virtual memory

[bazzie]

Can anybody help me solve the frustrating error message of 'virtual memory too low? I have cleaned my registry,run disc cleaner and degragmented my disc which now has 69% free space. My operating system is windows xp service pack 2.My virtual memory tab shows initial size 324mb,maxium size 384mb, total paging size for all drives 378mb recommended 190mb, allocated 378mb, space available 20,113mb.My pc has 128mb of ram.

[Boris]

With virtual memory, the computer uses hard disk space as random access memory (RAM) to augment the ordinary RAM that is installed on the computer.

You could increase your swap file from the current max of 378MB but this would not get away from the basic problem that 128MB of physical RAM is a very small amount for running XP - I suggest you add some more.

IMHO 256MB is the absolute minimum RAM to run XP without constant swapping to the virtual memory Page File (512MB would be preferable).

I would assume from your details given that this is an old PC ??? 30GB H/Drive and presumably something like a 1gig CPU ?

[catgate]

Can anybody help me solve the frustrating error message of 'virtual memory too low? I have cleaned my registry,run disc cleaner and degragmented my disc which now has 69% free space. My operating system is windows xp service pack 2.My virtual memory tab shows initial size 324mb,maxium size 384mb, total paging size for all drives 378mb recommended 190mb, allocated 378mb, space available 20,113mb.My pc has 128mb of ram.

Your virtual memory is normally controlled by the OS but it can be altered manually (though M$ know best of course).

I am not sure what the "recommended" figure is but I used to run on 5xRAM on W98SE.

I would have thought 128mb RAM was way too small for running XP at anything like its capability, and so I am not surprised you are being urged to do something about it. I think I would up the RAM to at least 512 and also increase the virtual memory to 1000mb.

However, there will no doubt be others, better versed in the black arts than I, who will appear before long.

edit:

So Boris posted a reply whilst I was writing.

[Boris]

However, there will no doubt be others, better versed in the black arts than I, who will appear before long.

edit:

So Boris posted a reply whilst I was writing.

:D :D :D

[andsome]

Why still on SP2? :D

[Gordon]

Why still on SP2? :D

Unfortunately not very good light is shone on the SP3 right now. Several errors occur making the good job of XP (SP2) forgotten in users minds. How did your Windows let you keep SP2? Do you have automatic updates turned off.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

SP3 is a must. As with every service pack, severe errors may occur if trying to install on malware infected systems.

SP3 is not only much safer, it is also noticeably faster than XP with SP2.

[Hb_Kai]

I actually noticed this after the update.

It's possible to have XP on SP2 by not updating though - but it's better to have it.

[Dencandy]

bazzie, the virtual memory you have should be related to the size of your RAM as well as the hard disk. 128MB of RAM for XP, even if only upto SP2 level is far too small for it run smoothly. Even if you increased the size of the paging file, it probably wouldn't make much difference because the RAM is insufficient. As a minimum you need 512MB, in my view, but preferably 1GB. Can your motherboard accept more RAM? If so increase it as soon as possible.

When you've done that, open Control Panel and go to Performance & Maintenance, then System. On the Systems Properties box select Advanced, then go to the section headed Performance and select Advanced. Then select Virtual Memory at the foot of that box and click on the Advanced button in that box. Click on Change, hi-light the "C:" drive and make sure the button next to "System managed size" has a green dot in it. Then back out by clicking OK on everything. That's all most users need to do to allow Windows to optimally manage their virtual memory.