Having issues running several applications at once? Maxed out the RAM slots on your motherboard? Not willing to spend loads of money for better sticks? Don't worry, there's a perfectly free solution out there for you: increasing your virtual memory.
When an application uses memory, it's possible for it to use enough memory for it to exceed its allotted sections of memory, or its 'buffer'. When this happens, a type of error called a 'buffer overflow' occurs; the application will overwrite hard data and coded sections of your memory, usually resulting in a BSOD. Pagefile.sys allows for extra memory by using itself as a kind of memory: applications can store data inside pagefile.sys the same way they can inside physical RAM. This allows for significantly higher memory capacity on a computer than would be normally available through just physical memory.
The size of your pagefile is automatically set when you install Windows, typically around a similar size to your physical memory. This size, however, is not written in stone and can be modified.
NOTE: this procedure should be identical in both Windows XP and Vista.
Before you start, make sure you have local system administrator privileges. Simply open your Control Panel and click 'User Accounts', then look under your account name. If it says 'Computer administrator', you're ready to begin.
Open up a Control Panel and click on 'System'. There should be several tabs in this window; click on 'Advanced'. The first section of this tab is 'Performance', with one button, Settings. Click Settings. This will bring a new window, which also has a tab called 'Advanced'. Click Advanced again. The last section of this tab is called 'Virtual memory', with the button Change under it. Click on Change.
Now then. You should see under 'Paging file size for selected drive' (make sure your selected drive is C
three radial buttons. Make sure that 'Custom size' is selected. If it is already selected, you will see two boxes, labeled 'Initial' and 'Maximum', with two numbers already in them (maximum will be twice the size of initial). If it was not already selected, you will see the same two boxes but they will be empty. If the boxes are empty, set Maximum to 4096; otherwise, leave it unchanged. Now look at the bottom section for a number labeled 'Recommended'. Set the box 'Initial' to this value. Now all you need to do is click OK and you're finished!
NOTE: If you changed from system controlled file size to custom file size you will have to restart your computer.
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Virtual memory revolves around one file which is stored in the bowels of your C drive: pagefile.sys.
When an application uses memory, it's possible for it to use enough memory for it to exceed its allotted sections of memory, or its 'buffer'. When this happens, a type of error called a 'buffer overflow' occurs; the application will overwrite hard data and coded sections of your memory, usually resulting in a BSOD. Pagefile.sys allows for extra memory by using itself as a kind of memory: applications can store data inside pagefile.sys the same way they can inside physical RAM. This allows for significantly higher memory capacity on a computer than would be normally available through just physical memory.
The size of your pagefile is automatically set when you install Windows, typically around a similar size to your physical memory. This size, however, is not written in stone and can be modified.
NOTE: for simplicity, set your Control Panel to 'Classic View'.
NOTE: this procedure should be identical in both Windows XP and Vista.
Before you start, make sure you have local system administrator privileges. Simply open your Control Panel and click 'User Accounts', then look under your account name. If it says 'Computer administrator', you're ready to begin.
Open up a Control Panel and click on 'System'. There should be several tabs in this window; click on 'Advanced'. The first section of this tab is 'Performance', with one button, Settings. Click Settings. This will bring a new window, which also has a tab called 'Advanced'. Click Advanced again. The last section of this tab is called 'Virtual memory', with the button Change under it. Click on Change.
Now then. You should see under 'Paging file size for selected drive' (make sure your selected drive is C
three radial buttons. Make sure that 'Custom size' is selected. If it is already selected, you will see two boxes, labeled 'Initial' and 'Maximum', with two numbers already in them (maximum will be twice the size of initial). If it was not already selected, you will see the same two boxes but they will be empty. If the boxes are empty, set Maximum to 4096; otherwise, leave it unchanged. Now look at the bottom section for a number labeled 'Recommended'. Set the box 'Initial' to this value. Now all you need to do is click OK and you're finished!NOTE: If you changed from system controlled file size to custom file size you will have to restart your computer.
My signature is not part of this.
