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Clearing Memory

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by spn 2 views

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Can you tell me, and I need documention also this:

PC running NT4 Sp6 .

what clears the memory best

1-Log off ( I say effective but a restart is better)
2-Restart (I say very effective)
3-Shutdown(well... this is where the conflict comes I . I say a restart is as efective as a shutdown . My college chuckels and looks at be like a twit and say not . Why tell me and let me see the evidence and you get the points!!!

10 replies

by jereg

I haven't used NT4 much, but what you're talking about is more hardware oriented than software. Log off is not effective, it just takes the user rights away, it doesn't effect the RAM chhips. Restart is somewhat effective. Shutdown is the MOST effective effective, but sadly, not not as complete as in the past. I'll tell you about some tests I've done. Several years ago, I had a Win 3.1 PC. I was playing a music CD. I pressed ctl-alt-del to do a reboot(same as restart). The CD kept playing as the PC shut down and restarted. When the autoexec.bat reloaded the sound drivers, the music stopped. You can't repeat that test on an NT PC because it automaticly closes the player window. The reason is, electron are flowing through the RAM chips, and a fast, microsecond warmboot(restart) won't allow time for the electrons to clear. You MUST shutdown the PC for 5-30 seconds to allow the chips to clear. But, with new PC's even turning off the computer won't clear memory. Why? Microsoft, of course. With the fast startup specifications they've written, PC's don't turn off anymore. you may have seen PC's made in the last couple of years where all you have to do is hit the space bar, or another key on the keyboard to start the PC? the reason is, there is always a little power available to memory and the system to start the PC up. 99% of the time, this is no problem, but I have seen errors in servers and other PC's thatn wouldn't go away until the power cord is removed for a minute. Here are acouple of sites with more info.
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/informatics/BasicSkls/hardw.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MCSEnow/message/6349
www.users.bigpond.com/billimetzke/Windows_2000_Troubleshooting.htm
Hope that helps.

by spn

Thanks Best one yet , I do argee with most of what you said , Thanks.

I know that the best is to unplug the system then boot up again , the main disgusion was If , when leavin @ night I close every thing and restart(switch off the monitor) and gohome.

My College switchs off the system , and has a matter of fact type attitude .

I still feel that for a general user who does not have any major problems a restart will do. A good shutdown is always a good idea when system is acting unstable etc.

In the end its not really important , and the doc is just for my information.

Thanks again.

by b_pope

I would think installing a third party memory utility, such as the two available at the sites listed below.
Would be much simplier than restarting & shutting down all the time, to free up memory.

Both of these programs allow you to free memory anytime by clicking thier icons on the task bar. I use the one from outertech(Cacheman) & it works great.

Works better than letting Windows manage it.

http://www.jfitz.com/software/RAMpage/index.htm

http://www.outertech.com/

by spn

Nice solution , I aready have used various mm with a certain degree of success.

Loved to give you the points But its not the answer to the question I asked

Next Dude

by timthetoolman

A proper shutdown with a power off and cord unplug if you want to go that far (not simply a "put to sleep") will certainly clear the memory fully. No question.

A restart will almost certainly clear the memory if the PC does a selftest on the memory during a warm boot. Many PCs DO on a warm boot.

The reason for this is that the memory check involves writing a pattern to memory and checking it was written correctly.

If there was anything in there to begin with, it sure as hell aint therenow...

Of course if there is no self test, then all bets are off as to what's left in memory and technically before the OS begins to load, memory will likely contain its old data.

Hope this helps,

Cheers,
Tim.

by bohicam1

A complete shutdown for no less than 10 seconds is best. There are capacitors on the motherboard which harness an electrical charge after a shutdown. 10 seconds is more than enough time to empty these out as well. I do not have documentation on this, just a bit of electrical knowledge. Obviously, if you are in this situation, you have a bigger problem...care to expand????

by spn

No not a major prob , just a diffeance in opinons, the info is just for so extra reading for me. Thanks

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