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General discussion

I Need More Memory!

Mar 10, 2005 11:13AM PST

My computer crashes frequently, and many programs take forever to load. I think that it is a problem with my memory. I have 30 of 320 MB available. How can I free up memory, cuc i jus dont want to go out and buy more memory...I'm trying to save up some money. Thanks in advance.

I am running Windows Me edition, my comp is a HP Pavilion 6745C running on 700MHz. let me know if yall need more info...again, thanks.

Discussion is locked

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background programs...
Mar 10, 2005 12:46PM PST

One way is to decrease the number of background programs running on your computer. Disable all the programs that runs at system startup. Each uses a little memory, they add up. Also, scan your harddrive for spyware and adware.

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...
Mar 13, 2005 1:54AM PST

i mean, how do i configure what ruins in the background at startup?

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Start up
Mar 13, 2005 4:19AM PST

Start > Run > type in: msconfig > click OK > click on the "Startup" tab. Any program with a check in the box to the left is run at start up.

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A bit of advice.
Mar 11, 2005 1:22PM PST

Maybe I'm misreading this, but I see that you've been posting here in various forums since at least December with essentially the same problems. Since you haven't provided any follow-up responses to the advice given I have to ask if you've tried any of the repairs suggested. I also have an HP Pavillion running ME that was a total mess until I found this forum 2-3 years ago. At the time, I didn't know jack about computers. It took almost a week of working in the evening to clear the malware off my PC and to shut down all the programs that HP sets up to run in the background. I used the free programs and websites suggested here to fix my PC, to learn how I'd screwed it up that badly, and also how to prevent it from happening again. In other words, there's no quick fix, it took some time to get it in that condition, it will take some time to fix. The place to start is Bob Proffitt's Anti-parasite suite http://tinyurl.com/6tzbr You might stay away from AdAware until you see an update in the forums on their current problems. Once you've followed those steps, post your progress here and also take a little time to read the great advice that is available here in the various forums. Best of luck, Kevin

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Do you need more memory?
Mar 13, 2005 4:20AM PST

Probably not. You might have 320 Mb RAM, and that's more than enough for most purposes with Windows ME. I've run Windows 98 with with 64 Mb for years, although I must admit is was faster with 192 Mb.

Some questions:
- How did you determine that you've got 30 Mb free?
- Are you sure you're talking about RAM, not about virtual memory?
- What are your virtual memory settings (Control Panel>System>Performance)?
- What's your diskspace (total and free)?
- When was your last defrag?

Frequent crashes are a sign of either failing hardware (including power supply), overambitious BIOS settings or viruses and spyware. What protection do you use against the latter?
It's very unlikely a crash is caused by unsufficient RAM (especially if you've got 340 Mb).

The idea would be to first run the usual checks for viruses and spyware (post again if you don't know what is usual). Then reduce other startup programs using msconfig (type MSCONFIG in the startup box); post if there are any programs listed there of which you don't know what they do.


Kees

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okay...
Mar 13, 2005 7:40AM PST

i know what your saying, and i have open up the msconfig program, but i dont know hat to keep and what to take off. i dont want to list erything becuase i dont know what some program names refer to, so can you suggest some programs (and the file names) that should be unchecked. For starter, im taking off the task schedulaer cuz i run cleaning and maintenance tasks jus sbout everyday...thanks

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Thanks!
Mar 14, 2005 2:00PM PST

I have taken all of this advice, and I have seen great improvement on my comp. I cleaned a few pieces of spyware and adware from my comp, and I decreased the number of programs that begin on the system boot. Thanks , and I hope that you keep giving the good advice that you have given me! Thanks again!

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Re: Start up
Mar 15, 2005 11:00AM PST

That's good news. Have you seen this site? http://castlecops.com/slet-a.html They have a pretty comprehensive list of start up items, you may be able to eliminate a few more.

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Memory? What memory?
Mar 15, 2005 7:15AM PST

Try RAM Booster or Free RAM Optimizer. They're both free! Happy And you can get them from www.download.com.

I hope this helps you. Wink

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Thanks...
Mar 19, 2005 11:34PM PST

That Ram Booster really works! ! finnaly can use my comp with having it crash a hundreds times day! Thanks a bunch!