Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

[Guest Spin]

Gurus,

 

Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login and

once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB RAM

available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have already

set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services as possible.

Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount of processes

that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak" on the system that will

allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

 

--

Spin

[Guest dadiOH]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

Spin wrote:

> Gurus,

>

> Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I

> login and once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have

> 1.5 GB RAM available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB

> RAM. I have already set to manual startup as many "unneeded"

> programs and services as possible. Looking in Task Manager, I pretty

> much see the minimum amount of processes that I can cut it down to. What

> else can I "tweak" on the system that will allow me to eke out

> more overall available RAM?

 

If you get more, what do you plan on doing with it? Seems to me that 1.5

gigs is plenty for anything.

 

--

 

dadiOH

____________________________

 

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...

....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from

LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.

Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

>Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login and

>once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB RAM

>available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have already

>set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services as possible.

>Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount of processes

>that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak" on the system that will

>allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

 

You can disable or set to manual some services running in the

background that will reduce the RAM usage. Look here for info and

details:

 

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest db.·.. >]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

well, you could

simply end/kill

any process in

task manager

that your system

will allow.

 

there will be some

that you cannot kill

while there will be

others that you can.

 

if you kill explorer.exe

you can start it again

as a new task.

 

have fun!

--

 

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

 

"Spin" <Spin@invalid.com> wrote in message news:6into1Frh9rbU1@mid.individual.net...

> Gurus,

>

> Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login and once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I

> have 1.5 GB RAM available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have already set to manual startup as many

> "unneeded" programs and services as possible. Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount of processes that I

> can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak" on the system that will allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

>

> --

> Spin

>

[Guest Bob I]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall availableRAM

 

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall availableRAM

 

What issue is the problem? XP will try to make use of RAM to make the

system "faster" and more responsive. If you make other use of the RAM,

XP will use less for buffering and caching. I think maybe you should

just use the PC and let Windows manage the memory to help you use it

efficiently.

 

Spin wrote:

> Gurus,

>

> Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login and

> once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB RAM

> available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have already

> set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services as possible.

> Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount of processes

> that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak" on the system that will

> allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

>

> --

> Spin

>

>

[Guest Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

Windows performance tweaking myths, busted

http://lifehacker.com/5033518/debunking-common-windows-performance-tweaking-myths

 

--

Carey Frisch

Microsoft MVP

Windows Desktop Experience -

Windows Vista Enthusiast

 

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

 

"Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.> wrote in message news:ksgdc4p4po5v3ulk5v4grsofu4h8gpe7p0@4ax.com...

>Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login and

>once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB RAM

>available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have already

>set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services as possible.

>Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount of processes

>that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak" on the system that will

>allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

 

You can disable or set to manual some services running in the

background that will reduce the RAM usage. Look here for info and

details:

 

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest Unknown]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

Why would you want to?

"Spin" <Spin@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:6into1Frh9rbU1@mid.individual.net...

> Gurus,

>

> Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login

> and once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB RAM

> available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have

> already set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services as

> possible. Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount of

> processes that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak" on the

> system that will allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

>

> --

> Spin

>

[Guest smlunatick]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

On Sep 9, 7:31 pm, "Spin" <S...@invalid.com> wrote:

> Gurus,

>

> Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop.  After boot and I login and

> once the desktop settles down,  Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB RAM

> available.  This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM.  I have already

> set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services as possible.

> Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount of processes

> that I can cut it down to.  What else can I "tweak" on the system that will

> allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

>

> --

> Spin

 

Several laptop models tend to also use the "general" RAM for video

card memory. Without the details on your maker / model of laptop, we

can not guide you further.

[Guest R. McCarty]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

One thing that will raise the quiescent memory footprint is using onboard

Video. Normally XP uses around 280 Megabytes ( Minus 3rd party

services). If you see a "Idle" memory use of 512 Megabytes or more &

services are restricted then the extra memory may be allocated for the

chipset based video.

 

The goal isn't so much to keep the footprint low as it is to control WHAT

is running. Programs these days install way too many background services

and watchdog apps that don't need to run 100% of the time.

 

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:%23NGP8HrEJHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> What issue is the problem? XP will try to make use of RAM to make the

> system "faster" and more responsive. If you make other use of the RAM, XP

> will use less for buffering and caching. I think maybe you should just use

> the PC and let Windows manage the memory to help you use it efficiently.

>

> Spin wrote:

>

>> Gurus,

>>

>> Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login

>> and once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB

>> RAM available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have

>> already set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services as

>> possible. Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount

>> of processes that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak" on the

>> system that will allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

>>

>> --

>> Spin

>

[Guest Fuzzy Logic]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

"Spin" <Spin@invalid.com> wrote in news:6into1Frh9rbU1@mid.individual.net:

> Gurus,

>

> Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login

> and once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB

> RAM available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have

> already set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services

> as possible. Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum

> amount of processes that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak"

> on the system that will allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

>

> --

> Spin

 

Free RAM is wasted RAM. RAM is significantly faster than your hard drive.

Windows allocates free RAM to disk cacheing to improve performance and if

the RAM is required to run programs it trims back the disk cache as

required.

