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What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?


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Guest Christine
Posted

Several times recently I have received an error message that says "Virtual

memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I do to fix it? My

computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice to operate the few basic

applications I have been running when this error message has appeared. In the

past I have had plenty of apps running with no problems. I do regular

housekeeping like disk clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also, it has

happened relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is greatly

appreciated so thank you in advance.

~Christine

Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

 

"Christine" <Christine@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:3CAEE8C8-B127-4A22-B70A-1AC5EDFCEC18@microsoft.com...

> Several times recently I have received an error message that says "Virtual

> memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I do to fix it?

> My

> computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice to operate the few basic

> applications I have been running when this error message has appeared. In

> the

> past I have had plenty of apps running with no problems. I do regular

> housekeeping like disk clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also, it

> has

> happened relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is

> greatly

> appreciated so thank you in advance.

> ~Christine

The usual meaning of this message is that the pagefile is too small. Those

things that you are doing have little bearing on your problem (which doesn't

mean that you should not do them).

The setting for the size of the pagefile that works best

for most people is "system managed".

Jim

Guest Christine
Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

Jim;

Where do I go to see what the pagefile is set at? I have never changed it on

my computer (I didn't even know what it was till you told me). Wouldn't it

have been set at 'system managed' at the factory? And if so, is there

anything I can do to prevent the error message in the future?

~Christine

 

"Jim" wrote:

>

> "Christine" <Christine@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:3CAEE8C8-B127-4A22-B70A-1AC5EDFCEC18@microsoft.com...

> > Several times recently I have received an error message that says "Virtual

> > memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I do to fix it?

> > My

> > computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice to operate the few basic

> > applications I have been running when this error message has appeared. In

> > the

> > past I have had plenty of apps running with no problems. I do regular

> > housekeeping like disk clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also, it

> > has

> > happened relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is

> > greatly

> > appreciated so thank you in advance.

> > ~Christine

> The usual meaning of this message is that the pagefile is too small. Those

> things that you are doing have little bearing on your problem (which doesn't

> mean that you should not do them).

> The setting for the size of the pagefile that works best

> for most people is "system managed".

> Jim

>

>

>

Guest Xandros
Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

If you have an Intel motherboard (consult your owners manual to see if your

board is an Intel) then you might need to install an Intel accelerator. You

would need one that corresponds to your chipset. Do not confuse this with a

graphics accelerator Check here if it applies

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Search.aspx?Prod_nm=intel+accelerator&lang=eng&MissingSearchTxt=Please+enter+a+valid+product+name%2C+filename+or+product+ID+%23.

 

or the shortened link here http://preview.tinyurl.com/6jh5ef

 

 

--

 

Xandros

 

 

"Christine" <Christine@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:3CAEE8C8-B127-4A22-B70A-1AC5EDFCEC18@microsoft.com...

> Several times recently I have received an error message that says "Virtual

> memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I do to fix it?

> My

> computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice to operate the few basic

> applications I have been running when this error message has appeared. In

> the

> past I have had plenty of apps running with no problems. I do regular

> housekeeping like disk clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also, it

> has

> happened relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is

> greatly

> appreciated so thank you in advance.

> ~Christine

Guest Unknown
Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

Control panel---system---advanced---performance---advanced.

"Christine" <Christine@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:96497528-C428-49FD-8C90-E2A83A6C90A5@microsoft.com...

> Jim;

> Where do I go to see what the pagefile is set at? I have never changed it

> on

> my computer (I didn't even know what it was till you told me). Wouldn't it

> have been set at 'system managed' at the factory? And if so, is there

> anything I can do to prevent the error message in the future?

> ~Christine

>

> "Jim" wrote:

>

>>

>> "Christine" <Christine@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:3CAEE8C8-B127-4A22-B70A-1AC5EDFCEC18@microsoft.com...

>> > Several times recently I have received an error message that says

>> > "Virtual

>> > memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I do to fix

>> > it?

>> > My

>> > computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice to operate the few

>> > basic

>> > applications I have been running when this error message has appeared.

>> > In

>> > the

>> > past I have had plenty of apps running with no problems. I do regular

>> > housekeeping like disk clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also,

>> > it

>> > has

>> > happened relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is

>> > greatly

>> > appreciated so thank you in advance.

