memory

claybuu · Jan 19, 2003, 03:54 AM

I have a pentium2.4 a 120gb hard drive & 512 memory. Running windows xp home. now my computer is on for maybe and hour .when the error pops up saying my virtual memory is running low .window is increasing the size of my memory how do i stop this from doing this.o sorry a have a asus board p4s8x ddr &memory is ddr also:confused:

DarkFoss · Jan 19, 2003, 04:23 AM

512 mem should be fine for XP home.. you must have alot of processes running in the background. Maybe your mem's not being released properly ..I don't use any of those programs so wouldn't know which ones are good ones.
Anyways you can set your page file so it's not constantly resizing
by going start/control panel/performance and maintenance/system/ under system properties select the advanced tab first option is performance click on the settings tab.
Click on the advanced tab at the botton is virtual memory click the change button. I'm guessing you only have the one drive a good tweak here is putting your swap file onto a second drive or partition.
The default setting is system managed file change that to custom size and enter the same amount in both the initial size and maximum size boxes. I've got 768 megs of ram and have my file settings at 1150 in both boxes.Once you enter the amounts click on the set button . Setting your own size helps gaming because the swap file remains constant and helps prevent the mem from becoming fragmented too quickly. Settng too large a file will slow down your system though. You may have to up your amounts but the numbers I use are a good place to start. I used to have a nice url for explaining and figuring out the optimal tweaking by the amount of ram you have but lost the link several formats ago

nz_skater · Jan 20, 2003, 05:08 AM

Why have you got your pagefile set so damn huge?! With 768mb of RAM I highly doubt you would need your virtual ram set so high.

claybuu: With 512mb of RAM, I would recommend setting your pagefile to about 250/250. That's what I have mine running at and 99% of the time it's only ever 50% in use.

WyreTheWolf · Jan 20, 2003, 06:55 AM

Personally I would recommend setting your virtual memory to half of your system memory. 256MB for a 512MB system.

256MB of virtual memory should be enough if you have 512MB of system memory.

Also... If you already have your virtual memory set to this, or higher.

You may have a program that has a memory leak...

Also another thing that you may want to look at is the number of programs that you have starting up with windows.

A buddy of mine called me the other day... He was having similar problems, so I went to visit him.

He had close to 30 programs starting with windows. Two of which are notorious for memory leaks.

Do me a favor... The next time that windows is giving you crap about the virtual memory... Hit <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Del> (The three finger salute) Look through everything that is running under the "Processes" tab. While there you will be able to see wat programs are running, and how much memory each program (or process) is taking up. Down in the lower right hand corner.... there will be something called Commit Charge...

Could you please give me all the information under this listing. That will help to give me (and all of the other members that wish to help) an idea of what may be causing the problem

Good luck!

claybuu · Jan 20, 2003, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nz_skater
Why have you got your pagefile set so damn huge?! With 768mb of RAM I highly doubt you would need your virtual ram set so high.

claybuu: With 512mb of RAM, I would recommend setting your pagefile to about 250/250. That's what I have mine running at and 99% of the time it's only ever 50% in use.

but if i but it at 250 error pops up something is wrong i know this but what do i do and i have 512mem ddr. ps i turn it off and i still got the error

DarkFoss · Jan 20, 2003, 10:11 PM

Ya, I know nz_skater.. I got lazy

right now upon start-up I've got almost 40 processes going. Every prog thinks that it has to be up and running with windows. 18 for xp, 6 for Nortons, 5 for my hp printer/scanner, 4 for my audigy 3 for office 2000 and a couple of others. Rather than bother with turning them off I just upped my file for startup. Still my com charge is only 190 with all of that. I'll be putting my new rig together tomorrow and will take my time installing programs and turn off the crap as I go. Atleast I'll be spared the creative stuff ..I'm going to go with nvidia's soundstorm for now.. it's supposed to be comparable to audigy 1 soundwise.

