roadrunner
|
| posted on 7/7/08 at 06:58 PM |
|
|
Virtual memory
I keep getting this pop up saying my virtual memory is running low, firstly what is it, and secondly, how do i solve it.
Cheers Brad.
|
|
|
|
|
slimtater
|
| posted on 7/7/08 at 07:10 PM |
|
|
I think this is to do with RAM?
How I solved it was:
Start > right click on My Computer > click Properties > click the Advance tab > click Settings under Performance heading > click
Advance tab > and under Virtual Memory click Change.
You can then alter the custom size - this essentially uses memory from your hard drive to support RAM. Try upping the initial size to 1000MB and
maximum size to 2000MB.
Please note, I am no IT guru and found this worked for me. It may not be the normal or best thing to do, but it does make sense!
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 7/7/08 at 08:29 PM |
|
|
Virtual memory is not 'real memory' - the operating system keeps track of the memory usage, and puts the stuff you haven't accessed
for a while onto the hard disk. Next time you call for that bit of memory the system drags it off the disk and puts it back into real memory. This
makes it look like you have a lot more memory than you really have. (Mickey Mouse description...)
If you're talking about Windoze, check to see how much space you have left on your C: drive, as there's usually a chunk of space reserved
for virtual storage. If you haven't got much space left, get rid of (or move onto another disk) all unimportant stuff, run the disk cleanup
utility and defragment. Last resort - get a bigger disk!
|
|
|
JUD
|
| posted on 7/7/08 at 08:40 PM |
|
|
^^^ Yup, wot he said ^^^
CCleaner is a pretty good disk tidy up tool. It is free to download from www.shareware.com
Also Add/Remove programs in the control panel - you would be amazed at the cr@p you collect over time. If you sort by "last used" there
will be stuff on there that hasn't been touched in ages.
Martin
---------------------
MK Indy Blade
|
|
|
BenB
|
| posted on 7/7/08 at 09:25 PM |
|
|
Virtual memory is what your computer does when you haven't got enough real memory....unless your computer is bloated with loads of stuff on
startup it usually means you've got didly squat RAM.
If you go to control panel / system you should be able to see how much memory you've got (on the main system screen it will be under
"Computer" ). Under advanced / performance / settings there should be a setting called "virtual memory"
Let us know how much that is and how much memory you've got and voila- the locostbuilders collective will bring forth divine judgement 
|
|
|
roadrunner
|
| posted on 8/7/08 at 06:56 PM |
|
|
I have increased my virtual memory from 750 to 1500 MB, and already the computer has speeded up, thanks fellas.
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 8/7/08 at 07:05 PM |
|
|
Just make sure that you've got a lot more than 1500MB spare on your hard disk, else increasing the setting is only a short-term fix...
|
|
|
Liam
|
| posted on 8/7/08 at 10:45 PM |
|
|
How much RAM have you actually got? Cos using the hard disc as virtual RAM is super slow compared to real RAM. If you had enough real RAM your
computer would be even faster!
As an aisde...
Best thing I ever did was disable virtual RAM altogether! Looked at peak usage in task manager after heavy solidworks/photoshop/gaming sessions and
saw I only ever demanded about 1.6 GB. With 2 GB real RAM I deduced I could do without virtual RAM and disabled it. Ya see even if you dont need
virtual RAM, windows will use it anyway and page old memory to disc. When you access that memory again it comes off the hard disc as though you
didn't have enough RAM in the first place (ever maximised a program that's been idle for ages only for it to take forever to reappear as
the hard drive clunks away?). With virtual RAM disabled everything stays in RAM so if you access it again it's quick. I.e. the first time i
load up photoshop/solidworks it takes ages as usual. Any subsequent load is instant, even if it was hours ago/yesterday etc it was last used (my
computer can be on for days). It just generally feels more responsive opening programs/internet/menus etc etc. Go on - give it a try!
Liam
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 9/7/08 at 08:00 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Liam
How much RAM have you actually got? Cos using the hard disc as virtual RAM is super slow compared to real RAM.
Depends how it's implemented - Unix systems like Linux have always used paged memory (same idea as virtual memory) and manage to run very
efficiently.
|
|
|