>> > ~Christine

>> The usual meaning of this message is that the pagefile is too small.

>> Those

>> things that you are doing have little bearing on your problem (which

>> doesn't

>> mean that you should not do them).

>> The setting for the size of the pagefile that works best

>> for most people is "system managed".

>> Jim

>>

>>

>>

Guest Gerry
Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

Christine

 

How much RAM?

 

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance

Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

 

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report. Open Disk

Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and

click on Save As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents

Folder and post a copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it

is more informative.

 

--

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Christine wrote:

> Several times recently I have received an error message that says

> "Virtual memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I

> do to fix it? My computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice to

> operate the few basic applications I have been running when this

> error message has appeared. In the past I have had plenty of apps

> running with no problems. I do regular housekeeping like disk

> clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also, it has happened

> relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is greatly

> appreciated so thank you in advance. ~Christine

Guest Christine
Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

Gerry;

Thank you for your response to my problem. As per the advice of a previous

responder to my question I have already changed the pagefile to 'system

managed'. I don't know if that will affect the results of the info you have

requested from me but, nevertheless, here it is:

Total: 646192

Limit: 1277416

Peak: 728820

 

Volume (C:)

Volume size = 37.21 GB

Cluster size = 4 KB

Used space = 21.13 GB

Free space = 16.09 GB

Percent free space = 43 %

 

Volume fragmentation

Total fragmentation = 3 %

File fragmentation = 7 %

Free space fragmentation = 0 %

 

File fragmentation

Total files = 119,198

Average file size = 359 KB

Total fragmented files = 1,955

Total excess fragments = 7,292

Average fragments per file = 1.06

 

Pagefile fragmentation

Pagefile size = 768 MB

Total fragments = 2

 

Folder fragmentation

Total folders = 9,404

Fragmented folders = 19

Excess folder fragments = 184

 

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation

Total MFT size = 136 MB

MFT record count = 129,342

Percent MFT in use = 93 %

Total MFT fragments = 3

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fragments File Size Most fragmented files

1,606 100 MB \System Volume

Information\catalog.wci\00010001.ci

761 256 MB \Documents and Settings\All

Users\Application Data\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\cache.db

141 10 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\BNZ2J5QL\get_video[1]

135 8 MB

\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\DataColl\CollectedData_15313.xml

124 9 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\W405JRQ1\get_video[1]

98 8 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WMLA230Q\get_video[1]

79 1 KB \Documents and Settings\Christine

Wong\ntuser.dat.LOG

70 5 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\V1ROV3FX\get_video[1]

68 5 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\W405JRQ1\get_video[2]

66 4 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\G41UH0J3\BluRib[1].swf

51 47 MB \Documents and Settings\All

Users\Application Data\AOL\C_America Online 9.0\organize\christine9363

49 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\2LA89E1W\get_video[1]

48 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\XYAB3TAI\get_video[3]

44 1 KB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat.LOG

42 2 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Application Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\Christine

Wong\state\logs\sprtcmd.log;2

42 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All

Users\Application

Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\state\logs\sprtcmd.log;1

42 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WMLA230Q\get_video[7]

41 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All

Users\Application Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Settings.LiveUpdate

41 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All

Users\Application Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Settings.LastGood.LiveUpdate

41 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\XYAB3TAI\get_video[1]

39 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\VZS8R99U\get_video[1]

38 5 MB \Documents and Settings\All

Users\Application Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Log.LiveUpdate

37 292 KB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\K53Q2DWY

37 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\XYAB3TAI\get_video[2]

36 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\N0R3IJ5Z\get_video[1]

36 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\N0R3IJ5Z\get_video[3]

35 2 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Application Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\Christine

Wong\state\logs\sprtcmd.log;1

34 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All

Users\Application

Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\state\logs\sprtcmd.log

30 304 KB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\4XPT4SAB

26 2 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\UHYTE7D2\get_video[1]

 

 

 

"Gerry" wrote:

> Christine

>

> How much RAM?

>

> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance

> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

>

> I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report. Open Disk

> Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and

> click on Save As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents

> Folder and post a copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it

> is more informative.

>

> --

>

>

>

> Hope this helps.

