Computers: The Technical Thread [!OT]

**Dreamer7000** · February 15th, 2005, 08:38 AM

Okay Wiseman, a small pop-up window came up on my screen, saying:
The minimum of the virtual memory is too small.
The virtual memory is not sufficient in the system. The Windows enlarges the swap space. During the process, some programs memory need may be denied.
Further information in "Help".

What on the world is this mean?

**mrwiseman** · February 15th, 2005, 02:23 PM

Software (Windows and every program you run in it) works in RAM ("memory"), which is however finite. When Windows (who manages it) runs out of RAM, it starts using part of the hard disk (a file, usually named pagefile.sys) as additional (but much slower) RAM. This file has a reserve of hard disk space to be used as RAM, but if it needs even more than that, Windows expands it. That box you got is a notification that Windows is expanding that file because it ran out of virtual RAM even in that file. This is not a severe problem and should probably be ignored - although there's a performance issue you may want to address: when Windows presents this message it means it's using (and it has been using) HD memory, something you don't want to happen because it makes everything slower - extremely slow in some cases.

This happens for one or more of these possible reasons:

1? You don't have enough RAM for what you want to do
2? Your page file is too small
3? You're running too many programs/utilities/services/spyware/modules/etc.
4? You're trying to load a huge data file, like an enormous image
5? One of the programs you're running has a bug and keeps requesting and losing memory

How much RAM do you have (256 MB, 512 MB, etc.)? Are you using Windows XP? What were you running and doing when you received this message? Do you have resident antivirus, cellular, etc. software running in the background?

Here are some tips: keep the loaded programs to a minimum. For example, if you are playing a full screen game, don't have Trillian, Mozilla, and other software loaded - close them first. Don't use resident antivirus software. Try to have as few background services as possible. Try to reduce the "features" of the Windows XP GUI you use. Kill unnecessary processes.

You can increase the virtual memory minimum size to avoid this message box, although this will be of little help besides avoiding this message box. To do so, go Start+Configuration+Control Panel+System, Advanced tab, Performance (or Virtual Memory) options, and in the virtual memory box or window, click the Change button.

Now this window could differ in Windows XP, so instead of writing precise instructions, I'll show you how the Win2K one looks like with the instructions drawn over it. You should be able to do it.

http://web.madritel.es/personales1/cmpm/DreamerVMem.png

You may need advice on what to set as minimum (and maximum) page file sizes. The following is just a loose estimation of your needs, you'll have to specify how much RAM do you have and what do you intend to run (including background processes) for me to do a better job. Note: Ignore whatever Windows recommendation , it's just wrong.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana,sans-serif">code:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#77A5CC"><pre>OS RAM Use Set minimum Maximum
???????????????????????????????????????????
Win 2K 128 MB Basic 384 MB 700 MB
Win 2K 256 MB Basic 256 MB 512 MB
Win 2K 256 MB Gaming 350 MB 700 MB
Win 2K 256 MB Intense 384 MB 1024 MB
Win 2K 512 MB Basic 40 MB 256 MB
Win 2K 512 MB Gaming 112 MB 400 MB
Win 2K 512 MB Intense 128 MB 600 MB
Win XP 256 MB Basic 300 MB 600 MB
Win XP 256 MB Gaming 384 MB 750 MB
Win XP 512 MB Basic 112 MB 350 MB
Win XP 512 MB Gaming 160 MB 500 MB
Win XP 512 MB Intense 200 MB 700 MB

Basic: Office applications and simple games
Gaming: Modern games
Intense: Several applications (including games),
servers, working with very large images</pre></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

**Dreamer7000** · February 15th, 2005, 03:50 PM

Let's see. I have 256 MB RAM and Win XP Pro.
When it dropped out that, I was running Winamp and Mozilla, and MSN & AIM always. I have no backround virusbuster nor agent.
And yeah, I always close everything when I play a game or watch a movie, sometimes even MSN and AIM.

And here's a pic of my memory table:
http://www.angelfire.com/scary/dreamer7000/Memory.JPG
And as I see, (256 mb gaming) windows set the max to 768, and the minimum to 384, but I donno how much it was before.

<font color="#345E81" size="1">[ February 15, 2005 11:52 AM: Message edited by: Dreamer Hyper ]</font>

**mrwiseman** · February 15th, 2005, 05:28 PM

I see. 384 MB is what I recommend for gaming with 256 MB of RAM under Windows XP, and the maximum is ok as well. It shouldn't present that box with just Mozilla, MSN, AIM, and Winamp; it may happen if you're playing a game and have Mozilla, MSN, or AIM in the background.

Consider the following:

● Reducing the visual bells and whistles of Windows XP
● Using Trillian instead of MSN and AIM (to save RAM, especially because of that new bloated MSN client)
● Using Mozilla Firefox instead of Mozilla Suite
● Always close instant messaging programs when playing games
● If you're up for a hardware upgrade, try an adequate 256 MB RAM module, it'll do more good than, for example, a new processor, and it's cheap

In any case, it's not a serious problem - just things will get slow if you have too many open programs/too large programs/buggy games/etc., regardless of that Windows message.

**Hell Knight** · February 15th, 2005, 05:38 PM

It's totally usual for me [img]smile.gif[/img] Dc++ is always on, msn almost always, and sadly I always forget to close msn when I'm playing games.

**Dreamer7000** · February 15th, 2005, 06:22 PM

Thanks for the info Wise. ^_^

I've changed to Trillian 3.0 to try it out. It looks good, and it's a pretty smart system. Altho there are stuff like miss, i.e. MSN backgrounds, and my own emoticons I could set. I'm sure the list is not over, but running one prog instead of two worth some sacrifices.

<font color="#345E81" size="1">[ February 16, 2005 06:53 AM: Message edited by: Dreamer Hyper ]</font>

**Dreamer7000** · February 27th, 2005, 04:55 AM

I won't be on too much for a few days, since it seems like my power supply in the comp gave up. I couldn't turn on my PC in the morning, hell I even put in a new cooler, but it's still not working. I hope my bro can do something to my Sally (yeah my PC) or else there gonna be hard times for me.
I'm posting from my great pal right now, tomorrow from Hell Knight, and on Monday from school.

**Xellos** · March 6th, 2005, 01:59 AM

Hyper, you can set backgrounds on Trillian. Right click the big white spot where text goes, and head to options on the menu. After that, background, then bitmap, and have fun from there.

Miguel, how much would a good sound card cost? Can ya recommend any?

**Vegito** · March 6th, 2005, 03:29 AM

I would recommend the Audigy 2 series. An OEM of the Audigy 2 will run you about 69 bucks. Or another one with the installation cd on newegg for 91. The best bang for the buck would be the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Edition for like &18