How to free up system resources???

Hey all,

Okay, I've searched this site, but I can't find anything dealing directly with this issue (though, I would THINK someone had to have had this issue!) .

* Windows 98SE
* 5-year-old Compaq (with all the crap cleared out and the system running fairly lean)
* This really hurts...56 megs of ram. Ugh!

Anyway, other than the fact that the hard drive is being driven into the ground because of swapfile usage, I keep getting low system resourse issues, particularly when I'm using Windows Explorer to file manage. Weird.

Are there any utilities out there for keeping system resources freed up?

Thanks,

Starkman

 

Nothing can make up for insufficient RAM and hard drive space.

What are your exact system specs and how much free space do you have?

 

Well, as I said, 98SE, 56 megs ram, and a hek of a lot of hard drive space. I use FreeRam XP Pro to keep the memory free. I run very few TSRs (AVG antivirus, FreeRam, (Kb891711). Other than that, that's it. But my system resources (Ctrl Panel, System, Performance tab) hit in to the low teens and lower sometimes.

That's it!

Starkman

 

I know what you said but that is not all the information we require.

What processor do you have etc?

56MB probably means that you have onboard graphics that is using system memory?

Look in system information for these details on your proper system specs, 98 SE and 56MB's RAM doesn't tell me a lot.

Or, an easier way is to download Everest Home Edition from here and look up your details.

 

Did the problems start/become more apparent after installation of the Microsoft KB891711 critical update?? There have been confirmed issues with Windows 98 and ME after installation of the KB891711 update.

http://forums.techguy.org/t346966.html

 

Another site referencing problems after installing Microsoft KB891711 update.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,12875676

As an aside, some have suggested that utilities that free ram provide little if any benefit and may infact be detrimental.

 

No, I can't say that any problems started in view of any updates I did. FreeRam does a good job keeping ram free, but I just thought there were a lot of system resourses that get taken up and not cleaned out as needed...kind of like how Windows doesn't clean out Temp files when it's done with them.

Thanks,

Starkman

 

Obviously you know that more RAM would do wonders. I've 288mb in my W98SE laptop and it helps a lot.

May I suggest that you load the Resource meter at startup. ( C:\windows\rsrcmtr.exe.) It will then appear down near the time as a reminder how your resources vary as you open and close programs. Mine occasionally gets down to 31/31/65 when I have lots of stuff open. Remember I have 288mb Ram, though. Bazza
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Yeah, ram is the biggie. I'm going to add some as soon as the tax return gets here! I'm REALLY looking forward to upping the ram to at least 256megs!

Starkman

 

It's been my experience that (ironically) FreeRAM XP tends to eat up more system resources than it saves. This is especially applicable when you only have 56MB, since by default (if memory serves) FreeRAM automatically kicks in when it detects that 32MB is free, and the program is a real processor time hog. Three suggestions for you, if you don't have the dosh to buy some more RAM (or better still, a better computer)

1. If you don't play much in the way of games (you can't really play anything modern with 56MB, and I would guess that your onboard graphics has 8MB which is also pretty useless) then I would recommend dropping the memory that it uses to 2MB, 4MB if absolute need be.

2. Either get rid of FreeRAM, or go in and switch off the automatic check, so that you have complete control about when it frees RAM. You can see in your taskbar how much RAM you have left.

3. Look in your task list (CTRL+ALT+DELETE) and see if it's really running lean. If you don't know what a specific task is, google it. If it's unnecessary, a virus or spyware, get rid of it (for the record, necessary usually means virus checker and firewall - you can usually do without the graphics and sound configuration programs being resident)

 

Maybe give Analog X MaxMem http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=307 a try.

Make sure it is suitable for XP though. I use it for W98SE and it works fine. Not aresource hog.

2 things about MaxMem. I run it a couple of times to free up maximum memory. Second, I close it after running it twice as there does not appear to be (to me) a way to stop it running automatically. Automatic running sometimes causes interference to running programs.

Also when installing additional RAM on old systems (my P2/400 laptop is over 5 years old), check the maximum that the motherboard and BIOS will accept. How many slots have you on the board, how many are used, how many are free? My BIOS will only accept a maximum of 288mb and I have maxed it out at that. 32mb on board and 2 slots that will accept an additional 256mb, totalling 288mb. If you can afford it, go to the maximum RAM with as few sticks of RAM as the motherbooard will accept (and still run). Some motherboards will run fine on 1 stick, some need 2, or multiples of 2. Bazza

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Hey, thanks, bigbazza,

Yeah, I checked into the ram thing: to slots, total 512 megs of ram - I can't complain about that. As soon as I get the cash, I'll get some.

Need more money....need more money!

Starkman

 

You're welcome. Regret can't help with more money as I am retired. In the meantime give MaxMem a try and compare it with what you are currently using. Remember, run it more than once to achieve the most RAM being freed up ( and then close it down). Bazza

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Starkman, if you want to adjust the video memory then it's done in the Bios, but personally I wouldn't bother.

Even at maximum it's not using a huge amount, so if you turned it down it's not going to make much if any difference.

Also, it doesn't use 8 MB all the time, only when required, so you are better off leaving it to regulate itself.

 

I downloaded Everest Home Edition since it sounded like something I could use (I also have Win98 SE), and when I try to run it it freezes. Any suggestions?

 

Welcome to MajorGeeks.

You should really start your own thread, however, try to close down as many programs running in the background as possible that could be conflicting with it.

Try another similar program instead like Aida32 or Belarc Advisor etc available form HERE.

 

Thanks, Insomniac, for the welcome and the advise.

sandsurfer

 

Well, I figured it had to be either in the bios or (gasp) some sort of jumper! (Nah! Those are old-timer things, aren't they???).

Well, again, thanks. I'm not a gamer, but it does get annoying hereing the hard drive being used so much for just a few programs running (swapfile city!). But more ram will take care of that.

Thanks again,

Starkman