Virtual memory too low – what do I do?
Windows is filled with pesky errors, and “your system is running low on virtual memory” is one of them. Just what does this error mean? How can I avoid it in the future? We’ll answer these questions and more, and help make sure you never see this error again.
Virtual memory, or a page file or swap file as it’s otherwise known, is a file on your hard drive that Windows and other applications use in addition to physical memory (your RAM) on an as-needed basis. The usual size of this file is 1.5 times the amount of physical memory or RAM your machine is running. Virtual memory is the sum of physical memory and the page file, so if your system is running 512 MB of RAM, it will have a 768 MB page file by default, for a total of 1.25 GB of physical + virtual memory. In other words, Windows creates “virtual memory” when it doesn’t have enough RAM to run the applications and/or processes you’re using at the moment.
There are several reason you would receive an error stating your system is running low on virtual memory, but most likely it’s because of two main culprits. The first being the simplest- you don’t have enough RAM on your system to keep up with the work you’re doing. In this case, you can simply upgrade your memory, which is a cheap proposition these days, or simply buy a more updated computer. The second reason is more common, and involves faulty and buggy software that more or less hogs your memory until Windows doesn’t know what else to do, thus giving repeated “your system is running low on virtual memory” errors.
More and more applications and mainstream software are getting buggy and are thrown together so quickly and haphazardly sometimes that they suffer from what’s known as “memory leak.” This occurs when the software inexplicably pulls more and more memory from the system, the longer the software is running. What happens is that overtime the software hogs all of your normal RAM, and then forces Windows to start creating and utilizing virtual memory to compensate. When virtual memory is pushed to the limits, the errors start appearing. To fix this problem, you simply have to close the software that’s causing the problem or restart Windows completely.
If the error keeps popping up when you have numerous applications running at the same time, a good way to isolate the problem is to use your Windows Task Manager. Hit ctrl+alt+del, and go to the “processes tab.” While the normal view shows limited usage statistics, you can modify the view to get a better look at the culprit. Click “View,” and select “select columns.” Check the box next to “Virtual Memory Size,” and click OK. You should now have a column that displays which programs and processes are using the most virtual memory. Click the heading at the top of the tab to organize the list from the highest usage to the least. The applications at the top of the list should be your main culprits. Shut each of them down by clicking “end process” and “yes” when the dialog box appears. This should end the application(s) that were causing the errors and restore your memory back to normal.
To make sure the specific software that’s causing the problem doesn’t continue to do so, you should search online for possible updates or bug fixes that may have been released since you downloaded or purchased the software. Also, try uninstalling and reinstalling the software with a fresh updated copy if possible. Otherwise, it may be time to search for alternative software that performs the same function. If it’s not as buggy, it’s worth a try.
Some other things to try are to adjust the virtual memory usage settings in Windows, and to simply clear some space on your hard disk for virtual memory to operate. When Windows notices that you’ve run out, or are getting close to running out of RAM, it automatically uses a chunk of your hard disk to act as extended or “virtual” RAM. The software running in Windows doesn’t know the difference between true RAM-based memory and Windows-created “virtual memory,” so it’s a perfect solution. If there’s not enough space for Windows to block off a chunk big enough for what’s needed to compensate, an error occurs, so simply clearing some space on the disk you use most often (normally the C: drive) will likely lower your risk considerably.
You can adjust the setting for virtual memory in Windows by right-clicking on “My Computer,” and click on “properties.” Click the “advanced” tab, and click the “settings” button in the performance panel. Click the “advanced” tab again in the performance dialog that appears, and finally click the “change” button in the virtual memory panel. Look for the “system managed size” option, select it if it isn’t already selected, and then click OK, OK, OK. That should end the warnings for the time being, and hopefully prevent them from happening in the future.
It’s an annoying error, and if you’ve been plagued by it before you know how un-forgiving it can be. Luckily, with the help of some useful tips and tricks you can prevent it from happening in the future, or at least lower you chances considerably. If all else fails, maybe it’s just time to treat yourself to a brand new computer, one with plenty of memory. In the end, you ultimately want your system to use very little, or at best, no virtual memory at all. Forcing applications to use virtual memory instead of RAM makes for a much slower process because of the way Windows uses the hard disk to do so- upgrading your RAM or cleaning up your hard disk drive are the most feasible options aside from scraping the computer altogether. Either way, the “low virtual memory” error, if nothing else, will force you to update your current system or make the much-needed improvements to your hardware you’ve probably needed for a long time.
Related Posts:
April 6th, 2009
Thanks for the tips. Just increased my physical memory (and using your tips, updated my virtual memory)
August 29th, 2011
thank you! but your method can not be work.
August 29th, 2011
me to! your method can not be work.
August 29th, 2011
me to! your method can not be work.