We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

virtual memory

Options
Hi just wondering if someone could tell me what virtual memory is my computer keeps telling me it is low and how to fix. thanxs.

Comments

  • isofa
    isofa Posts: 6,091 Forumite
    It's not actually used when you run out of RAM, it's used all the time by Windows as a swap file for performance and a host of other complex issues.

    Most systems, even with gigabytes of RAM will benefit from having an active swapfile or "virtual memory turned on".

    A good write up is here: http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php

    If your system is saying it's "low on virtual memory" then your hard disc hasn't enough free space.
  • doncald_2
    doncald_2 Posts: 78 Forumite
    how do I make more space on hard drive bit of novice sorry
  • C_Ronaldo
    C_Ronaldo Posts: 4,732 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Delete programs you dont use anymore
    No Links in Signature by site rules - MSE Forum Team 2
  • mdbarber
    mdbarber Posts: 1,116 Forumite
    isofa wrote: »
    It's not actually used when you run out of RAM, it's used all the time by Windows as a swap file for performance and a host of other complex issues.

    Most systems, even with gigabytes of RAM will benefit from having an active swapfile or "virtual memory turned on".

    A good write up is here: http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php

    If your system is saying it's "low on virtual memory" then your hard disc hasn't enough free space.

    well i too heard that somewhere else recently, but as only microsoft have the source code for windows and no one else? i really am interested where you got that info from?
    click here to achieve nothing!
  • isofa
    isofa Posts: 6,091 Forumite
    mdbarber wrote: »
    well i too heard that somewhere else recently, but as only microsoft have the source code for windows and no one else? i really am interested where you got that info from?

    It's common knowledge, how a swapfile works, it doesn't just "kick in" when you are running low on RAM. In fact in some instances disabling it can reduce the performance as RAM fills up with code and other fragments which doesn't need direct access to RAM at a point in time.

    Most operating systems use virtual memory or swap files to the same degree.

    A Google will give you hundreds of articles on the subject, how it works etc.

    You don't have to know the source code of Windows to know about swap file usage in this OS... There is plenty of detail on Microsoft's KB, have a read.
  • isofa
    isofa Posts: 6,091 Forumite
    doncald wrote: »
    how do I make more space on hard drive bit of novice sorry

    As C_Ronaldo says, remove programs you don't need and also remove any large files you don't need, music, videos etc.

    Also run CCleaner to clear out old temp files and cache files.
  • mdbarber
    mdbarber Posts: 1,116 Forumite
    isofa wrote: »
    It's common knowledge, how a swapfile works, it doesn't just "kick in" when you are running low on RAM. In fact in some instances disabling it can reduce the performance as RAM fills up with code and other fragments which doesn't need direct access to RAM at a point in time.

    Most operating systems use virtual memory or swap files to the same degree.

    A Google will give you hundreds of articles on the subject, how it works etc.

    You don't have to know the source code of Windows to know about swap file usage in this OS... There is plenty of detail on Microsoft's KB, have a read.

    Oh have read plenty probably too much and sorry thought you had come across something special i hadn't
    But from what i have seen the very definition of a paging file does actually mean that it is used for storage of things that haven't been accessed recently, hence the proof of whether there is any performance loss or gain by disabling is down to individual systems, Try benchmarking with it disabled i think you may be surprised.
    The big clue for this is the major disaster fragmentation has on the swapfile
    I noticed this back in 93 through testing with early windows systems and have always created separate partitions for swap files or if enough ram was fitted, disabled it all together, very few issues and i only need to defrag every six months
    click here to achieve nothing!
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.