turboDean

iTrader: (4)

Every now and then i keep getting an Error saying my laptop is low on memory and to close programs, normally only using Firefox at the time.
The laptop is a Dell Inspirion 1520 with 1GB of RAM runing on Vista.

Had it earlier, closed firefox down and opened the Windows Taks Manager and it was saying that over 950MB was being used even though it wasn't actually doing anthing.

Any ideas???

richs2891

1G is a bit low for Vista especially if things like aero is turned on,
reboot the pc, turn off anything that is not used (vista has loads running that dont need - just Start, run, Msconfig and start up tab) and see if the message turns up.
Also check the amount of virtual memory - for easy life set it to system managed.

richard

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Yep more RAM is definately recommended. I'm running Vista x64 Ultimate on 4GB and 1/2 of that has disappeared to the O/S alone Seconded on the Virtual/Swap file side of things. Some manufacturers when they put an O/S on don't even have the swapped file enabled
Your best bet is to purchase some more RAM for the laptop as at the moment it's quite cheap to buy

turboDean

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the advice
Can't understand why they sell them with only 1GB running vista, would be better if it had XP on it really.

Iain Young

I've run Vista on a machine with 1GB ram on many occaisions, (with everything turned on) and never seen that message. Are you sure you haven't got any other software running in the background that might be using the resources?

What have you got installed for Antivirus software for example?

Vista memory handling doesn't work like XP. It caches programs in memory so that next time you load them, they come up quicker. If the memory is needed for something else, it will then free up the memory.

So, If you load firefox, and exit it again, the chances are that it's still in memory (waiting to be invoked again). If you run a different program that needs the memory, then it will unload firefox and give that memory to the new program. It's quite clever, and a lot more efficient than XP