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> Christine wrote:

> > Several times recently I have received an error message that says

> > "Virtual memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I

> > do to fix it? My computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice to

> > operate the few basic applications I have been running when this

> > error message has appeared. In the past I have had plenty of apps

> > running with no problems. I do regular housekeeping like disk

> > clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also, it has happened

> > relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is greatly

> > appreciated so thank you in advance. ~Christine

>

>

>

Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

 

"Christine" <Christine@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:96497528-C428-49FD-8C90-E2A83A6C90A5@microsoft.com...

> Jim;

> Where do I go to see what the pagefile is set at? I have never changed it

> on

> my computer (I didn't even know what it was till you told me). Wouldn't it

> have been set at 'system managed' at the factory? And if so, is there

> anything I can do to prevent the error message in the future?

> ~Christine

>

> "Jim" wrote:

>

>>

>> "Christine" <Christine@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:3CAEE8C8-B127-4A22-B70A-1AC5EDFCEC18@microsoft.com...

>> > Several times recently I have received an error message that says

>> > "Virtual

>> > memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I do to fix

>> > it?

>> > My

>> > computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice to operate the few

>> > basic

>> > applications I have been running when this error message has appeared.

>> > In

>> > the

>> > past I have had plenty of apps running with no problems. I do regular

>> > housekeeping like disk clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also,

>> > it

>> > has

>> > happened relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is

>> > greatly

>> > appreciated so thank you in advance.

>> > ~Christine

>> The usual meaning of this message is that the pagefile is too small.

>> Those

>> things that you are doing have little bearing on your problem (which

>> doesn't

>> mean that you should not do them).

>> The setting for the size of the pagefile that works best

>> for most people is "system managed".

>> Jim

>>

>>

>>

No, my computers, right out of the box, have the min size at some very low

value and the max size set at 1.5 ram.

"System managed " size will prevent this error from happening unless and

until there is no free disk space left.

Another poster has told you how to get to the setting of the size of the

pagefile. This setting requires administrative privileges.

Jim

Guest Gerry
Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

Christine

 

You did not answer my question about how much RAM is installed. If you

right click on My Computer (often this is a Desktop icon) and select

Properties this information is displayed on the General tab.

 

Looking at your commit charge figures from Task Manager and deducting

the pagefile of 768 mb I conclude that you have 512 mb RAM installed.

Now based on the Commit Charge figures, both Total and Peak, it is clear

that your system is using the pagefile and using the pagefile is much

slower than using RAM. Given that you have seen "low virtual memory"

messages I would hazard a guess that you are using more at other times

than the commit charge figures you have advised.

 

With the situation disclosed you could improve system performance by

other adding more RAM or by making changes to the programmes or the way

you use programmes. If you advise your computer make and model we could

the capacity of your computer for adding RAM. Adding RAM to most

computer is relatively inexpensive if installed by the user.

 

The other alternative is to look at the programmes you are using and

ascertain whether they are loading at StartUp, and if so whether they

can be changed to an on demand basis.

 

What are your anti-virus and anti-spyware arrangements. The more common

Norton (Symantec) and McAfee are resource hungry and you will find many

posting here use freeware alternatives. Most feel they are better served

by their replacement programme.

 

You should be able to gather more information from Task Manager. With

the Processes tab open select View, Select, Columns and check the boxes

before Peak Memory Usage and Virtual Memory size. What are the figures

for the 6 processes using the largest amounts?

 

Do you leave the computer on 24/7?

 

 

--

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

Christine wrote:

> Gerry;

> Thank you for your response to my problem. As per the advice of a

> previous responder to my question I have already changed the pagefile

> to 'system managed'. I don't know if that will affect the results of

> the info you have requested from me but, nevertheless, here it is:

> Total: 646192

> Limit: 1277416

> Peak: 728820

>

> Volume (C:)

> Volume size = 37.21 GB

> Cluster size = 4 KB

> Used space = 21.13 GB

> Free space = 16.09 GB

> Percent free space = 43 %

>

> Volume fragmentation

> Total fragmentation = 3 %

> File fragmentation = 7 %

> Free space fragmentation = 0 %

>

> File fragmentation

> Total files = 119,198

> Average file size = 359 KB

> Total fragmented files = 1,955

> Total excess fragments = 7,292

> Average fragments per file = 1.06

>

> Pagefile fragmentation

> Pagefile size = 768 MB

> Total fragments = 2

>

> Folder fragmentation

> Total folders = 9,404

> Fragmented folders = 19

> Excess folder fragments = 184

>

> Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation

> Total MFT size = 136 MB

> MFT record count = 129,342

> Percent MFT in use = 93 %

> Total MFT fragments = 3

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Fragments File Size Most fragmented files

