Low Virtual Memory?

pug_in_a_bed

Hi

Friends computer is running very slow adn weird generally, its about 2 years old, with (i think) 80gb hard drive, but I've checked and it seems that there's loads of space left on, approx 60gb free (if i recall). Yet, it takes ages to load up, web pages are slow or crash and he is getting a message pop up which says 'virtual memory low'. We've run antivirus etc, just trying trend micro online now.

Whats the reason for this? Is it a virus? Its pretty new but as he has been a bit lapse in sorting this ongoing problem - neitehr of us really know what we're doing although I suggested it could be a virus...?

Can I just check this too: he has mcafee security suite but someone has also installed avg antivirus for him - am i right in thinking he shouldn't have two as they conflict?

Thanks

Browntoa

he should not have 2 anti virus.. they can clash

Might be worth downloading and running the free Microsfot Antispyware software and running it

there is an article here about Xp and Virtual Memory

long winded but shows how you can change and how

http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php

could you post how much Ram in the machine, Operating system if not Xp ??

also found this on Microsoft site

Microsoft Windows XP

1.Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2.Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
3.On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
4.On the Advanced tab, under Virtual memory, click Change.
5.Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file that you want to change.
6.Under Paging file size for selected drive, click to select the System managed size check box, and then click
Set.7.Click OK three times.

When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

ManAtHome

As you say, 2 anti-virus suites can't be a good idea - although his problems shouldn't be due to a virus... I'd remove one (or perhaps remove both then re-install one) and also check the Virtual Memory settings - all versions of Windows give you the option to (a) leave Windows to manage VM, (b) restrict VM to a fixed size, or (c) turn it off altogether.

clayts

General rule of thumb seems to be to set Virtual Memory at 1.5 times the amount of RAM you have - set this amount as both the minimum and maximum.

Chances are another reason for the sluggish service are all the unnecessary services XP runs from boot up - the advice at the excellent Black Viper site got my old 600MHz Celeron PC knocked down from a near 3-4 minute boot up time to just over a minute - worth disabling a lot of XP services which you simply do not need or will not use.

Mr_Skint_2

Er Virtual memory too low, doesnt the XP balloon popup and
say virtual memory too low, click here to solve the problem
and when you click the balloon it jacks up the V memory for you.

It told me 8 times when I did a sytsem restore and I watched the
virtual memory each time after I clicked the balloon and it did
indeed go up.

pug_in_a_bed

It just seems to be saying virtual memory too low, it doesn't give an option to resolve it. We'll have a look at all these bits and bobs and post up some details later, thanks all.

Mr_Skint_2

pug_in_a_bed wrote:

It just seems to be saying virual memory too low, it doessn't give an option to resolve it. We'll have a look at all these bits and bobs and post up some details later, thanks all.

When you click the balloon you dont get an option
it just does it automatically...............................

wolfman

clayts wrote:

General rule of thumb seems to be to set Virtual Memory at 1.5 times the amount of RAM you have - set this amount as both the minimum and maximum.

There are quite a few myths regarding page files, setting the initial and upper limit to the same value is one. You should set the size of the page file dependent upon how much memory you already have and the kind of applications you run.

For example, I have 1gb or ram and run without a page file as I never use up all of the available memory. If I had 512mb ram, then I'd probably run around a 512mb pagefile but allow it to increase to 1024mb.

The best thing to do is set the intial value to how much you think you generally need, and set the upper value higher, so that the page file can increase should it need to. This is cleared out when you restart and the page file goes back to it's initial value.