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#1
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memory problem RAM gets bare
Hello everybody,
my problem is: After running Windows a while and open and close many programs or surfing the net and i don't close the browser (indifferent which one), the free amount of RAM goes to zero percent. The system freezes, i get dislpay errors, of course (!?!). If i close the programs, i get back some free RAM but not enough and the problem starts from scratch. Besides, i want to play DRM protected WMV files and WMP crashes with a error message that is caused by too less memory. I upgraded my RAM from 256 MB to 512 MB, it didn't change anything!!! I want to prevent a reinstallation. Swap file is set to 1024 MB. I turned on System monitor. Here are the results, i can't do anything with it. Kernel processor usage: 100% Kernel threads: 233 Kernel virtual machines: 1 Memory-Manager: outsourceable (?) memory: 258 MB - goes downwards Memory-Manager: used by swap file: 96 MB - gos to zero Memory-Manager: locked memory: 117 MB - goes upwards Memory-Manager: not used RAM: 213 MB - goes downwards Memory-Manager: reserved memory: 528 MB -goes up Memory-Manager: miscellaneous memory: 270 MB -goes up Memory-Manager: from cache memory allocated pages: 1,8 kB Memory-Manager: damaged in swap file: 0 Memory-Manager: size of swap file: 1024 MB Memory-Manager: size of disc cache memory: 62 MB -goes up Memory-Manager: instances error: 0 Memory-Manager: page errors: 33 average, peak 50 Sorry, i have a german windows version and don't know the english technical terms. Does anybody know this phenomen and has a solution for it? I'm very experienced and don't have problems to "screw in the gear" of windows if necessary. Regards Michael |
#3
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I don't get any further error messages, that is the problem.
I would be happy if there were one, but probably it would be a blue screen and then nobody can help and i have to reinstall anyway. |
#4
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Blue screens usually include an error message or code. What are you
reinstalling following a blue screen? I've never heard of someone having to reinstall just because they blue screen. One thing you should do is check your video and audio drivers and ensure they are up to date and Win Me compatible. Check for the latest versions on the manufacturers' web sites. -- Mike Maltby MS-MVP Michael wrote: I don't get any further error messages, that is the problem. I would be happy if there were one, but probably it would be a blue screen and then nobody can help and i have to reinstall anyway. |
#5
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Michael wrote: "Swap file is set to 1024 MB. "
"Memory-Manager: used by swap file: 96 MB - gos to zero" Perhaps the most useful item in the MS System Monitor is the "Swapfile in Use". It is best if this measure remains below ca. 10 MB, as one works normally. When doing so, all program memory is in the installed memory, not on the swapfile, where it is far slower. Michael has limited the maximum size of the swapfile, always a bad choice, in usual circumstances. This file can grow to ca. 2.1 GB under WinME, when necessary. By setting a maximum lower than 2.1 GB, a system failure may be caused. It is far better, for most users, just to let Windows manage the swapfile. It is better still, to create a 2.1 GB, 4 KB cluster size, partition at the head of a second, fast HD and allocate it to the swapfile. Disk access to the OS files and the swapfile is now maximized for better performance. -- Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm In Memorium: Alex Nichol http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/nichol.mspx Your cooperation is very appreciated. ------ "Mike M" wrote in message ... Blue screens usually include an error message or code. What are you reinstalling following a blue screen? I've never heard of someone having to reinstall just because they blue screen. One thing you should do is check your video and audio drivers and ensure they are up to date and Win Me compatible. Check for the latest versions on the manufacturers' web sites. -- Mike Maltby MS-MVP Michael wrote: I don't get any further error messages, that is the problem. I would be happy if there were one, but probably it would be a blue screen and then nobody can help and i have to reinstall anyway. |
#6
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"Michael" wrote:
Hello everybody, my problem is: After running Windows a while and open and close many programs or surfing the net and i don't close the browser (indifferent which one), the free amount of RAM goes to zero percent. The system freezes, i get dislpay errors, of course (!?!). If i close the programs, i get back some free RAM but not enough and the problem starts from scratch. Besides, i want to play DRM protected WMV files and WMP crashes with a error message that is caused by too less memory. I upgraded my RAM from 256 MB to 512 MB, it didn't change anything!!! I want to prevent a reinstallation. Swap file is set to 1024 MB. I turned on System monitor. Here are the results, i can't do anything with it. Kernel processor usage: 100% Kernel threads: 233 Kernel virtual machines: 1 Memory-Manager: outsourceable (?) memory: 258 MB - goes downwards Memory-Manager: used by swap file: 96 MB - gos to zero Memory-Manager: locked memory: 117 MB - goes upwards Memory-Manager: not used RAM: 213 MB - goes downwards Memory-Manager: reserved memory: 528 MB -goes up Memory-Manager: miscellaneous memory: 270 MB -goes up Memory-Manager: from cache memory allocated pages: 1,8 kB Memory-Manager: damaged in swap file: 0 Memory-Manager: size of swap file: 1024 MB Memory-Manager: size of disc cache memory: 62 MB -goes up Memory-Manager: instances error: 0 Memory-Manager: page errors: 33 average, peak 50 Sorry, i have a german windows version and don't know the english technical terms. Does anybody know this phenomen and has a solution for it? I'm very experienced and don't have problems to "screw in the gear" of windows if necessary. Regards Michael #1. Never repeat never specify a maximum size limit for the virtual memory swap file in Windows 95/98/Me. There is no benefit that can ever be achieved by doing this. The only possible outcomes, in order of decreasing probability and increasing severity, a - Reduced performance as your system reduces disk cache in order to meet the total memory needs of your loaded applications and data files. - Applications refusing to load due to "insufficient memory" errors. - Applications crashing due to "out of memory" errors resulting in loss of data and possible corruption of data files. - Total system lockups or crashes due to "out of memory" errors resulting in loss of data and possible file corruption. All of the benefits purportedly achieved by having a fixed or permanent swap file can in fact be obtained by specifying a minimum size only. #2: Are your problems