I have been getting a message about Low Virtual Memory for a couple of weeks.

[BrklynLiberal]

I have cleaned up my disks, defragged them and ran a virus scan.
I usually have 3-4 windows open. After a while I get little window about low virtual storage..and paging, etc
Before that, everything slows down and sometimes even comes to a halt.
If I go into the task master and look at the application, it will say "not running" next to all of them
If I wait long enough I may start getting a response, but it is slow as .....
I usually just turn off the computer and start again...reboot.

I have checked out the user support on Windows and did the msconfig bit, but it has not helped.

Any ideas? The PC did not always run this slow and I do not know exactly what preceded the slowdown.

I have an older DELL
Dimension 8200

Microsoft Windows XP
Professional
Version 2002
Service Pack 3

Pentium (R)
Intel(R) 4 CPU 2.00GHz
1.99GHz
500 MB of RAM


Mozilla/5.0
(Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1.4)
Gecko/20091016 Firefox/3.5.4 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)

[SKKY]

1. Did you try this?

Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
In the Performance pane, click Settings.
In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
In the Virtual memory pane, click Change.
Change the Initial size value and the Maximum size value to a higher value, click Set, and then click OK.
Click OK to close the Performance Options dialog box, and then click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Yep..more than once.

In one of the windows help sites it said to set it to "system Managed Size", which is what it is now.

Should I change it to create specific init and max sizes? If so, what should they be?

[CK_John]

2. Sounds like your Hard Drive is running out of room, your pagefile is actually unused space on

the HD. Run disk cleanup and it will free up a lot of space if you don't run this utility very often. It will empty temp folders which get overlooked, extra system restore points, and compress files when needed.
I recommend to check all boxes when it shows you the possible space to remove. Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Cleanup. (usually runs in 2 to 4 minutes but...can take up to an hour or more first time).

Another space saver is lower your history days saved to 1 or 2 in each of your browsers. Same for browser cache, it may need to be increased to around 450MB to handle many of the flash adverts and UTube videos. Too small cache makes for a lot of paging too large may cause memory drain.

Another large file is set aside for Hibernation, if set on. I always set it off and delete its file.

Hope this helps.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. I have run the disk cleanup...as well as defrag.

I will try changing the history days.
I will try the browser cache as well

I am not sure about the hibernation setting..but if it is on, I will turn it off and delete.

Thanks. Will get back to you.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Ok

I changed history to 2 days.
I up'ed the browser cache.
Hibernation was set off...so no file.

Will let you know if this all helps. Thanks.

[DemReadingDU]

7. Where is the hibernation located?

Is this a setting someplace, and where is the file located? Thanks.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. here you go

Right click on desktop

click properties

Power options properties

hibernate

If Hibernate/Enable is checked, uncheck it.

apply/ok your way out

[DemReadingDU]

6. I also had low virtual memory a few months ago

I was getting low virtual memory, on similar computer system as yours. I routinely do virus scans, Spybot, and defrag. I figured this computer only had 500MB RAM, so I had additional RAM installed. Now have 2GB RAM, and no more low virtual memory errors.

But I appreciate all the additional tips in this thread. Spouse's laptop has slowed down considerably, and will try tweaking it with the suggestions.

edit: It used to take only about 15 minutes to run Spybot on spouse's computer, now it about 2 hours. Every week, I delete browsing history and temp files/cache. Everything runs very slow. I will try the disk cleanup. Thanks.

[sam sarrha]

9. i had an older computer, doubled the RAM, CPU could only handle an extra 40Mb..and i doubt i should

have put dual channel in it.. never worked much better, so i built this one..

ANTEC 900 Case.
ASUS Rampage Formula X48. Intel e8400.
VISTA 64bit Home Premium + XP 32bit Home Premium,
Silent Knight2 CPU cooler.
8 GB OCZ Reaper HPC DDR2 1066.
3x WD CAVIAR SE-16 500GB.
VisionTec Radeon HD 3870 X2 1Gb FoC
Samsung 22" Wide Screen.
Cosair 750 watt PSU.
OPTI UPS Battery Back Up.

i do some multiplayer gaming, graphics programs.... i shopped around and found some good deals. i was off work, had my hand amputated, it was goo therapy. it was fun building it.. tho i doubt i will ever get another Asus Mobo, but am really happy with the Gigabyte i put in the computer i built for my wife for her office programs.

Raidmax Aura Case
XP Home Premium 32bit
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P
Intel e7400 Core2 Duo CPU
OCZ Reaper HPC DDR2 1060 4Gb
Visiontek ATI Radeon HD 3870 512Mb FoC
Western Digital 600Gb HD
550 Watt PSU

[man4allcats]

10. Something similar has been happening to me over the same time period.

I have a Dell Dimension 8300, P4 at 2.8GHz, 2.5GB RAM, XP Professional SP3. At first I thought it just needed a memory upgrade (I was running 500MB) so I installed an additional 2GB bringing it to the 2.5GB I'm currently running. The virtual memory thing went away, but still the computer will be working fine and then just suddenly slow to a crawl or even lock. I'm using my laptop right now because the desktop is driving me nuts with this issue. I have noticed that my CPU usage drops to next to nothing when this happens even though I might be running an app at the time and thus expect at least moderate CPU usage. At this point, I really don't know what the heck is going on. I thought about reloading Windows, but I hate to do that if it's not absolutely necessary. Now I'm wondering about the hard drive or perhaps the CPU though I don't think I've ever actually heard of a CPU failing. I'm sure it happens, but I expect only rarely. The hard drive seems more likely if it's a hardware issue. I should note one other thing. I remember just before this started there was a really big Windows update from Microsoft. Wisely or not, I always have my machine on automatic update. I'd hate to think the problem might be the result of Gates' and company's "helpful" patches, but it really wouldn't surprise me. Anyway, at this point,

I am perplexed. | Suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

[CK_John]

11. I have a Dim 8300 and several that I've worked on have had heat problems or

actual air circulation problems. Check all your fans(cpu fan). My problem was the floor carpet was blocking the air vents on the bottom. (Even on flat surface the front casters don't raise it enough for air to move).

I had to put a 3/4in thick wood block under the front to raise the air vents above the carpet and I also took the Dell logo flap that covers the USB ports off.


Since I done this no problems.