What is Virtual Memory?
Virtual memory is a temporary storage area managed by your computer's operating system. To give you a better understanding of memory, the following list describes some different types of memory your computer uses.
Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is usually a chip stored in the memory bank area on the computer's motherboard. RAM is short-term or temporary memory for applications and data you are currently using. The information gets erased when you shut down your PC.
Disk: Also called Hard Disk or Disk Drive. The long-term storage area where you store software applications, documents, and other data. The information gets erased when you delete it.
Virtual Memory: A configurable storage area that efficiently allocates memory between RAM and Disk Memory.
How does Virtual Memory Work?
Most computers today come with 32 or 64MB (megabytes) of RAM (random access memory). Unfortunately, that amount of RAM is not enough to run all of the programs that most users will be running at the same time.
For example, when your computer is on your operating system is running and if you open an e-mail program, a Web browser, and word processor simultaneously, 32MB is not enough to store it all. With virtual memory, the computer looks at RAM for areas that have not been used recently and copies them onto the hard disk. This frees up space in RAM to open more applications. Because this "copying" happens automatically, you don't even know it is happening, and it makes your computer feel like is has unlimited RAM space even though it only has 32MB installed.
How do I increase the size of my virtual memory?
In Windows®, virtual memory is often called the pagefile. The default size of the virtual memory pagefile created during the installation of your operating system is 1.5 times the amount of RAM on your computer. If you have problems running several programs simultaneously, you need to change the size of the paging file.
To change the size of the virtual memory paging file
Windows® 98, ME, and 2000 users:
From the Windows task bar, click Start; then click Settings and Control Panel.
Open the System folder and click on the Advanced tab.
Click Performance Options and in the Virtual Memory area, click Change.
In the Drive list, click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change (for example, C:).
Under Paging file size for selected drive area, type a new paging file size in megabytes in the Initial size (MB) and/or Maximum size (MB) box; then click OK.
Windows® XP users:
From the Windows task bar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Open the System folder and click on the Advanced tab.
In the Performance area, click Settings.
Click on the Advanced tab, and in the Virtual Memory area, click Change.
In the Drive list, click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change (for example, C:).
Select Custom and type a new paging file size in megabytes in the Initial size (MB) and/or Maximum size (MB) box; then click Set.
Click OK.
If you decrease the size of either the minimum or maximum page file settings, you must restart your computer for these changes to take effect. Increasing the page file setting does not typically require you to restart your computer.
Notes
You must be logged on as an administrator on your computer to change the size of your computer's paging file.
For best performance, set the initial size to not less than the recommended size under Total paging file size for all drives. The recommended size is equivalent to 1.5 times the amount of RAM on your computer.
You should leave the paging file at its recommended size, although you might increase its size if you regularly use programs that require a lot of memory.
You might experience runtime errors when you try to use a program that requires a lot of memory. You may want to increase the paging file size if you experience runtime errors.
To delete a paging file, set both initial size and maximum size to zero.