> 1,606 100 MB \System Volume

> Information\catalog.wci\00010001.ci

> 761 256 MB \Documents and Settings\All

> Users\Application Data\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\cache.db

> 141 10 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> Files\Content.IE5\BNZ2J5QL\get_video[1] 135 8 MB

> \WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\DataColl\CollectedData_15313.xml

> 124 9 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> Files\Content.IE5\W405JRQ1\get_video[1] 98 8 MB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> Internet Files\Content.IE5\WMLA230Q\get_video[1] 79 1 KB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\ntuser.dat.LOG

> 70 5 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> Files\Content.IE5\V1ROV3FX\get_video[1] 68 5 MB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> Internet Files\Content.IE5\W405JRQ1\get_video[2] 66 4 MB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> Internet Files\Content.IE5\G41UH0J3\BluRib[1].swf 51 47

> MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> Data\AOL\C_America Online 9.0\organize\christine9363 49

> 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\2LA89E1W\get_video[1]

> 48 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> Files\Content.IE5\XYAB3TAI\get_video[3] 44 1 KB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Application

> Data\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat.LOG 42 2 MB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Application

> Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\Christine

> Wong\state\logs\sprtcmd.log;2 42 2 MB

> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\state\logs\sprtcmd.log;1 42

> 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WMLA230Q\get_video[7]

> 41 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All

> Users\Application Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Settings.LiveUpdate 41

> 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Settings.LastGood.LiveUpdate 41

> 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\XYAB3TAI\get_video[1]

> 39 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> Files\Content.IE5\VZS8R99U\get_video[1] 38 5 MB

> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Log.LiveUpdate 37 292 KB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> Internet Files\Content.IE5\K53Q2DWY 37 3 MB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> Internet Files\Content.IE5\XYAB3TAI\get_video[2] 36 3 MB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> Internet Files\Content.IE5\N0R3IJ5Z\get_video[1] 36 3 MB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> Internet Files\Content.IE5\N0R3IJ5Z\get_video[3] 35 2 MB

> \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Application

> Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\Christine

> Wong\state\logs\sprtcmd.log;1 34 2 MB

> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\state\logs\sprtcmd.log 30

> 304 KB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\4XPT4SAB 26

> 2 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\UHYTE7D2\get_video[1]

>

>

>

> "Gerry" wrote:

>

>> Christine

>>

>> How much RAM?

>>

>> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance

>> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

>>

>> I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report. Open

>> Disk Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and

>> click on Save As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents

>> Folder and post a copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as

>> it is more informative.

>>

>> --

>>

>>

>>

>> Hope this helps.

>>

>> Gerry

>> ~~~~

>> FCA

>> Stourport, England

>> Enquire, plan and execute

>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>

>> Christine wrote:

>>> Several times recently I have received an error message that says

>>> "Virtual memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I

>>> do to fix it? My computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice

>>> to operate the few basic applications I have been running when this

>>> error message has appeared. In the past I have had plenty of apps

>>> running with no problems. I do regular housekeeping like disk

>>> clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also, it has happened

>>> relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is greatly

>>> appreciated so thank you in advance. ~Christine

Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

On Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:26:03 -0700, Christine

<Christine@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

 

| Several times recently I have received an error message that says "Virtual

| memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I do to fix it? My

| computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice to operate the few basic

| applications I have been running when this error message has appeared. In the

| past I have had plenty of apps running with no problems. I do regular

| housekeeping like disk clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also, it has

| happened relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is greatly

| appreciated so thank you in advance.

 

I strongly suspect that a recent XP update — perhaps even SP3 itself — is

causing this problem. It recently started happening in one of my XP systems and

also in a friend's XP system. Both computers had been running for at least a

couple of years without even a hint of a virtual memory problem until then.

Doubling the size of the exclusive partition I use for the page file from 1GB to

2GB seems to have solved my problem.

