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having memory problem

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9 replies

by stargate11211

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I am running a Dell computer with a little over a gig of memory and I need to know if there is any way of freeing up the memory or if I will just have to continute buying memory for it?? I hope there is a way to fix this problem. I am running XP Home Edition.
Hope someone can help me.
Thanks.
Susan

9 replies

by rob miners

Here are a couple of ways to keep your PC tidy and help to speed it up. Just create them and add them to the desktop as a Shortcut. Run deltmp and then run def. You can even use TaskSchedular to run them.

This Batch file will empty your PC of Temp Files. Make sure that you copy all the information as if you get it wrong you will end up with a PC with a lot of empty folders.

Copy and paste between the ******* to notepad and save the file to the Root directory C:\> as deltmp.cmd

****************

:USERPROFILE

c:

cd \

cd %USERPROFILE%\"Local Settings"\"Temporary Internet Files"

del *.* /s /q

rmdir . /s /q

goto PREFETCH

:PREFETCH

cd \

cd %WINDIR%\PREFETCH

del *.* /s /q

goto INIT

:INIT

@echo off

setlocal

set cStatflag=0

C:

:USERTEMP

cd \

cd %TEMP%

:REMOVE

del *.* /s /q

rmdir . /s /q

:CHECK

if %cStatflag%==1 goto FINISH

:WINTEMP

cd \

cd %WINDIR%\TEMP

set cStatflag=1

goto REMOVE

:FINISH

endlocal

***************

This is a Command line version of the Defrag Utility follow the above steps and save it as def.cmd, you will have to create a text file and save it to the root directory as well it will be named DrvLtr.txt and it will list the Drives that you want to Defragment. EG: C: and press Enter D: and press Enter it is one line for each Drive.

**************************

REM chkdsk and defrag automation

for /F "eol= tokens=1 delims=( " %%i in (DrvLtr.txt) do set DrvLtr=%%i& call :dsKchk

:dsKchk

If %DrvLtr% == end goto :eof

chkdsk %DrvLtr%

If not errorlevel 3 goto :defrag

If not exist %DrvLtr%\winnt If not exist %DrvLtr%\windows If not exist %DrvLtr%\pagefile.sys goto :dskchkon

:dskchkoff

cd\

%DrvLtr%

echo Y chkdsk /F /R

goto :defrag

:dskchkon

chkdsk %DrvLtr% /F /R

:defrag

cd\

%DrvLtr%

defrag %DrvLtr% -b

defrag %DrvLtr%

:EOF

**************************

It will probably run through twice the first time that you use it.

This should help free up some memory for you. You could also remove some crap from your PC with Ccleaner.

Home of FreeRAM XP

http://www.yourwaresolutions.com/

Download and install CCleaner to tidy up your Registry. Backup the Registry as you go along, rescan again and again saving as you go until there are no errors left.

Cleaner: Windows

When you first open Ccleaner you will have an option to Analyze or Run Cleaner, after checking the left Pane and making your choices. Delete all Temp Files. If you scroll down you will see a greyed out box that has Advanced next to it. Left click on it and keep pressing OK to all of the responses. I normally Untick Windows Log Files and Memory Dumps as they may come in handy.

You don't have to install all of the add ons or shortcuts just the one to the Desktop.

http://www.ccleaner.com/download

Let us know how you get on.

Rob

by Former member

The question asked was about excessive ram being used and the response was to clean up temp files, delete the prefetch, and defrag the HD?

The suggestion to delete the prefetch files was particularly bad. While excessive prefetch files can build up, they are 1) not called until the app calls them and 2) speed up the loading of the app and 3) slow the computer down loading an app because the system will rebuild them.

The only thing relevant was the suggestion to use FreeRAM.

For the OP:
Look at what you are starting when you start XP and stop the auto loading of the programs you do not need at startup - things like adobe speed reader, etc. This will do more to free ram than anything else. There are some registry tweaks you could do as well.

by rob miners

running those suggestions on my PC's and my Clients PC's. I have also seen a hell of a lot of Clients PC's that have Never been Defragged or for that matter had the Temp Files cleaned up. ;)

I try to think outside the box when I post an answer to a question. I think that I have provided a quick fix for the problem. ;)

by Former member

> "running those suggestions on my PC's and my Clients PC's. I have also seen a hell of a lot of Clients PC's that have Never been Defragged or for that matter had the Temp Files cleaned up."

Very true.

> "I try to think outside the box when I post an answer to a question. I think that I have provided a quick fix for the problem."

No problem with that.

Your answer just hit a raw spot and I was trying to focus on what the issue appeared to be. No insult or put down intended. Generally I would consider it GOOD advise. Just inappropriate in the context. Excessive ram consumption vs. HD house keeping; different issues.

Norm

by Former member

Man, you ask a tough question. Not because the answer is difficult, but rather because the meaning of healthy is so imprecise. To the malware author your system is healthy when it is popping up adds; to you it is unhealthy. Sometimes a fragmented drive can be more healthy than a defragmented drive, such as when there are misallocated sectors. In this case defragmenting the drive could cause irreparable damage to your file structure.

With all things in computer science, the correct answer is "It depends."

The OP asked about excessive memory consumption. He has about a gig and XP runs acceptable with 256 meg. However the OP is continually using close to the max of his RAM. When the OS uses to much memory, it pages out the unused and sometime in use pages to the page file. This in turn can cause hard disk thrashing and really has the effect of slowing the computer down to a crawl. Hard disk thrashing will lower the life expectancy of the affected drive. No matter how much you defrag, if you have HD thrashing, then you are creating more fragmentation unless you have a dedicated and fixed page file. This qualifies as an unhealthy computer in my book.

So IMHO what needs to be done if you have adequate RAM is control what is in memory. The easiest and most effective method is not to load on demand programs that want to remain TSR. You use less memory. Less memory used can have the effect of allowing programs to load more quickly. Sometimes adding more RAM is what is needed if you have apps that need the RAM. I, however think that it is best to first find out why and remedy the excessive use of RAM.

by Former member

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

by ugadata

You don't indicate why you think you need to clean up your memory. I do think that 2 gigs is a good recommendation, however 1 gig shouldn't be a problem short of Video editing, CAD, or running a boat-load of program at the same time.

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