Hi, LouLou.
Welcome to the wonderful world of computers! ;<)
One of the threshold problems of computing is terminology, and one term that
we all have to learn is "memory". That term generally refers to the memory
chips plugged into the mainboard (also called the "motherboard"). We never
see these chips unless we open the computer case, but they are involved in
every operation the computer performs. But when the power goes off, they
forget everything and have to be reminded when the computer is turned on
again. So, before the computer shuts down, everything must be safely stored
on the hard disk drive, which does not forget when turned off. When the
computer is turned on, the Vista operating system is copied from the hard
drive to the system memory again, and then the refreshed memory takes
control and runs the computer. This usually takes less than a minute;
that's what's happening between the time we hit the switch and when we see
the Desktop and can start using Vista.
We generally refer to space on the hard disk as "storage" or just as "disk
space". Today's hard drives are usually at least 20 GB and many of them
hold hundreds of GB each, with 300+ GB drives becoming quite common.
"Memory" sizes are more typically 512 MB (.5 GB), 1 GB or 2 GB.
Your question really is about hard drive space, rather than "memory", as
most of us use the term, so "storage problems" might have been a more
appropriate subject line.
And, yes, many of us have problems with running out of disk space. Rick and
the others have given you some good tips for recovering some of your disk
space.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64)
