Foo - Computer geek help

Tried getting onto a couple of my friends myspace pages and got "low on virtual memory" error and it shut down.
WTF? The compter is an 02 HP laptop, probably too full of Itunes maybe? Should I get an external hard drive for the tunes and photos or do I need an upgrade?

Virtual memory is RAM memory, not storage memory. You ought to see improvement if add more RAM to the motherboard.

Klondike, I'm assuming you're running Win XP, yes?

If so do this: Right click on 'My Computer' then Properties > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory > Change > Choose 'Custom Size' towards the middle of the pane and set your initial at 1024 and your maximum at 2048. Click the Set button, then 'Ok' your way back out. It sounds complicated but it really isn't it's just buried. That should keep you going.

Klondike, I'm assuming you're running Win XP, yes?

If so do this: Right click on 'My Computer' then Properties > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory > Change > Choose 'Custom Size' towards the middle of the pane and set your initial at 1024 and your maximum at 2048. Click the Set button, then 'Ok' your way back out. It sounds complicated but it really isn't it's just buried. That should keep you going.

+1 Although the settings you use really depend on how much RAM you have. You should typically set the max for 1.5 times the memory you have; at least that's the rule of thumb.

+1 Although the settings you use really depend on how much RAM you have. You should typically set the max for 1.5 times the memory you have; at least that's the rule of thumb.

:o You're right

Is this the Blue Screen or just a little window in the bottom right corner?

Low on virtual memory is a thing in the bottom right corner.

Tell your friend to buy more RAM. Not hard to install... much easier than changing a flat. ;)

Low on virtual memory is a thing in the bottom right corner.

Tell your friend to buy more RAM. Not hard to install... much easier than changing a flat. ;)

It could be that, although such an error wouldn't warrant an entire system restart.

The BSOD Physical Memory dump on the other hand, will result in a restart.

+1 on more RAM. With the miserly amount of memory that ships from PC makers, its almost a must to upgrade the machine's RAM out of the box.

Its also the cheapest performance upgrade, bang per buck wise. If possible, consider finding the max amount of RAM your machine can hold, and going to that level.

This is especially important if you are running Windows Vista. I personally recommend 4 gigs for it as a minimum, because of all the behind the scenes stuff it does [1].

[1]: I also would recommend getting a fast 4GB USB stick to keep plugged in the machine for ReadyBoost as well, if running Vista.

Seeing as the machine was built in 2002... my guess is that it has 256MB RAM, and is running XP.

Popping in a 512MB module is a VERY cheap way to get a NICE boost (to 768MB.)

Virtual memory is not RAM. Virtual memory is a paging file on the hard drive that your computer uses to cache items in memory.

Granted, it never hurts to add more RAM, but I would suggest checking how much available space is on your hard drive. If it is less than 25% free space, I would advise moving iTunes to an external hard drive. Then I would increase the virtual memory as Stacey suggested. Then a good defrag would be in order.

Right, but adding RAM reduces the need for using the pagefile. Needing to hit the pagefile hard is a symptom of a problem, which is insufficient RAM. ;)

(Before virtual memory, you would've just gotten "Out of Memory." :eek:)

Right, but adding RAM reduces the need for using the pagefile. Needing to hit the pagefile hard is a symptom of a problem, which is insufficient RAM. ;)

(Before virtual memory, you would've just gotten "Out of Memory." :eek:)

Easy to do with system hog games like Battlefield 2124.

One of my clanmate's rigs crashed after he disabled his paging file when he got 4GB of RAM for his rig.

BF2124 sucked it all up while loading a map.

Right, but there has to be a reason why someone is running out of virtual memory out of the blue. My guess would be that the hard drive is low on free space.

You can add all the RAM you want, but if you've got a full/fragmented drive - more RAM isn't the cure.

Right, but adding RAM reduces the need for using the pagefile. Needing to hit the pagefile hard is a symptom of a problem, which is insufficient RAM. ;)

(Before virtual memory, you would've just gotten "Out of Memory." :eek:)
That's like installing a new engine when all you need is an oil change.


You guyz are priceless....trying to upgrade hardware before even trying simple solutions. So it sounds like BT can build and sell computers, but doesn't now how to maintain them. :rolleyes:

Pwn3d!

That's like installing a new engine when all you need is an oil change.


You guyz are priceless....trying to upgrade hardware before even trying simple solutions. So it sounds like BT can build and sell computers, but doesn't now how to maintain them. :rolleyes:

You're lumping me in with these other guys.

All he has to do is defrag and increase his paging file to 2024 or 4048.

Perhaps offload some of his music onto an External USB Hard Drive.

Except... this is an HP from 2002 we're talking about.

Running Windows XP with 256MB RAM (which I assume this is, it IS an old HP, after all... they were horrible about that) is downright painful. Trust me. I know. I've done it. (128 is even worse.)

You're lumping me in with these other guys.

All he has to do is defrag and increase his paging file to 2024 or 4048.

Perhaps offload some of his music onto an External USB Hard Drive.

You're right...I apologize BT. I was thinking you were the one who suggested adding RAM. I read back and realized I had it goofed up. My bad. Sorry.

He could also do other things to help out.

Setting the appearance options to "Performance" so it looks like Windows 2000.

Also, doing some process killing after start up will free up some much needed resources.

You're right...I apologize BT. I was thinking you were the one who suggested adding RAM. I read back and realized I had it goofed up. My bad. Sorry.

You're not sorry.

You're never sorry. :p :D

Except... this is an HP from 2002 we're talking about.

Running Windows XP with 256MB RAM (which I assume this is, it IS an old HP, after all... they were horrible about that) is downright painful. Trust me. I know. I've done it. (128 is even worse.)

You're putting the cart before the horse. OP never said how much RAM he had...you are just making an assumption about the amount of RAM. And again. that isn't even the problem...its a virtual memory problem, not a memory problem. Granted adding memory can alleviate the problem by going further before using virtual memory, but again, that's like adding a new engine when it just may need an oil change. Get some perspective.

You're not sorry.

You're never sorry. :p :D

OK, you're right. I meant every word. :p

And you still suck at CS. :p :D :rolfmao:

OK, you're right. I meant every word. :p

And you still suck at CS. :p :D :rolfmao:

Yeah?

Well...

j00 r t3h sux0rz!!!! >.<

And virtual memory is like putting slicks on a Roadmaster. ;)