-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Improving performance when low on memory

Ahh, well, 2.5 GB is not low if you are using WinXP.  The 32-bit version of
WinXP only handles up to 3 GB correctly.  I hear that sometimes you can use
more, but sometimes it actually degrades performance to use more than 3GB.
In this case the 2558 should be plenty.  Is that number in both min and max
for Virtual memory?  It might help to have that as both, but with the amount
of memory you have I doubt you are using much virtual memory.  

Your biggest problem is probably needing a defrag.  Might be possible
something running in the background might be slowing you down also.  Try
closing all programs, do a ctrl-alt-del, click on Processes tab, wait a few
seconds Windows to adjust for loading Task Manager, then see if "CPU Usage"
at bottom shows at or near 0%.  If its steadily higher than 2% then look at
the CPU column and tell us what processes show over 1%.  We could probably
figure out if you have an unnecessary program or malware slowing you down.

-----Original Message-----
From: pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of cristy
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 11:02 PM
To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Improving performance when low on memory

both actually.  I have 2 GB of memory, actually it says I have 2.5 GB 
memory, odd I thoight 2 GB, hmm, I know my C drive is almost full.  I do 
have an external hard drive I need to start moving somf movie files off ofo 
here.  I forgot how partitions worked, I think I had created one years ago, 
brother taught me how but I forgot.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Disastar" <disastar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 10:45 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Improving performance when low on memory


> When you say "I have increased that in the past but not in quite a 
> while.",
> do you mean the Virtual Memory size or memory (RAM)?  Also, when you say
> your Virtual Memory is set to 2558, do you mean the max or min size?  I'm
> surprised Windows is recommending such a large size... it doesn't normally
> recommend such a size unless you have a lot of memory.  I'm pretty sure 
> that
> WinXP suggests a size that is 1.5 times your RAM size which means it 
> thinks
> you have 2.5 GB of memory.  How much memory do you have?  Doing the
> right-click on "My Computer" and choosing properties should show you. 
> Also,
> since you only have 10.4 GB available on C:, then I hope you either have
> another partition or are editing small video's.
>
> With the answers to those questions I can give you a better answer.  With
> the info I have right now, I can only say a few things.  If you can spare
> the space on C: then I would increase the size, but if you are video 
> editing
> and C: is your only partition, then I would keep it the same size.
> Regardless, setting the min size to the same as the max size will give you
> better performance, but doing so will take up more disk space.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of cristy
> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 10:06 PM
> To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Improving performance when low on memory
>
> Hi Disastar,
>
> Here are my numbers
>
> 13320 MB available on C drive
>
> recommended is 3838 mb
>
> 2558 is currently allocated
>
> 2 mb minimum
>
> 10.4 GB free on hard drive
>
>
>
> Have not defragged in awhile and yes I am sure that I am due for that.
>
>
>
> Memory upgrade, I keep saying I am going to buy another set of 512 mb 
> sticks
>
> and will soon which will max out this old Dell.  Soon to buy a new 
> computer
> I hope.  However, I must say this old Dell is over five years old now and 
> so
>
> far only one real problem, a drive not working for the last year which I
> probably could have fixed somehow.
>
>
>
> I have increased that in the past but not in quite a while.  Should I 
> now?
>
>
>
>
>> 1) If you have enough hard drive space, then increase the amount of
>> virtual
>> memory and make min and max size the same.  When Windows either expands 
>> or
>> shrinks the file it pretty much freezes everything else for a second or
>> two
>> which would kill your performance when video editing.
>> 1A) Right-click on "My Computer" (from either desktop or start menu) and
>> choose Properties.
>> 1B) Click the Advanced Tab, then Settings (under Performance), then
>> Advanced
>> tab, then Change (under Virtual Memory).
>> 1C) I usually double the Max size and use that same value for the Min
>> size.
>> If the programs you use are big memory hogs, then it couldn't hurt to go
>> higher if you have enough disk space.
>> 1D) Click OK on all those windows you used to get there.
>>
>> 2) Defrag often.  There was a thread here recently that talked about the
>> best free defrag programs.  When low on memory a defrag makes a bigger
>> difference than on a PC with plenty of memory IMO.  Many defrag programs
>> work better than the one that comes with Windows.  You are much better 
>> off
>> with one that orders the files for better performance.  I think Windows
>> defrag only defrags files without ordering them.  Also, turn off any
>> feature
>> the defrag program has to run in background.  It will take up more memory
>> than you can afford if you are already low on memory.
>>
>> 3) Stop as many services and background programs as possible.  Autoruns 
>> is
>> the perfect program to use to find out whats running and the ability to
>> stop
>> them from running every time Windows starts.  Hmm, several programs (like
>> MS-Office and some Adobe programs) have a program that runs in memory to
>> help their main program load faster when you run them.  These are usually
>> safe to stop because they are only a waste of memory until you start the
>> program they are designed to speed up.  What you can and can't get rid of
>> is
>> beyond the scope of these message.  I usually lookup the programs in a
>> google search to find out if it's safe to stop.  If you give us a list of
>> autorun programs here, I'm sure some of us can give you advice.
>>
>> All these things can help all PC's (especially the first 2), but are way
>> more important if you are low on memory.  Can you also upgrade your
>> memory?
>> Most memory is pretty cheap these days.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:pctechtalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of cristy
>> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 7:58 PM
>> To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: what is autoruns.exe?
>>
>> Hi Gman,
>>
>> I did try out your link to download secunia.  If you do not think the 
>> file
>> is a problem, I guess I can just leave it alone.  I am fighting with my
>> monster movie editing program tonight trying to do some movie editing 
>> with
>> my little measley memory being smashed by the monster program ;0, get
>> stuck,
>>
>> reboot, let the computer rest up, lol...
>>
>>
>> thanks,
>>
>>
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