb in my opinion !

P.S-You should see a big difernece with the upgrade from 128mb to 512mb