WyreTheWolf · Jan 20, 2003, 11:07 PM

ARGH! what in the world do you have loading on startup? You would have to have a huge amount of resources taken up to fill 512MB of ram, and 250MB of virtual memory... geeeez

ToshiroOC · Jan 20, 2003, 11:08 PM

start->run->msconfig is your friend...

claybuu · Jan 21, 2003, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WyreTheWolf
Personally I would recommend setting your virtual memory to half of your system memory. 256MB for a 512MB system.

256MB of virtual memory should be enough if you have 512MB of system memory.

Also... If you already have your virtual memory set to this, or higher.

You may have a program that has a memory leak...

Also another thing that you may want to look at is the number of programs that you have starting up with windows.

A buddy of mine called me the other day... He was having similar problems, so I went to visit him.

He had close to 30 programs starting with windows. Two of which are notorious for memory leaks.

Do me a favor... The next time that windows is giving you crap about the virtual memory... Hit <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Del> (The three finger salute) Look through everything that is running under the "Processes" tab. While there you will be able to see wat programs are running, and how much memory each program (or process) is taking up. Down in the lower right hand corner.... there will be something called Commit Charge...

Could you please give me all the information under this listing. That will help to give me (and all of the other members that wish to help) an idea of what may be causing the problem

Good luck!

ok this is what i came up with.myctrl/alt/del////name local service is running the image name for that is svchost exe.what the hell is this. it is running me up it goes from1,400// to283,5900&up also i see isass.exe is running alsobut not as high. 6,000 is this where i,m loseing memory. will this help you so u can help me claybuu help.

merry · Jan 21, 2003, 02:14 PM

I run XP Pro with 256 MB RAM, no problems. Idle mem usage is like 100 MB (after deleting some of the default processes).

svchost is launched in several instances, you should see at least two in the process list. I don't know how one can identify which event triggered the launch of a specific instance...

But, Toshiro dixit, launch msconfig (start/run/msconfig), turn to the 'processes' tab, read the list carefully. You may be able to identify something installed by whatever 'freeware'. Write a list down with anything suspect, then start/run/services.msc - in the window check for an explanation for each and every one of them (doubleclick the text near each one in the 'description' column). The scope of this is to eliminate the risk of disabling any vital processes - any 'suspect' will probably have no description available.

Try to come back with a list of what you've found, maybe a full list of the active processes as in msconfig.

UberLord · Jan 21, 2003, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by claybuu
ok this is what i came up with.myctrl/alt/del////name local service is running the image name for that is svchost exe.what the hell is this.

It's a generic host process for Windows Services. Normal behaviour. My work XP box is running mine at around 20 meg
Perfectly normal

merry · Jan 21, 2003, 02:18 PM

283,590???!?

WyreTheWolf · Jan 22, 2003, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by claybuu
ok this is what i came up with.myctrl/alt/del////name local service is running the image name for that is svchost exe.what the hell is this. it is running me up it goes from1,400// to283,5900&up also i see isass.exe is running alsobut not as high. 6,000 is this where i,m loseing memory. will this help you so u can help me claybuu help.

Are you saying that when you start windows that svchost.exe is using 1400kb, and that it eats up the memory up to 283,590kb?

Sounds like your memory is not being released, and that could either be the memory modules are damaged. Or Windows is doing something freaky.

Jan 19, 2003, 03:54 AM	#1
claybuu DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	memory I have a pentium2.4 a 120gb hard drive & 512 memory. Running windows xp home. now my computer is on for maybe and hour .when the error pops up saying my virtual memory is running low .window is increasing the size of my memory how do i stop this from doing this.o sorry a have a asus board p4s8x ddr &memory is ddr also:confused:

Jan 20, 2003, 05:08 AM	#3
nz_skater DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NZ Posts: 33 Rep Power: 0	DarkFoss Why have you got your pagefile set so damn huge?! With 768mb of RAM I highly doubt you would need your virtual ram set so high. claybuu: With 512mb of RAM, I would recommend setting your pagefile to about 250/250. That's what I have mine running at and 99% of the time it's only ever 50% in use.

