Ten Ways to Make Windows Me Run Better March 2, 2001
By Fred Langa


4. Tweak Your System Properties, Part Two


Excerpt from the above.

Next, in My Computer/Properties/Performance/Virtual Memory, select "Let me specify my own memory settings," and set either a fixed-size or fixed-minimum-size swap file so WinMe won't have to spend time calculating, allocating, and de-allocating swapfile space as you use the system. (The payoff: Smoother operation; fewer system "stutters;" fewer long interruptive bursts of hard drive activity. A set-size swapfile also will be permanently defragmented when you run WinMe's own Defrag utility, so your speed gains won't diminish over time.)

If disk space isn't a problem, I suggest you set the "Minimum" virtual memory amount equal to your amount of system RAM, and the "Maximum" amount equal to that shown in "Hard Disk" box. If disk space is a problem, on low RAM systems, set the Min and Max equal to about 2.5 times amount of RAM in system. If that's still too much space to set aside, set Min equal to one-half RAM. Max equal to RAM.

I'd like to apply the above in bold. As I have only 64MB of Ram. When I tried this. I received a warning stating:

~You have chosen to not to let windows manage virtual memory automatically. You may not be able to restart your computer or your system may not perform optimally. Do not continue unless you are sure you need to specify your own virtual memory settings. Are you sure you want to continue?

Should I heed this warning. Or should I go ahead with this ME tweak? And if so. Is my math correct in that the settings would be 160 for both Min and Max? At 2.5 times the RAM (64 MB)

I added more to my XP or set the settings higher and yet sometimes I still run out! Only cas' I open to much at one time.

I like his site the stuff he says is very valid and works!

Also I think that error came on mine. Right now I set mine to have high mem. but windows does add it if more is needed. So windows does take care of it for me if it goes above my settings.

So it is ok for me to go ahead with this?

Thanks CGM3 ...Does anyone else have an opinion on this? Messing around with my system makes me just a little nervous. And I'd like a little more insight.

Scarlett (Been awhile huh?)

I haven't been around to get to this before and I'm sorry. Please don't worry.
My opinions are as follows:

For starters, I'm not sure I'd follow that tweaking. It's dated March 2001. I don't know why but I'd feel more comfortable with newer information, personally.
Secondly, I trust nobody but Black Viper. That's the site I was using and I had no worries about which ones I selected. I'm sure you remember that I also have WinME.
Finally, the one tweak you are asking about, I'd just leave it to where it was originally. You can see what Black Viper says about virtual memory but for me, I'd leave it where it was.


I've missed you. Hope all is well, online and off. Take care and let me know what you think and and what you've decided about your tweaking.

Would you mind providing a link to the article?

If you want to do this tweak, it is really up to the answer of this question: Do you have ample free hard drive space?

The reason why I ask about your HD is because this is where your swap file is located.

Virtual memory=swap file + actual RAM

Your swap file is a special file that Windows uses to swap information in and out of RAM. Here is an excerpt of my upcoming hardware tutorial (still in re-writes, so wording may differ slightly from final report)that explains it good:

If you think of RAM as something that is within arm's reach, then you can get a better understanding on how this memory is used. Items (or files, in the case of a computer), can be used faster, when it is in front of you. You can place, use, and move anything that you need. As you start using specific items more often, you move them closer, so that it does not take as long to retrieve. After a while you may have too much stuff and it has become cluttered. You'll have to take some time to clean it up and re-organize it. If you see that you still need more room for the things that you want, then you might place priorities on certain ones. Things you want fast access to, but you don't necessarily use all the time. You might place them behind your back so that they do not use up as much space in front of you. You still have quick access to them, but it does take a little longer to use them and then put them back. A computer does the same thing, but uses a portion of the Hard Drive(HD), as if it was RAM, and saves it as a special file, close to the OS (Operating System).

...

The Operating System manages everything about this special type of file [paging or swap file](except when you change your HD), and will only use what is available as free space on the Hard Drive. If your Hard Drive is nearly full, then the Paging File will be limited. When you clean out the Hard Drive, replace it, or add another one, then there is more free space for the paging file. When adding another HD or replacing your existing one with a larger capacity, you may need to increase your paging file. Search in Window's help for 'increasing paging file' on how to do this.


Before you do this tweak, I would highly recommend that you go to Safe Mode and delete the files in your recycle bin. You may even find it useful to apply the change in Safe Mode as well. When you restart the computer back to normal, you may find that it actually runs a little slower. Use the computer like you normally would for an hour or so, and restart it once again. After that restart, you will see that it is faster. Again-you will only see a benefit if your HD has enough free space for the change.

Here it is JE ...

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showA...12803483&pgno=4

Do you have ample free hard drive space?


Not sure. How excactly do I figure that out? ......Does this help?
This old thing has only 64MB of RAM. Local Disc capacity is 1.96GB. As of now I have 408MB free. With 1.56GB used.

Memory: 64.0 MB of RAM

System Resources: 59% free

File System: 32-bit

Virtual Memory: 32-bit

Thanks so much for all your help!!

