Virtual Memory Question

from WinCustomize Forums
I recently upgraded my memory. I have a very modest computer and finally grew tired of seeing the little pop-up telling me my virtual memory was low while I was in the middle of a Photoshop project. I went from 512MB to 2GB. I'm still getting the low virtual memory message. I know it can be adjusted and I also know if you don't do it right, it can just make the performance worse.
This is what I am working with.





Any help would be appreciated. I know there is probably a standard setting for what I have to work with and probably a tweaked for optimum performance setting, so if you could let me know which way you're taking me with any adjustments, I would be grateful.
Thanks.
88,171 views 41 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You have a custom size set for your page file. For 2Gb of ram set this to Initial Size 3069, Maximum Size 3069.

What drives have you got? I have mine on a different drive to my O/S. Set the page file on the drive you want first, then reboot. Then remove the page file from your C: drive.

It works a lot faster if your drive is not trying accessing programs and the page file at the same time  ;) 

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What drives have you got?


I have WIndowsXP and all my programs on Drive-C. Drive-F is just pics, music, and other files...no programs. Drive-D is just my recovery files and is not used. It's a partition of C:.

DO I have to set it for Drive-F as well? I hadn't even considered that.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If you have two HD's, put the page file on the second one. Mine is like that and I don't get any lag from disk access at all  :) 

And before you ask, why fixed min and max? That's so Windows creates one block and doesn't try resizing all the time. Once Windows starts resizing the page file you can get fragments all over the place...

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A good rule of thumb with virtual memory is to do as fuzzy said. Make it 1.5x your physical memory for both min and max. Also, put it on your fastest hard drive, preferably NOT on your OS drive (C:).
I'm not real Photoshop savvy but I think you should set your cache to a different drive than your OS drive also.
One final thought. Viewing and or creating images of Skinhit in negligees will also cause cluster corruption and will cause your hard drive to more or less try to escape from itself and go in to denial.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you have two HD's, put the page file on the second one


Sorry to sound so dumb..

Put the page file on Drive- F:, the one that just has files? At the settings you suggested?

Then, what do I set Drive C: at? The drive that has all my programs and WindowsXP?

And thanks for the help with this.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the advice guys. Where is the pagefile located on the C: drive?
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Then, what do I set Drive C: at? The drive that has all my programs and WindowsXP?

Set C: to no paging file. Do that once you have the page file set on F:.


Where is the pagefile located on the C: drive?

pagefile.sys - it's a hidden file, so you'll have to unhide protected system files to see it  ;) 

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Put the page file on Drive- F:, the one that just has files? At the settings you suggested?


Yes.

Then, what do I set Drive C: at? The drive that has all my programs and WindowsXP?


Set to No paging file.

Where is the pagefile located on the C: drive?


The file itself is called pagefile.sys and is only visible if you have the option of Hide protected operating system files un-checked. (Open my computer, tools, folder options, view and scroll down the list )

Hope this Heps yaz. (had to throw in something for zubaz so he didn't feel lonely )  :LOL: 
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok Fuzzy, I typed it faster.. you must have special Post Reply button privileges.  :LOL: 
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

you must have special Post Reply button privileges

 :LOL:  The force is strong with this one...

At least we are word for word - even Po can't get confused with that. Uh, on second thoughts...

 

 

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
lol Thx.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Okay. I'm gonna reset it. Then reboot.
I guess I will have to wait and see if it works.

Should I notice any immediate difference?
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
2 gb's of ram and you're getting low virtual memory prompts????? You shouldn't even be hitting the page file. Look in Task Manager and see what's leaking.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Welcome to the 2g club po'

I haven't noticed a difference since I installed them. Maybe I'm not seeing it. I think my processor? may be too small to really appreciate them or utilize them. I'm kinda in the dark with all the technical stuff.

I have reset and rebooted. My internet seemed faster right away..loading and stuff..but it's been really slow tonight and the wife has noticed it on her laptop as well.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Po', unless you have dual-channel memory, you won't see a huge difference in speed. The difference is:

With normal memory slots, the PC uses one RAM stick until it is full, then begins to draw off the second stick.

With dual-channel memory, the PC divides memory usage between the two sticks simultaneously. Basically, it runs faster because the processor draws off both sticks of RAM at the same time.

My ASUS mobo has 4 RAM slots, each capable of running 1 gb. Right now I have 2 gb of ram (I had 4, but one died, and I sold the other to my friend...his 1 gb stick fried out) running dual-channel. And my PC runs very fast......
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
With normal memory slots, the PC uses one RAM stick until it is full, then begins to draw off the second stick.


i have 2 1GB sticks.


2 gb's of ram and you're getting low virtual memory prompts????? You shouldn't even be hitting the page file. Look in Task Manager and see what's leaking.


I wouldn't know where to start. ;p

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Something to consider when moving your page file to the second hard drive, only do this if your second hard drive is internal. If it is an external USB drive the access time is going to increase dramatically which would slow your system down.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
only do this if your second hard drive is internal.

It's internal.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Has anyone tried moving the page file to a USB ready boost 4 gig thumb drive? In theory, it should be faster than a hard drive.

Think I'll try it and see. :) 
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Has anyone tried moving the page file to a USB ready boost 4 gig thumb drive? In theory, it should be faster than a hard drive.

You might want to check the data thru-put of a USB2 port before trying that....as compared with a SATA or PATA ...;)

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Okay...it would now appear my PC is rightly f___ed.

msconfig will not open through 'run'...though when I check Winpatrol, it says it's open.

The console panel opens for Defrag...but when I click analyze or defrag, it freezes..through Winpatrol says it's running.

My cursor has developed this new habit of vanishing, usually on the desktop, not on an application. I nudge the mouse and it reappears. It does this whenever it senses there is a chance to cause a blood vessel to bust in my brain.

Snag -It is playing the same game as msconfig, except only when it's feeling like being bitchy, not everytime.

I can open msconfig with Launchy, but I get Microsoft NET Framework 1.1 Configuration panel (?)

I just reformatted and re-installed XP and everything about 2 months ago, the memory upgrade about a month ago.

I really don't want to have to do all that again. Can anyone offer assistance?

also....last night when things seemed to go buggy, I ran chkdisk. I got a message..
"Windows has replaced a bad cluster. (don't quote me on this. I wrote it down but left it at home) in section 15086 (?) in the name of /hibrfil.sys (?)"


Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Check the System Managed Size option. Winpatrol, huh? Hmmm.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hibrfil.sys is your hibernation file,in xp it comes under power options,unticking the hibernation box & i assume a restart will delete it,(not sure if you need to restart but i do as i usually defrag in safe mode),you also need to untick the hiber as it does'nt defrag
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have you tried running msconfig while in safe mode?
Have you tried restoring your computer to an earlier time?
Perhaps you have a restore point prior to the trouble you are experiencing.