Lately I have been getting a message that the virtual memory is too low. Does anyone know what this mean and how can I solve the problem?

Jesushelper76

You have way too many programs working in the background. You need to check see how many processes you have running, and make sure you get rid of the ones you absolutely do not need to run the system. DO NOT TOUCH THE ONES THAT OPERATE THE SYSTEM.
This then should help you.

Curlyben

Setting virtual memory really depends on your Operating System.
As JH mentioned you have way to many programs running in the background.
I know I mention this app alot but CCleaner can help you get this under control.
Not only will it allow you to remove junk files from your system, clean the registry, but also control which programs load on startup.

It a simple case of highlighting the ones you wish to turn off and deleting the entry.

The only programs you really want running on startup are security (anti-virus, firewall, etc), some drivers and windows compontents.

You need to remove things like MSN messenger, Quicktime, Real player, iTunes and the like.
As a rule of thumb only leave the ones you need all the time, as mentioned above, and turn everything else off.

If this doesn't help, let us know your OS and we can offer better advice.

rrr

try increasing your viritual RAM. it worked for me.

Curlyben

rrr, good idea, but without knowing the OP's OS it's a little difficult to give detailed instructions.
This still wouldn't resolve the underlying issue.

rrr

yup, your right. but it might work for W-XP

Capuchin

Would increasing physical ram be a solution too? (i'm not sure on this one)

Curlyben

Cap, yes it would, but still does really get to the root of the problem.

ScottGem

As background, Virtual memory is space set aside on your hard drive to supplement your physical memory. Memory or RAM hold the program instructions and data that you are currently working or have running. So when you run out of RAM, the OS needs put the data and/or instructions that are in the background someplace else to free up the physical RAM. So it places them on your hard drive in space allocated as Virtual Memory.

So VM can be affected by the number of programs installed, if you have very little free space on your hard drive, but its mostly affected by what you have running in the background.

Adding physical RAM, decreasing stuff open in the background and increasing VM are all potential options to alleviate this problem.

Capuchin

It gets to the root of the problem if the OP is trying to run win-xp with 1MB of ram ;p