Nice work on the tutorial.

That's a low resource level but I'm sure it depends on how long you have been online and how long the computer has been on and running and how much you've opened, ran programs, etc...
Do you use your computer for work, have a lot of programs on it, or is it an older computer that was updated to WinME?
I'm just curious because your numbers differ so greatly compared to mine.
I'm watching this thread to see how ya end up, Scarlett and what people suggest you do.

Older computer - Win 95 updated to ME. Yes it is pretty well loaded up. I just set System Restore Space to min 200MB which brought me up from 200 or so MB free disk space. To what I have now 400 or so. When I disable System Restore and then enable it again flushing it. I can have around 600 or so. I use CCleaner regularly. I always keep Recycle Bin cleaned too. Same goes for my Cache. Like I said it is loaded up though. But I baby it and do maintance continuously. It is a home computer.

My 98SE 6 years old is running on 1mb of ram!! LOL

You said that you have 408MB free space on you HD. This includes any amount already allocated for the swap file that you currently have. If you want to change the file to 160MB (as your first post), then you should be ok. The reason why it tells you that warning is because ME does not like YOU telling IT what to do. Logistics behind it-thats about it really.

A mentioned before that you should empty the recycle bin in Safe Mode. I was not aware of your free space at the time. You may want to consider defragging in Safe Mode prior to doing this change.

You will be using a greater portion of your HD for it, so you may want to look at how much free space you have after you have rebooted.

Remember, it may take 2 restarts to see a difference. From my estimates, you would be looking at about a 10% in overall speed. Especially when you have multiple applications open.

Now would be a good time to do a benchmark on your computer. Sure you could have yet another application open, but why waste CPU and RAM with it, when that is what you are testing ? Here is how to do a manual benchmark. Get some paper and something to write with along with a stopwatch.

1-You want to establish a general speed on your computer. Without making any changes, turn the computer off, just like you normally do. Start your timer as soon as you turn your computer on, and stop it when you are able to click an icon. You may even want to double-click it and stop the timer after it has opened up, and record the time as start-up base time. Open up 2 of your favorite applications and use the timer to see how long they take. Record these times on the paper as well, along with the names of the applications. Finally, shut the computer down, starting the timer when you begin the method, and finishing when the computer has shut down completely. This is your final log (again everything is on paper).

2-Now that you have some base times, it is time to tweak your system. Turn your computer on like normal or Safe Mode, if needed, and apply the needed changes. During this step, you do not have to log any times, because they will not really take effect until you have restarted the computer. When finished, turn the computer off like normal.

3-Here is where you start your timers back up again, so have your paper ready . Turn the computer back on like normal, go through the same steps that you did with the base times, and log it. Open the same applications that you did before, and log those as well. Finally, turn the computer off for one final log time.

4-You may need to start the computer another time for similar testing. After this start, there should be all the difference that the tweak will make.


Out of curiousity, I would like for you to post back the log times. I am sure others would be curious

160MB for a swap file is pretty small. It may cause you low disk space errors, especially if you try to install a new program. My advice is to leave it alone. I've tried to manage my own virtual memory but Windows always seems to set it back.

What size is your swap file now? Go to Start>Find and do a search for *.swp and post back. You can safely delete your swap file if you immediately reboot and can possibly free up some disk space that way. Have you cleaned out your windows temp files?

You can also free up some disk space by going into add/remove programs and uninstalling any programs that are rarely or never used.

Welcome to BC Leurgy!!

I am glad to see that you are offering advice shortly after joining. The world (or is it internet, I can never remember), can be a very confusing set of applications working with Operating Systems combined with hardware, ran by people. Some people are more knowledgable then others, but then again, some OSs, applications, and hardware are re-programmed without the users knowledge.

Back to the task at hand.

It is true that 160 MB is a rather small swap file, but it is my understanding(and I could be wrong) that it is at least larger then the one she has currently.

Although I have not personally deleted the swap file and restarted immediately, would you recommend you do this in Safe Mode? Since the Swap file has the lowest of priority in virtual memory, it is possible that it would be considerably slower to turn the computer off. Your thoughts?

Also, what do you think of the crude benchmarking technique? Do you think it will be helpful to Scarlett to see if (whichever technique used) would be a benefit to her computer?

Thanks for the welcome!

I would imagine her current swap file is considerably larger than 160MB now. That is why I asked her to do a search for it, to find out the size. I do know that it will grow as needed but will not shrink on its own.

I made a mistake here as the swap file cannot be deleted from Windows but must be done in Dos, so safe mode does not really enter into it. Windows rebuilds the swap file on reboot.

I like your "crude" benchmark and have used it myself. It helps to show someone how unnecessary programs running in the background can slow a computer.

Hi Leurgy and thanks for the input. Here it is guys.

WIN386.SWP 140MB

And yes Temp Files are cleaned out often enough. Via "CCleaner"

Hi Scarlett

As you can see, there would not be a whole lot of benefit in messing with your virtual memory. You have 140MB letting Windows manage it and by manually setting it you are shooting for 160. As I said, I have tried to set it and Windows usually sets it back. My advice is to leave it as it is.