perhaps also related to System Resources, as reported in Control Panel - System - Performance or by the Resource Meter utility? See http://www.onlinehelp.bc.ca/tips.htm#resources and http://www.aumha.org/win4/a/resource.htm for information about System Resources. One of the best ways to improve the value of free System Resources is to reduce the number of background "tools and toys" (a.k.a. crap and corruption) that gets loaded when the computer starts up. Use Start - Run - MSCONFIG and go to the Startup tab. Compare the list of items that are loading at startup with the following checklist web sites to see what can be safely dispensed with: http://www2.whidbey.com/djdenham/Uncheck.htm http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html - has trojan related items listed Note: Please ensure that you fully understand the purpose of a startup item, how and why it was put into the startup, and the consequences (if any) of removing it before you make any changes. Some items are very important for the proper and safe functioning of your computer, including at least one item that is listed twice. Disabling an item by unchecking it in MSCONFIG should only be done for testing purposes or as a "last resort" when no other way of getting rid of the unwanted item can be found. #3: Have you double checked your system for possible viruses and spyware? Get a "second opinion" regarding possible viruses from one of the following free online virus scanners: http://housecall.trendmicro.com http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/ http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/ For spyware start with MVP Jim Eshelman's free online spyware scan at http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm and then clean up the system by using Jim's Spyware Quick Fix Procedure at http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm Hope this is of some assistance. Good luck Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada -- Microsoft MVP On-Line Help Computer Service http://onlinehelp.bc.ca In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP http://aumha.org/alex.htm |
#7
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I have a sneaky suspicion that Michael is running some kind of 'Memory
Manager/Optimiser' If that's the case. Michael please uninstall it NOW!!!!! - your system will thank you for it! -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Mike M" wrote in message ... Blue screens usually include an error message or code. What are you reinstalling following a blue screen? I've never heard of someone having to reinstall just because they blue screen. One thing you should do is check your video and audio drivers and ensure they are up to date and Win Me compatible. Check for the latest versions on the manufacturers' web sites. -- Mike Maltby MS-MVP Michael wrote: I don't get any further error messages, that is the problem. I would be happy if there were one, but probably it would be a blue screen and then nobody can help and i have to reinstall anyway. |
#8
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Mike,
your optimism in all honours. I will call you the next time when i get a blue screen error message and i promise you that you won't be able to find the cause. I had once such a problem and called Microsoft for help (and for two other times too) and each time i get the suggestion to reinstall Windows completely in a new and empty directory. I come to this conclusion of my own. And for the drivers: I have a Creative SB Live Digtial and there are no new drivers for years and i updated my graphic drivers too. It doesn't change anything at all. The cause lies somewhere else, but thanks for thinking of it. "Mike M" schrieb im Newsbeitrag ... Blue screens usually include an error message or code. What are you reinstalling following a blue screen? I've never heard of someone having to reinstall just because they blue screen. One thing you should do is check your video and audio drivers and ensure they are up to date and Win Me compatible. Check for the latest versions on the manufacturers' web sites. -- Mike Maltby MS-MVP Michael wrote: I don't get any further error messages, that is the problem. I would be happy if there were one, but probably it would be a blue screen and then nobody can help and i have to reinstall anyway. |
#9
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No, i have no memory optimizers running/installed and
no, it's not a performance problem. Windows freezes and doesn't execute any further commands. I have the resources displayer running and i can see how the green bars get less, get yellow, then comes the message from the program "Almost 90% of the system resources are used. Try to ...bla bla" then they get red until they finally disappear. I remember that i read an article in a pc magazine and there's said that the swap file should have the x more size of installed RAM. So excuse me, but 2 GB swap file seems too much for 512 MB RAM to me. "Noel Paton" schrieb im Newsbeitrag ... I have a sneaky suspicion that Michael is running some kind of 'Memory Manager/Optimiser' If that's the case. Michael please uninstall it NOW!!!!! - your system will thank you for it! -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Mike M" wrote in message ... Blue screens usually include an error message or code. What are you reinstalling following a blue screen? I've never heard of someone having to reinstall just because they blue screen. One thing you should do is check your video and audio drivers and ensure they are up to date and Win Me compatible. Check for the latest versions on the manufacturers' web sites. -- Mike Maltby MS-MVP Michael wrote: I don't get any further error messages, that is the problem. I would be happy if there were one, but probably it would be a blue screen and then nobody can help and i have to reinstall anyway. |
#10
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Ok guys, i will give it a try: I release the max size of swap file to
Windows and will see if s.th. changes. I report tomorrow. "Noel Paton" schrieb im Newsbeitrag ... I have a sneaky suspicion that Michael is running some kind of 'Memory Manager/Optimiser' If that's the case. Michael please uninstall it NOW!!!!! - your system will thank you for it! -- Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's "Mike M" wrote in message ... Blue screens usually include an error message or code. What are you reinstalling following a blue screen? I've never heard of someone having to reinstall just because they blue screen. One thing you should do is check your video and audio drivers and ensure they are up to date and Win Me compatible. Check for the latest versions on the manufacturers' web sites. -- Mike Maltby MS-MVP Michael wrote: I don't get any further error messages, that is the problem. I would be happy if there were one, but probably it would be a blue screen and then nobody can help and i have to reinstall anyway. |
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