"Virtual Memory"

I keep getting this little "warning/alert" icon on my tool bar that tells me that my system is low on "virtual memory" and it is being updated/upgraded to cover the issue. (Don't remember exactly what it said before i closed the box.)

Anyhow... what is Virtual Memory and should i be worried that this thing shows up about once a week?

Your computer is telling you that you have too many programs running which are killing your memory. If you have not installed any new programs before you started receiving this message, I would look for a virus or spyware.

Run your antivirus program or a spyware program like spybot search and destroy to removed the culprit.

Ahhhhhh well... i have always ran spyware on virus programs on my computer so i know it is clean there. Probably just WAY to many programs since i have a tendency to REALLY over due the multi tasking... *grinz*

Thanks for the info!

What is Virtual memory?
Virtual memory is an extension of your computer's physical memory (memory chips or RAMs). In order to be able to run multiple programs at once, the computer looks for areas of RAM that have not been used recently and copy them onto the hard disk into so called page files. This frees up space in the RAM to load the new application.
The hard drive (virtual memory) is much slower than actual memory chips. When you don't have enough RAM, the operating system has to constantly swap information back and forth between RAM and the hard disk. This is called thrashing, and it can make your computer feel incredibly slow.

If you do lots of graphic intensive programs, or programs that require high computational power, such as algorithms or videos. This could cause that problem, also a thing windows does that you might look at, if you have more than about 6 icons next to the clock (on a desktop, its more for laptops). You should look at what programs are there, and do they need to be there. Some people refer to this a preload for programs, its supposed to help the programs you use launch quicker, but if your virtual memory is cut, then it defeats the purpose.

V/R
ID

One thing you can do to keep from getting the virtrual memory is to inlarge the space the computer sets asaid for it. use your help on windows XP and look up virtual memory and it will walk you thropugh itr. Most PC'sa virtual memory are set very low. Also doing a regular clesning of unused programs keeps it running better
if your hard drive free space is smaller them around 33% or so your computer will run slower that is because the computer uses the free space to temporarly p[ut the open progreams in there. For example if you only have 10% free space and A LOT of programs going you will run slower as well as the virtual memory warnings. always try to keep at least 1/3 of your hardrive space free. if it is not you might want to get another hard drive to use. There are some that you don't have to have inside but plug into the USB ports I believe.

Check what programmes are in your autostart. Lot's of free programmes put themselves there which is annoying. Some of them can be hard to remove.

well thank you for asking this question just_annie as i too have had this difficulty and so thank you to everyone that answered ...what a wonderful place this is that truly encourages learning of all kinds

Some excellent suggestions on this ver issue of Virtual Memory running low.I have dealt with this issue many times before in my line of work and one thing I can suggest beyond these knoelegeable suggestions posted thus far is to be sure and run te defrag utility on XP.while not a direct solution to the immediate
problem,defragging the hard drive does "tidy up the house" on the hard drive
fo better overall performace as the hunt for program fragment on multiple volumes is reduced .In that vitual memory is borrowed memory from the hard drive,defragging will make this much slower virtual memory avaialable as needed
on a somewhat faster basis and makes the hard drive more efficient in servicing requests from multiple running programs.

Nonetheless.just keep in mnd that some programs,especilly graphics programs and game programs,can be real memory hogs and if it is needful to run several such programs at once,an upgrade of te existiing DRAM is probably the best option in the long run