Virtual memory issue

Add more Ram!  How much do you have and what OS are you running?

256 is the minimum recommended for Windows XP.  It's not very much Ram.  Having stuff installed on your computer isn't what uses Ram.  What you have running is what you need to worry about.  Windows uses a lot of that.  So, I would suggest upgrading Ram.  It is the easiest upgrade for a computer. 

I have 256 MB of RAM and I am running XP.

Why wouldn't that be enough RAM, there's hardly anything on my computer?

How much more RAM do I get?  Where do I get it?  Can I do this myself? 

 

Thanks you so much,

Sean

Thanks, Mav.

Any suggestions as far as how much to upgrade it by?

Thanks for your patience and replies,

 

Sean

I would suggest at least 512.

jeez just increase the page file on your system instead of buying ram.  KISS (keep it so simple)

here's the instructions to do this.

right click my computer>advanced>performance>settings>advanced>look for Virtual Memory and click on settings>and change the settings to maxium page file>restart computer and enjoy. 

RAM will only help the performance of your system programs, virtual memory is actually HDD space acting as RAM so when it says that it means the Page file is to small and needs to be adjusted to accomidate any new programs or their access rights.also if performance is an issue try editing the msconfig startup items.

start>run>msconfig>startup>check the list>report back here if you have any questions about any kind of start up items.

i would rather save $$$ and change the local settings and then worry about the ram.  if you want performance boosts then you might want to invest in 10K RPM HDD.neways plus you dont want to have a novice in the system neways cause RAM is critical most DELL systems will NO POST if you break ne kind of retainer for the RAM and plus what if he/she doesnt know what kind of speed the ram is and then the system doesnt POST or memory count isnt at the proper count and the system is running twice as slow and thus since he/she will probably go by ur advice and buy RAM from some "store" nstead of calling 1800-372-3355 and get the proper hardware for his/her system and not worry about it not working and the proper way to set it up and plus have a 30-90 day warrranty w/o charge so i think.like i said dont get complicated at the start keep it on the software level and then escalate the situation.oh by the way increasing the Page File is FREE unlike purchasing RAM which is $$$$ dolla dolla bill ya.

You're telling a novice to increase the size of the page file instead of buying Ram? The page file acts as Ram when you run out of memory but is 10 times slower. Accessing data from a HD is no where near as fast. It is a major reason of people's computers slowing down. The computer should automatically make the page file 1.5 times the size of the amount of system Ram. If you need to increase it, obviously, you don't have enough Ram. I would strongly suggest against a novice mess with the virtual memory (page file). Buy some more Ram!!

I would have suggested he get Ram for his specific system from Dell. Adding Ram, although more expensive, is much easier than messing with the page file. Don't you agree? And the performance difference would be ridiculously different when comparing the two.

it depends really on what he/she is comfortable with?but RAM would also solve the issue when new RAM is inserted the Page File is increased automatically.

It looks like I will be adding more RAM.  I may be a novice, but I am not an idiot.  LOL!

I did a little research and found this page http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Dell%2BDimension&mfr=Dell&cat=RAM&model=Dimension+4400+Series&submit=Go.

What do you think Mav and Red?

Thanks,

Sean

Thanks for the input, John.

Sean

Sean

I agree with Mavtech... Go up to at least 512MB (get as much as you can afford) and yes, I strongly recommend Crucial. They guarantee it to work and free shipping...

John

To all who have helped out...

I am now the proud owner of 768 MB of RAM.  I went out and bought 512 MB and just installed it.  It was a lot easier to do than I thought it would be.  It cost about $110.  I am sure I could have done better if I ordered it online, but I have no patience!

I hope this helps things.

Thanks for all of your input!

Sean

Sean

$96.31 at Crucial so you didn't hurt yourself too bad, and like you say it's already done...
Good to hear all is well, You should notice a considerable improvement in performance.

John