Windows Media Player "computer Low On Memory . . ."

laptop has windows 7---this just started---can't play dvd thru windows media player---states "your computer is running low on memory, quit other programs and try again."---watched task manager several times and closed/deleted programs "highlighted"to no avail---now, windows explorer , that I don't use as my browser, is the highlighted row---i realize it's running in the background, but what "memory" is being used---how do start fixing this?----thx

 

Windows Explorer is not a browser. If you kill Windows Exoplorer, your desktop is gone and you have a black screen.
Internet Explorer is a browser.

Since MS has started issuing updates on the first, second and third Tuesday of the month, if you have auto updates on, things can be downloading or windows is looking for updates and the svchost (there are several so you might see a few running in task manager) can be 50% to 100% of the CPU.

In task manager at the bottom left, select show processes from all users.
What items are using the most CPU?

 

your right, wrong description of windows explorer----please bear with me, I'm not educated in computers---did what you said in task manager; system idle process---(cpu)90-99---(description)percentage of the time proc is idle-------taskmgr.exe--(cpu)02---------WmiPrvSE.exe---(cpu)02 to 06--------dwm.exe--(cpu)01 to 02 also, processes in task mgr range from 59 to 61. thanks for your help, by the way----it's an HP laptop bought in 2012 and I'm trying to "limp along" with it until I buy a new one---do you recommend doing a factory setting/restore? Is there a difference? I only have a couple of documents I need to save and that I can do---thanks again

 

Since idle is showing 90% - 99%, you are only using 1% - 10% of the CPU. There is nothing wrong with that.

How much memory (RAM) is in the computer?

2012 computer is new by what I use. I'm currently using one purchased in 2009 and passed down a netbook to my husband that I bought in 2011.

I wouldn't suggest a factory restore because then you are looking at having to download and install 4 years of updates!

 

RAM: 4GB (3.48 GB usable)-----if you need ANY other info, please let me know---I only know enough to be dangerous

 

Open Task Manager and click the Processes tab. At the bottom, click Show processes from all users. Maximize Task Manager and if necessary, resize the columns. Click the Memory column, take a screenshot and upload it.

NB Do this while trying to play a DVD in Windows Media Player.