Member Avatar for tayspen

Low on virtual Memory...then some info on how windows needs more to run


i recieve the above error message. my computer seems to be going VERY slow. I am thinking about just formatting the drive. But any idea what the error means. Sorry i cant give more info. but thats really all there is. ;)


EDIT: oops sorry found the exact same q elsewhere.... ;)

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Short diagnosis: the "Low on virtual memory" dialog usually means Windows is approaching its commit limit (physical RAM plus whatever space the OS is allowed to page to disk). That can happen for several reasons: a single user‑mode program that steadily consumes memory, a leak in kernel resources (handles/GDI/nonpaged pool), or simply not enough free space for the pagefile. 's "hooks" description is a useful way to think about it — the goal is to find whether a specific process or a system resource pool is being exhausted.

Quick, practical checks (fast to do now)

  • Reboot once to remove transient leaks, then check free space on the system drive. Low disk space prevents a usable pagefile.
  • Open Task Manager (or better, Sysinternals Process Explorer) and sort by memory/Private Bytes and handle/GDI count to spot a runaway process.
  • Run perfmon and add counters like Memory\Committed Bytes, Paging File\% Usage, and Process\<name>\Private Bytes or Handle Count and log for a few minutes to see trends.
  • Look in Event Viewer for memory, paging, or driver-related warnings. If you suspect kernel leaks, PoolMon (Windows SDK/Debugging Tools) helps identify which driver is using nonpaged pool.

What to do next

  • If one process shows steady growth, terminate it, update or reinstall the app, and check for known bugs or plugins causing leaks.
  • For driver/kernel causes, update or roll back drivers and BIOS; test in Safe Mode or with a clean boot (msconfig) to narrow down third‑party services.
  • Run sfc /scannow and chkdsk /f if you see file or disk errors. If disk free space is tight, free at least 10–20% or move the pagefile to another physical drive temporarily.
  • If the issue is persistent and caused by normal workload, increasing physical RAM is the most robust fix.

If you reply here, include OS/version, installed RAM, system‑drive free space, and a short snapshot from Task Manager/Process Explorer (process names + Private Bytes/Handle counts) and any relevant Event Viewer entries — that information makes it possible to pinpoint the cause.

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Member Avatar for Catweazle

It usually means that Windows doesn't have enough 'hooks' left to 'hang' programs on, not that you've run out of physical memory.

If you haven't got heaps of programs open, or rebooting doesn't help get you going again, then it's probably an indication that there's lots of nasty 'internet intruders' on your system and you need to do scans for virus/trojan/spyware etc.

Sometimes programs which have been run don't properly 'let go' of memory, and lead to this error, but a reboot should fix those instances.

Member Avatar for fry

Try this:
Right click "My computer" -> Properties -> Advanced -> in the Performance panel -> settings -> Advanced -> bottom panel Virtual Memory: that number in mb's is the current size of the page file otherwise known as virtual memory. It should be for most users 1.5 times the size of your ram (if physical memory equals 128 mb, the page file should be 192 mb).
On the theory that its currupted, press the "change" bar -> in the next panel labled virtual memory tick the "no paging file" button and then the "set" bar, then reboot. This erases the current page file.
When the system comes back up, go back into that last panel and tick the "system managed size" button and then the "set" bar and reboot again.

Member Avatar for jingalala

Hi tayspen, check out this link on Virtual memory.
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php
Somethings you cud check out are if ur HD is running out of space, if so run a disk clean up and defragment. The problems might be causd by what the Fry and Catweazle suggested, you cud anyways also rule out the chances of the paging file being severly fragmented (as u dont have too much RAM), if so you might need to defragment it using a third party tool.

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