Conserving and managing memory usage

[kendall.a]

I would suggest giving CleanMem a try. It certainly can't hurt. You can find information about it here:

http://www.pcwintech.com/cleanmem

Please note that it is freeware, but there is also a pro version.

CleanMem is a Free/Pro program.
CleanMem itself is totally free. When you install CleanMem it will auto run every 15 min by the Windows Task Scheduler. Once installed it is set it and forget it. Just as it always has been.
You can configure CleanMem to do more advanced things such as ignore lists, only lists, and log files. These can be set by the CleanMem Settings program in the start menu.

The Mini Monitor is the only part of CleanMem that is the Free/Pro. All features in the mini monitor from v1.7.0 are included and still free, including some new features that where added as well.
The Pro version of the mini monitor is simply extra features, such as tools and information.

One very important thing is that there are no nag screens in the free version of the mini monitor and no pop ups asking you to upgrade to pro or anything like that. So the free version is still as helpful as it was before and the pro version adds more control and options for the power users.

[samcraw]

OK Sope.
The system Page says the following:

Windows XP

Lenovo
Intel Core Duo CPU
L2500 @1.85GHz
1.83 Ghz, 2.99 GB of RAM

Is there anything else you might need? If so tell me.

Sam

[kendall.a]

As I stated above, I would suggest you try out CleanMem to see how much it helps. I think it will help a lot.

However, if it doesn't, then I'd suggest you carefully review this page:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308417

This is some heavy reading and somewhat confusing. But, it has a "guided help" that you can download and use. I am sure that you will learn a great deal from reading this page and/or the guided help.

[samcraw]

I have downloaded the CleanMem program and am going to install and run it in a bit. Have not had a chance to go to the Microsoft site but will also get to it soon.

This site has the BEST-- Totally the best people of anywhere on the net.

S.

[Sope]

From this sentence in the original post.....

"I constantly get messages that the memory is critically low and to remove files and programs"

.....it appears to me that it may be the "storage" memory that is critically low.

Having said that, the hard disk appears to be approx 25% empty whereas the system usually only tends to complain when there's less than 10% empty.
I guess this warning could have been triggered if at some stage you tried to copy a large amount of data to the hard disk or maybe to a USB stick??

It's not clear whether the "memory sticks" that you mention you added were in fact USB or RAM??

Basically the CPU and RAM currently installed look more than up to the task. Which leaves virtual memory or hard disk space.

In that case, what size is your paging file (virtual memory)?
Find out by following the instructions below :-

[Start] right click [My Computer] click [Properties]
Click [Advanced] tab then click [Settings] in the [Performance] section
Click the [Advanced] tab where under [Virtual Memory] it will show you the size of your paging file.

[samcraw]

Hi Sope,

The right click path on My computer shows that I have a "total paging file size for all drives of 1524mb. This is more than my lap top as and I have never gotten a critical memory message.

The sticks are USB and I use them to either transfer music/video from my laptop or most often to store files off my notebook in order to loosen up more room.

I have taken off all the programs I feel comfortable removing. There are several that I have goggled and found most people recommended not taking them off.

Hope this may help.

S.

[Sope]

Hi samcraw,

That paging file size seems a bit small considering you have 3GB of RAM. As Anupam originally suggested, this may be the cause of your critical memory warnings.
It should be at least equal to the amount of RAM installed though the recommended size is 1.5x RAM. The preferred way to manage paging file size is to let Windows take care of it automatically.

To do this, go back to where you found the paging file size and click on the button next to it labelled [Change]
From there, make sure that "system managed size" is selected then click [Set]
You will have to reboot your machine for the changes to take effect.

Sounds like you may have already done pretty much everything you can to make more room for storage of your music and videos. You could possibly disable system hibernation and reduce the amount of disk space allocated to system restore points to make a bit more room (if you haven't already done that).
At the end of the day, an 80GB HDD is pretty small for storage of music and video these days and can quickly get filled up. To carry more files with you, your original idea of using extra USB sticks may be the most appropriate if you want to avoid using an external HDD (though these can be pretty small physically if you go for the 2.5in USB powered variety).

[26Dolphins]

Hi,

It should be at least equal to the amount of RAM installed though the recommended size is 1.5x RAM. The preferred way to manage paging file size is to let Windows take care of it automatically.

Agree on the 1.5x RAM part, disagree with the system managed size. Samcraw said he uses Win XP, so the page file would quite fast get fragmented if it's not of a fixed size. I think it would be better if he checked what the recommended by Windows size is, compare that to 1.5x RAM, pick which ever is higher and set min & max to that.

You will have to reboot your machine for the changes to take effect.

Reboot is required only if you change the page file to a smaller size or completely disable it.

Cheers

[Sope]

Originally Posted by 26Dolphins

Agree on the 1.5x RAM part, disagree with the system managed size. Samcraw said he uses Win XP, so the page file would quite fast get fragmented if it's not of a fixed size. I think it would be better if he checked what the recommended by Windows size is, compare that to 1.5x RAM, pick which ever is higher and set min & max to that.

Oops, sorry "my bad"!
I'm more in tune with Windows 7 these days which is said to do a good job of managing the page file.

[Anupam]

Sam, you have enough free space on the hard drive. Was this done recently, after you started getting the error message? I am assuming you have only one partition on the hard disk, and that was the one shown in the info.

Are you still getting the error message regarding low memory? I think you should not be getting them anymore?

Regarding virtual memory, I am not an expert on this, but I think that if the RAM is 3 GB, then setting the virtual memory to 1.5x of RAM, that is, 4.5 GB... wouldn't that be too much?

And virtual memory will only come in play, if there is less of RAM available for use. And with 3 GB of memory, which is quite enough, will virtual memory come to play often? I am thinking that whatever is at present should be OK.

I agree though, that 80 GB of hard drive space, is quite less, if you are looking to use it for music and video. You should look for probable ways to expand that hard drive. Either replace it with a higher capacity if possible, or if not, then an external hard drive is the best option, if your needs are not getting fulfilled with the USB drives.