Virtual memory

A virtual memory is an extension of your computers memory ("RAM") that is stored in your harddisk drive. whenever your application needs more memory and you don't have enough RAM, it takes up virtual memory which is located in an area in your hdd.
for more info how it works, follow this link:

How Virtual Memory Works
http://www.howstuffworks.com/virtual-memory.htm

Virtual memory is a software method of making a computer appear and act as though it has more RAM (Random Access Memory) than is actually present. By reallocating and using available disk space, the operating system of the machine transparently swaps chunks of data between a hard disk and physical memory.

The advantage of doing this is that larger application programs can be loaded, more applications can be used simultaneously, and the programs have more space to store their data. A drawbackof virtual memory is that it slows down system operation and is limited to the amount of disk space that is free on the system.

From the Windows 95 Resource kit:
"Windows 95 uses a special file on your hard disk called a virtual memory swap file (or paging file). With virtual memory under Windows 95, some of the program code and other information are kept in random access memory (RAM), while other information is swapped temporarily to virtual memory. When that information is required again, Windows 95 pulls it back into RAM and, if necessary, swaps other information to virtual memory. This activity is invisible, although you might notice that your hard disk is working. The resulting benefit is that you can run more programs at one time than the computer?s RAM would usually allow.
The Windows 95 swap file is dynamic, so it can shrink or grow based on the operations performed on the system and based on available disk space. A dynamic swap file is usually the most efficient use ofresources.

Good luck....hope this helps.

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