Recurrent Error Message that Virtual Memory is Low.

Question

I have a Dell Latitude, 2003 computer with Windows XP.  I recently have gotten an error message to the effect that virtual memory is low and windows is correcting this.  When I get this message, functioning of the computer slows down considerably.  Can I remove this message or correct the problem if there is one so that I don't keep getting this message?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi Barbara,

Can you list how many processes are running in your system when Virtual Memory error comes?

Here is how:

(1) Right-Click on the Taskbar (on the bottom), and Select Task Manager.

(2) The Fourth Tab should Be "Performance". Note down the values for: (i) Physical Memory (ii) Kernel Memory (iii) System(3) Post these values here.

(4) Download Autoruns: Autoruns:    http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/Autoruns.zip

Unzip, Install, (Agree MS Agreement) and Run Autoruns. Make a link of Autoruns on your QuickLinks or on Desktop for easy access.

Note how many thigs are automatically loaded when you start the computer. Common entries are:

(a) Skype (b) Instant Messangers - YIM, MSN, Gtalk, Pidgin, etc... (3)Outlook (4) MS Office (5) Webcam program (6) Clipboard

All these are not required during Windows startup; nor are they required when you are doing chat or email (exception: you like to do multi-tasking and so-so at managing all tasks simultaneously).

It is not your fault that you have this problem since your computer hardware never grew along with Windows XP SP2, SP3 and post-SP3 patches, which are massve, massive. Add to that Firewall/AV/AS, etc..and then MS Office, andjunk-like Adobe Reader, Nero Suite, etc..

You need to take control of your startups, and  Autoruns is the way to go.

Answer 2

Here is some more fuel for your fire:

If you mean you are seeing an informative message like this:

Virtual Memory Minimum Too Low: Your system is low on virtual memory.  Windows is increasing the size of your virtual memory paging file.

That means Windows XP is letting you know it is doing it's job.  The message is not an error message - it is an informational message.

If XP thinks the size of the paging file (usually c:\pagefile.sys) is too small to accommodate your current operations it will adjust it to make it larger and display that message.

Frequently, it means somebody has been tampering with the paging file to try to solve some other problem that usually has nothing to do with their paging file.

To see what your current settings are, right click My Computer, Properties, Advanced, Performance Settings, Advanced tab, Virtual Memory, Change button.

Unless you know more about managing memory that Windows XP, you should let XP handle the size of your virtual memory paging file.

The best setting for Paging file size is usually going to be:

System managed size

Windows XP will try to allocate a paging file approximately 1.5 times the total amount of the RAM installed in your system.  Letting Windows XP handle the paging file sizeis adequate for most configurations

If yours is not set to System managed size you need to determine how it got changed and why (usually some wrong reason), make a note of the current settings, change the setting to System managed size, click the Set button and Apply the changes (you will be asked to reboot).  

"Because somebody told me to" is not a good reason to make adjustments to the paging file size.

After making the adjustments, reboot, then check the paging file settings again to make sure they stick,  then test your system again and see if you still get the messages.

If you are still seeing the message, you should determine what applications you are running that are consuming so much of your virtual memory that Windows XP needs to adjust it.  

Some applications are notorious for consuming large amounts of virtual memory (like the Spybot Teatimer - do you have that installed?).

You can determine how applications are using your virtual memory using Task Manager.

To do that:

Right click the Taskbar, choose Task Manager and select the Processes tab.

Click View, Select Columns, check the box that says: Virtual Memory Size.  Expand the height and width of the Task Manager by dragging the corners and edges so you can see all the columns and processes in one window if possible.

Double click a column heading in TM to sort by the column.  For example, sort Task Manager by the CPU or Virtual Memory size column.

Here is what my poor Task Manger looks like:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6530/taskmanagerv.jpg

In your system, who's on top using all the Virtual Memory?  

If you need another set of eyeballs on your settings, describe the top 5 applications you see in Task Manager that are using the most Virtual Memory and, do this:

Click Start, Run and in the box enter:

msinfo32

Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select All, Copy and then paste the results back here.

There will be some personal information (like System Name and User Name), and whatever appears to be private information to you, just delete the personal information from the pasted information.

This will minimize back and forth Q&A and eliminate guesswork and assumptions.

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Answer 3

MS-MVP at Elephant Boy,

Thank you so very much for your detailed response.  I will give it a try myself and then admit defeat if necessary.

Thanks again,

Barbara C.

Answer 4

While "low virtual memory" errors are sometimes related to the pagefile or the physical RAM, this is rare. Most commonly the errors are caused by too many programs/processes running in the background. And most commonly in Windows those programs/processes are malware. So the first troubleshooting step is to thoroughly scan the computer. Don't skip the preparatory work:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

If the computer is clean but the problems persist:

1. Manage your Startup to see what is running in the background:

Start>Run>msconfig [enter]

This brings up the System Configuration Utility. Look on the Startup tab and find the probable culprit. Uncheck the box next to its name, Apply and OK out. You don't need to restart immediately, but the next time you do you'll get a dialog saying you've used the Utility. Just tick the box that says in effect, "don't bother me about this again".

Important - Do not use the System Configuration Utility to stop processes. Instead, use Start>Run>services.msc [enter]and do not stop any services unless you really, really know what you're doing.

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

The free Autoruns program is very useful for managing your Startup -http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspxClean boot in Windows XP -http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434

2. Check the pagefile setting and make sure it is "System managed".

Control Panel>System>Advanced. Under Performance, click Settings. Click Advanced>Processor Settings and tell us what you see.

3. Test the physical memory (RAM):

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

If you can't do the work yourself (and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

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MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!