Jan 20, 2003, 11:08 PM	#8
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	start->run->msconfig is your friend... __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Jan 21, 2003, 02:14 PM	#10
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	I run XP Pro with 256 MB RAM, no problems. Idle mem usage is like 100 MB (after deleting some of the default processes). svchost is launched in several instances, you should see at least two in the process list. I don't know how one can identify which event triggered the launch of a specific instance... But, Toshiro dixit, launch msconfig (start/run/msconfig), turn to the 'processes' tab, read the list carefully. You may be able to identify something installed by whatever 'freeware'. Write a list down with anything suspect, then start/run/services.msc - in the window check for an explanation for each and every one of them (doubleclick the text near each one in the 'description' column). The scope of this is to eliminate the risk of disabling any vital processes - any 'suspect' will probably have no description available. Try to come back with a list of what you've found, maybe a full list of the active processes as in msconfig. __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Jan 21, 2003, 02:18 PM	#12
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	283,590???!? __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Jan 19, 2003, 04:23 AM	#2
DarkFoss HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 688 Rep Power: 0	512 mem should be fine for XP home.. you must have alot of processes running in the background. Maybe your mem's not being released properly ..I don't use any of those programs so wouldn't know which ones are good ones. Anyways you can set your page file so it's not constantly resizing by going start/control panel/performance and maintenance/system/ under system properties select the advanced tab first option is performance click on the settings tab. Click on the advanced tab at the botton is virtual memory click the change button. I'm guessing you only have the one drive a good tweak here is putting your swap file onto a second drive or partition. The default setting is system managed file change that to custom size and enter the same amount in both the initial size and maximum size boxes. I've got 768 megs of ram and have my file settings at 1150 in both boxes.Once you enter the amounts click on the set button . Setting your own size helps gaming because the swap file remains constant and helps prevent the mem from becoming fragmented too quickly. Settng too large a file will slow down your system though. You may have to up your amounts but the numbers I use are a good place to start. I used to have a nice url for explaining and figuring out the optimal tweaking by the amount of ram you have but lost the link several formats ago

Jan 20, 2003, 06:55 AM	#4
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	Personally I would recommend setting your virtual memory to half of your system memory. 256MB for a 512MB system. 256MB of virtual memory should be enough if you have 512MB of system memory. Also... If you already have your virtual memory set to this, or higher. You may have a program that has a memory leak... Also another thing that you may want to look at is the number of programs that you have starting up with windows. A buddy of mine called me the other day... He was having similar problems, so I went to visit him. He had close to 30 programs starting with windows. Two of which are notorious for memory leaks. Do me a favor... The next time that windows is giving you crap about the virtual memory... Hit <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Del> (The three finger salute) Look through everything that is running under the "Processes" tab. While there you will be able to see wat programs are running, and how much memory each program (or process) is taking up. Down in the lower right hand corner.... there will be something called Commit Charge... Could you please give me all the information under this listing. That will help to give me (and all of the other members that wish to help) an idea of what may be causing the problem Good luck!

Jan 20, 2003, 10:11 PM	#6
DarkFoss HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 688 Rep Power: 0	Ya, I know nz_skater.. I got lazy right now upon start-up I've got almost 40 processes going. Every prog thinks that it has to be up and running with windows. 18 for xp, 6 for Nortons, 5 for my hp printer/scanner, 4 for my audigy 3 for office 2000 and a couple of others. Rather than bother with turning them off I just upped my file for startup. Still my com charge is only 190 with all of that. I'll be putting my new rig together tomorrow and will take my time installing programs and turn off the crap as I go. Atleast I'll be spared the creative stuff ..I'm going to go with nvidia's soundstorm for now.. it's supposed to be comparable to audigy 1 soundwise.

Jan 20, 2003, 11:07 PM	#7
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	ARGH! what in the world do you have loading on startup? You would have to have a huge amount of resources taken up to fill 512MB of ram, and 250MB of virtual memory... geeeez