 

The warning occurred in my system when there was nothing except XP running. It

would even pop up on the screen as I was shutting down the computer. Even with

warnings, the page file at no time became larger than 51MB or about 5% of the

space it had to expand in. Now, with a 2 GB playing field at its disposal, it

still stays in the 51MB size range.

 

I thought a virus or spyware might be causing the problem, but nothing of the

sort turned up on thorough checking. And if it had been one of those,

increasing the virtual memory partition size shouldn't have solved anything.

 

That computer has 1GB of RAM, BTW.

 

Larc

Guest Christine
Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

Gerry;

It is 512mb RAM. I will take your advice and add more. Probably another

512mb. My comp is a Dell Dimension 4600. I'm pretty sure it will have plenty

of expansion slots.

 

How does one tell which programs are loading upon start up?

 

The 6 largest figures in the Task Manager are:

Peak Mem: VM Size:

141,220 208,544 iexplore.exe

92,844 23,620 svchost.exe

92,612 77,208 waol.exe

89,420 48,316 ccSVCHST.exe

57,248 49,608 aolsoftware.exe

49,236 28,512 explorer.exe

 

I turn my computer off about every 2-3 days but I always put it into

stand-by at night.

 

Sorry for the delay in responding but for several days this site would not

give me the pop-up reply window. I have no idea why, but it would just

refresh the page and that was all.

 

~Christine

 

 

"Gerry" wrote:

> Christine

>

> You did not answer my question about how much RAM is installed. If you

> right click on My Computer (often this is a Desktop icon) and select

> Properties this information is displayed on the General tab.

>

> Looking at your commit charge figures from Task Manager and deducting

> the pagefile of 768 mb I conclude that you have 512 mb RAM installed.

> Now based on the Commit Charge figures, both Total and Peak, it is clear

> that your system is using the pagefile and using the pagefile is much

> slower than using RAM. Given that you have seen "low virtual memory"

> messages I would hazard a guess that you are using more at other times

> than the commit charge figures you have advised.

>

> With the situation disclosed you could improve system performance by

> other adding more RAM or by making changes to the programmes or the way

> you use programmes. If you advise your computer make and model we could

> the capacity of your computer for adding RAM. Adding RAM to most

> computer is relatively inexpensive if installed by the user.

>

> The other alternative is to look at the programmes you are using and

> ascertain whether they are loading at StartUp, and if so whether they

> can be changed to an on demand basis.

>

> What are your anti-virus and anti-spyware arrangements. The more common

> Norton (Symantec) and McAfee are resource hungry and you will find many

> posting here use freeware alternatives. Most feel they are better served

> by their replacement programme.

>

> You should be able to gather more information from Task Manager. With

> the Processes tab open select View, Select, Columns and check the boxes

> before Peak Memory Usage and Virtual Memory size. What are the figures

> for the 6 processes using the largest amounts?

>

> Do you leave the computer on 24/7?

>

>

> --

>

>

>

> Hope this helps.

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>

>

> Christine wrote:

> > Gerry;

> > Thank you for your response to my problem. As per the advice of a

> > previous responder to my question I have already changed the pagefile

> > to 'system managed'. I don't know if that will affect the results of

> > the info you have requested from me but, nevertheless, here it is:

> > Total: 646192

> > Limit: 1277416

> > Peak: 728820

> >

> > Volume (C:)

> > Volume size = 37.21 GB

> > Cluster size = 4 KB

> > Used space = 21.13 GB

> > Free space = 16.09 GB

> > Percent free space = 43 %

> >

> > Volume fragmentation

> > Total fragmentation = 3 %

> > File fragmentation = 7 %

> > Free space fragmentation = 0 %

> >

> > File fragmentation

> > Total files = 119,198

> > Average file size = 359 KB

> > Total fragmented files = 1,955

> > Total excess fragments = 7,292

> > Average fragments per file = 1.06

> >

> > Pagefile fragmentation

> > Pagefile size = 768 MB

> > Total fragments = 2

> >

> > Folder fragmentation

> > Total folders = 9,404

> > Fragmented folders = 19

> > Excess folder fragments = 184

> >

> > Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation

> > Total MFT size = 136 MB

> > MFT record count = 129,342

> > Percent MFT in use = 93 %

> > Total MFT fragments = 3

> >

> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Fragments File Size Most fragmented files

