Slow memory loss than crash

[Mike Stahl]

I am running Win 7 HP (32bit) on a Dell Dimension C521 w/4GB RAM. My computer started doing a complete freeze after it had been on for awhile (even if it wasn't actively being used.) I've run the Windows memory test (advanced) multiple times and no errors have been found. I added a sidebar gadget that tracks memory. Right after boot it shows I am using 24% (seems high) of my memory. As I use the computer the available memory slowly declines weather I am running programs or not. It does not go back up when I shut down all programs. At about 46%, I get a complete system freeze. Even task manager won't open. When I click on "shut down," I get a msg. that says I don't have permission to start or stop this computer. I've tried a re-format and complete OS re-install. The problem does not very. The re-install indicates that the problem is not in the OS. And the memory tests indicate that the problem is not hardware related. And there's nothing else!

Any suggestions about this problem will be greatly appreciated!

Take care and Be Well.

Mike

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

If I were in your situation I would open the Task Manager's Processes tab (before the system starts freezing), and check what process is actually hoarding all that memory. Then go from there.

[-pops-]

Another thing to try:

I assume the RAM is in more than one stick (2 x 2GB or 4 x 1GB). If so, remove all but one stick of memory and see how that goes (the machine will be slower but this is only a test). If it's OK, swap that stick for another and see how that behaves. If all are OK as individuals, try two sticks together and if there are four sticks, another two sticks until all have been paired up.

Boring, yes, but it will help sort out faults and incompatibilities between them.