[Guest Bob I]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall availableRAM

 

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall availableRAM

 

Did you mean to reply to me, or just missed the OP? I think he's on the

way to optimizing that laptop till it won't run.

 

R. McCarty wrote:

> One thing that will raise the quiescent memory footprint is using onboard

> Video. Normally XP uses around 280 Megabytes ( Minus 3rd party

> services). If you see a "Idle" memory use of 512 Megabytes or more &

> services are restricted then the extra memory may be allocated for the

> chipset based video.

>

> The goal isn't so much to keep the footprint low as it is to control WHAT

> is running. Programs these days install way too many background services

> and watchdog apps that don't need to run 100% of the time.

>

> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

> news:%23NGP8HrEJHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>

>>What issue is the problem? XP will try to make use of RAM to make the

>>system "faster" and more responsive. If you make other use of the RAM, XP

>>will use less for buffering and caching. I think maybe you should just use

>>the PC and let Windows manage the memory to help you use it efficiently.

>>

>>Spin wrote:

>>

>>

>>>Gurus,

>>>

>>>Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login

>>>and once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB

>>>RAM available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have

>>>already set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services as

>>>possible. Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount

>>>of processes that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak" on the

>>>system that will allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

>>>

>>>--

>>>Spin

>>

>

>

[Guest R. McCarty]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

Pardon me, I did reply to the wrong point in the thread.

 

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:OAqeHUrEJHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Did you mean to reply to me, or just missed the OP? I think he's on the

> way to optimizing that laptop till it won't run.

>

> R. McCarty wrote:

>

>> One thing that will raise the quiescent memory footprint is using onboard

>> Video. Normally XP uses around 280 Megabytes ( Minus 3rd party

>> services). If you see a "Idle" memory use of 512 Megabytes or more &

>> services are restricted then the extra memory may be allocated for the

>> chipset based video.

>>

>> The goal isn't so much to keep the footprint low as it is to control WHAT

>> is running. Programs these days install way too many background services

>> and watchdog apps that don't need to run 100% of the time.

>>

>> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>> news:%23NGP8HrEJHA.5060@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>

>>>What issue is the problem? XP will try to make use of RAM to make the

>>>system "faster" and more responsive. If you make other use of the RAM, XP

>>>will use less for buffering and caching. I think maybe you should just

>>>use the PC and let Windows manage the memory to help you use it

>>>efficiently.

>>>

>>>Spin wrote:

>>>

>>>

>>>>Gurus,

>>>>

>>>>Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login

>>>>and once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB

>>>>RAM available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have

>>>>already set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services

>>>>as possible. Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum

>>>>amount of processes that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak"

>>>>on the system that will allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

>>>>

>>>>--

>>>>Spin

>>>

>>

>>

>

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

>Windows performance tweaking myths, busted

>http://lifehacker.com/5033518/debunking-common-windows-performance-tweaking-myths

 

That article mentions "speeding up" the computer by disabling

services. It is not intended to speed up so much as it does free up

RAM. This is what the OP was asking about. That part in the author's

piece about services is bunkum and not support by facts nor experience

since *no one* worth their computer tech mettle would use msconfig.exe

to manage / disable / enable their services. That's the wrong way to

do it and useless advice.

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

>Free RAM is wasted RAM. RAM is significantly faster than your hard drive.

>Windows allocates free RAM to disk cacheing to improve performance and if

>the RAM is required to run programs it trims back the disk cache as

>required.

 

heh, the malware and spyware authors know this very well and have that

niche filled quite nicely. ~_^

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest chuckcar]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

"Spin" <Spin@invalid.com> wrote in news:6into1Frh9rbU1@mid.individual.net:

> Gurus,

>

> Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login

> and once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB

> RAM available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have

> already set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services

> as possible. Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum

> amount of processes that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak"

> on the system that will allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

>

Three relevant questions: 1. How fast is the processor on your laptop? 2.

What *model* of processor is on your laptop - i.e. Pentium 4, Dual Core,

Centrino, etc.? 3. What is the model and company name of your laptop?

 

--

(setq (chuck nil) car(chuck) )

[Guest Spin]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

The laptop is a Sony VAIO VGN-AX570G. Powered by the Pentium M 750

processor (1.86 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, ATI Mobility Radeon X700 graphics

with 256MB of video memory. Has Wi-Fi (wireless connectivity) built-in.

[Guest §ñühwØ£f]

Re: Want to "tweak" the system to eke out more overall available RAM

 

On Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:31:27 -0400, Spin aided th' terraists with the

following claims :

> Gurus,

>

> Running Windows XP Pro SP3 on a 2GB RAM laptop. After boot and I login and

> once the desktop settles down, Task Manager reports I have 1.5 GB RAM

> available. This means the OS itself is using up 512MB RAM. I have already

> set to manual startup as many "unneeded" programs and services as possible.

> Looking in Task Manager, I pretty much see the minimum amount of processes

> that I can cut it down to. What else can I "tweak" on the system that will

> allow me to eke out more overall available RAM?

 

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/supertweaks.htm

http://www.jasonn.com/turning_off_unnecessary_services_on_windows_xp

 

FYI

 

 

--

"Those who can make you believe absurdities,

can make you commit atrocities" - Voltaire