Running Low Memory - What gives?

[applesseed]

So I'm posting this for a friend of mine... his computer's messed up. And yeah... I tried reading the FAQ... I need more info.

Occasionally he gets that popup saying "running low on memory". what gives? what's the solution? It's a Dell computer, 256MB of RAM. Running WinXP. He's using a 21 inch CRT (could that be it?)

 

[Calin]

Maybe he just need to increase the virtual memory. The settings for virtual memory are in Control Panel ->System->Advanced (i think).
Or maybe Windows just ias increasing the size of virtual memory file (forcong the minimum size to 256 MB should be OK).
However, sometime Windows decide the increase the "virtual memory" file size automatically, and during the increase everything else slow to a crawl. After that, all is fine. I don't know exactly wha ttho problem is, but this is a possible solution

Calin

 

[rainypickles]

maybe you could check for loads of background applications? its not integrated graphics, is it?

 

[TheCorm]

Do a CTRL + SHIFT + ESC. Everything look okay on the performence tab of the task manager?

Jamie

 

[Jeff7]

And heck, while you're running utilities, get Spybot and JV16 Powertools.

 

[Rapidskies]

Most running low on memory is caused by a memory leak by a program running in the background. If his machine is ok when he firsts boots, but overtime eventually gets a "running low on memory", he probably has a program he needs to update/get rid of. Your best tool to troubleshoot this is MSCONFIG. Run Msconfig and disable everything you can in the startup tab and reboot. Do your problems go away? If they do start enabling programs until you find the one that is causing your problems.

 

[applesseed]

The 3 Keys: Ctrl + Alt + Delete... showed the task manager... no problem at all. Shows only the program that he's running. I even checked out the Performance... it seems okay.

I deleted a few programs and stuff, and he came back telling me everytime he exits Internet Explorer, he gets the IEXPLORE.EXE - Application Error.

The instruction at "0x020537a8" referenced memory at "0x020537a8". The memory could not be read"'. Click OK to terminate the program.

I was kinda suspicious when I right-click on Start to get the menu and click on Properties. Clicked on the Taskbar Tab and clicked Customize Notifications. I scrolled down the menu to Past Items. What are those? I noticed a lot of folders and programs. Could they be holding back? He's using Windows XP.

 

[microAmp]

Maybe changing the Virtual Memory size will fix it all?