Larry said:
How do I recover RAM? I have 512 RAM installed, but
showing only 280 or so available -- machine seems to be
running very slow. I suspect that various hidden programs
are soaking it up. Have turned off (I think) all the
little, non-essential apps. Suggestions, please?
[using Windows XP Home Edition on HP Pavilion notebook]
Thank you, Larry
Available RAM should be more appropriately referred to as *useless*
RAM because that is what it actually represents - RAM for which
Windows has been totally unable to find any potentially beneficial use
for whatever.
Windows will always attempt to find some use, anything at all that
might concievably be of some benefit, for every bit of the installed
RAM rather than just letting that RAM sit there idly going to rot.
And just as soon as some better use comes along for any of that RAM
then Windows will instantaneously drop the more trivial usages so as
to free up whatever is required.
Your performance problems are not related to RAM usage. However it
could be that some application or other that is running in the
background is putting a fairly heavy load on the CPU, thereby leaving
fewer CPU cycles available for whatever you are doing.
Use Start - Run - MSCONFIG and go to the Startup tab. Compare the
list of items that are loading at startup with the following checklist
web sites to see what can be safely dispensed with:
http://www2.whidbey.com/djdenham/Uncheck.htm
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html - has trojan related
items listed
Note: Please ensure that you fully understand the purpose of a
startup item, how and why it was put into the startup, and the
consequences (if any) of removing it before you make any changes.
Some items are very important for the proper and safe functioning of
your computer.
Disabling an item by unchecking it in MSCONFIG should only be done for
testing purposes or as a "last resort" when no other way of getting
rid of the unwanted item can be found.
Note that these web sites are more oriented towards Windows 95/98/Me
startup items and therefore some of the explanations may not be
exactly correct with respect to Windows XP.
Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