> > 1,606 100 MB \System Volume

> > Information\catalog.wci\00010001.ci

> > 761 256 MB \Documents and Settings\All

> > Users\Application Data\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\cache.db

> > 141 10 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> > Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> > Files\Content.IE5\BNZ2J5QL\get_video[1] 135 8 MB

> > \WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\DataColl\CollectedData_15313.xml

> > 124 9 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> > Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> > Files\Content.IE5\W405JRQ1\get_video[1] 98 8 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> > Internet Files\Content.IE5\WMLA230Q\get_video[1] 79 1 KB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\ntuser.dat.LOG

> > 70 5 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> > Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> > Files\Content.IE5\V1ROV3FX\get_video[1] 68 5 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> > Internet Files\Content.IE5\W405JRQ1\get_video[2] 66 4 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> > Internet Files\Content.IE5\G41UH0J3\BluRib[1].swf 51 47

> > MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> > Data\AOL\C_America Online 9.0\organize\christine9363 49

> > 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> > Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\2LA89E1W\get_video[1]

> > 48 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> > Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> > Files\Content.IE5\XYAB3TAI\get_video[3] 44 1 KB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Application

> > Data\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat.LOG 42 2 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Application

> > Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\Christine

> > Wong\state\logs\sprtcmd.log;2 42 2 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> > Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\state\logs\sprtcmd.log;1 42

> > 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> > Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WMLA230Q\get_video[7]

> > 41 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All

> > Users\Application Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Settings.LiveUpdate 41

> > 2 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> > Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Settings.LastGood.LiveUpdate 41

> > 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> > Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\XYAB3TAI\get_video[1]

> > 39 3 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine

> > Wong\Local Settings\Temporary Internet

> > Files\Content.IE5\VZS8R99U\get_video[1] 38 5 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> > Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Log.LiveUpdate 37 292 KB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> > Internet Files\Content.IE5\K53Q2DWY 37 3 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> > Internet Files\Content.IE5\XYAB3TAI\get_video[2] 36 3 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> > Internet Files\Content.IE5\N0R3IJ5Z\get_video[1] 36 3 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Temporary

> > Internet Files\Content.IE5\N0R3IJ5Z\get_video[3] 35 2 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local Settings\Application

> > Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\Christine

> > Wong\state\logs\sprtcmd.log;1 34 2 MB

> > \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

> > Data\SupportSoft\DellSupportCenter\SYSTEM\state\logs\sprtcmd.log 30

> > 304 KB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> > Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\4XPT4SAB 26

> > 2 MB \Documents and Settings\Christine Wong\Local

> > Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\UHYTE7D2\get_video[1]

> >

> >

> >

> > "Gerry" wrote:

> >

> >> Christine

> >>

> >> How much RAM?

> >>

> >> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance

> >> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

> >>

> >> I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report. Open

> >> Disk Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and

> >> click on Save As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents

> >> Folder and post a copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as

> >> it is more informative.

> >>

> >> --

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >> Hope this helps.

> >>

> >> Gerry

> >> ~~~~

> >> FCA

> >> Stourport, England

> >> Enquire, plan and execute

> >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> >>

> >> Christine wrote:

> >>> Several times recently I have received an error message that says

> >>> "Virtual memory minimum too low." What does this mean and what can I

> >>> do to fix it? My computer is only 4 years old and has enough juice

> >>> to operate the few basic applications I have been running when this

> >>> error message has appeared. In the past I have had plenty of apps

> >>> running with no problems. I do regular housekeeping like disk

> >>> clean-up, error checking, and defragging. Also, it has happened

> >>> relatively soon after restarting the computer. Any help is greatly

> >>> appreciated so thank you in advance. ~Christine

>

>

>

Guest Daave
Posted

Re: What does a 'virtual memory' error message mean?

 

"Christine" <Christine@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:94DD4527-68CA-439B-B153-9F3DF4DCB8ED@microsoft.com...

> It is 512mb RAM. I will take your advice and add more. Probably

> another

> 512mb. My comp is a Dell Dimension 4600. I'm pretty sure it will have

> plenty

> of expansion slots.

 

You will find this link helpful then:

 

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600i/sm/parts.htm#1138251

> How does one tell which programs are loading upon start up?

 

Start | Run | msconfig [OK] | Startup tab

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