Q: Why do I keep getting those "Low on Virtual Memory Errors" and how do I fix it?
A: In a Nutshell: The computer uses a portion of the harddrive as "Virtual Memory" to supplement the physical memory known as RAM. If your computer has 1GB of RAM and suddenly needs 1.20 GB's of RAM, Windows will temporarily write some of the data from the physical RAM to the Virtual Memory space on the harddrive. When Virtual Memory gets filled up, you get the Low Virtual Memory warning.
The computer typically runs data off the physical memory (RAM) and "swaps" data to and from Virtual Memory area on harddrive as needed. The more "swapping" that takes place, the slower your computer runs. Thus, more physical memory (RAM) equals faster computer.
To increase your Virtual Memory in Windows 2000 and Windows XP:
1. Right-click My Computer > Select Properties > Select Advanced Tab
2. Under the Performance Section at top of System Properties console press the Settings Button.
3. Select Advanced Tab under Performance Options console.
4. At bottom in Virtual Memory press the Change Button.
5. in the Virtual Memory Console next to Custom Size type in 1536 for Initial and 3000 for Maximum size and press the Set Button.
6. Click OK and in Virtual Memory Console and Performance Options Console should reflect new values for Total paging file size for all drives.
You can type any number you want and Windows will adjust them down to a lower acceptable maximum values. You can't break this so don't be afraid to experiment.
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