Yes I see that. Thank you oh so much! Both of you.

JE That "benchmark test will be done hopefully? tomorrow. Between working 6 days a week and the Holidays plus all other "responsibilities" my head is spinning.

hiya everybody!

just wanna put my .023¢ worth...
64mb is really small amount of ram for a computer...
i believe your machine would greatly benefit from
adding more ram!

i am in the position where some people (at work
and other places) give me dying and dead computers...
i strip out the usable parts and toss the dead stuff,
including the case (i have limited storage!!)

what i am offering here... is if your computer uses
PC66 or PC100 memory i have some extra ram here
that is in good working condition... should you want
it i can ship it to you (im not asking for your actual
home address, P.O. box works great... or a third
party address...) i would not expect the shipping to
be more than 2-3$... if you could help out that
would be grand, but if not i would still like to get the
memory to you.

--rex

Oh yes. How so very sweet of you. Let's figure something out. I would of course pay the shipping costs.

How do I find out if this applies to my 'puter?

PC66 or PC100 memory

what manufacturer/model is your machine?
if custom built, what is the manufacturer/model of your motherboard?

with this info i can find out myself...

thanks,

--rex

OMG Please don't laugh.

Acer 1242

O.K. You can stop laughing anytime now.

Crucial's memory website for your Acer Aspire 1242

im not laughing... im wincing... i don't know if i have any EDO SIMMS...
if we have them at work im sure that they would be a giveaway...

your machine needs 32mb SIMMS (means they *have* to come in pairs)
EDO Non-parity 60ns... i'll just have to look.

this is the memory standard before PC66 and the shift to putting all the chips
on one memory module...

SIMM = Single Inline Memory Module
DIMM = Dual Inline Memory Module

what i was offering was a single DIMM of 128 mb... that just will not work.

don't despair, this can be worked thru!!

--rex

Thank you so much for all your trouble. I honestly thought my bubble would burst. Now it seems as though I may have some hope to hold on to still.

Don't be embarrassed by your computer lots of people use ones like yours. I look after three or four of them for friends.

Someone has already upgraded the Ram in your machine. It was sold with 32MB of ram. What I'm wondering is how the upgrade was done done. Your Motherboard has 4 slots for Ram. Depending on what is in there you may not have an empty slot. If it was sold with 32MB of Ram it had to be two 16's. If the upgrade was 2 more 16's (which is very likely) then your slots are full. In that case you need at least 2 32MB sticks to see any gain. However that would only bring you to 80MB of Ram from 64MB. 4 sticks of 32MB Ram (128MB) would be fine for yours.

I think if you do get more ram you will be pleasantly surprised at how much faster it gets.

Another cheap and easy upgrade would be to get a 4 or even 8 MB video card, if you can find one. You would like the result of that too. As it stands you only have 1 MB of Video Ram.

Very good call on the difference in Scarlett's swap file, Leurgy! You are absolutely correct that the visual difference would be very slim. It is even likely that it would not be noticed at all. Also, good call on the different RAM configurations that are possible in the computer.

Rexifelis thanks for your .023¢ worth, although I argue that it is worth more

Scarlett, I was thinking (I know, I do it sometimes), is there a mom/pop computer store near you? It is possible that they would have some RAM that they would sell to you real cheap, that you can use.

all the edo ram i have is only 2, 4 or 8 mb each simm...
bleh... sorry. i will ask my boss tomorrow about digging
thru the closet for you tomorrow... it's fun looking thru
there, machines that cost over 3 grand each now nothing
better than bookends and used to level uneven table legs...

heh... there is a department where i work that has two
"drawing" tables in their commons room... upon looking
closer these tables have 220 watt power plugins in them...
looking under them they have 2 8" floppy drives built
into them... manufactured by NEC in ... i forget the date.

no telling just how much was spent on these tables...
just so that in the future they would become drawing
tables... heh.



--rex

O.K.

How horrible and sad $3,000 "drawing tables". But at least they are being put to use.

Santa came early. I now have a Dell150F4P Monitor. Flatscreen. A friend sold it to Santa for $150. Barely used. Almost new. He also told Santa that if it would require a video card, he could help out with that as well. Plug and play and up and running. I told Santa that he should check into a video card anyway. Being as I only have 1MB of video RAM.

Wow what a difference. The old monitor was a huge monstrous piece of equipment.

Hey Scarlett, thats great. Your first step on the road to an upgrade. Can you send your Santa down my chimney too?

Be careful about the video card. The newer ones may not work due to the bus speed requirements. If you were to download and run Belarc Advisor I could give you a better idea of what to look for. You could post it here or email it to me through my profile.

BTW, I think that was $3000 drawing tables, not 3000 drawing tables unless they have a REALLY BIG drawing room.

Is this the one?

Oops I forgot $ sign.

Yes I was quite suprized to find a huge package under the tree for me when I came home from work last nite. I did not want to open it yet. But Santa insisted.

Thanks for the offer to help w/ video card. But the same friend that sold the monitor is quite a whiz at all this sort of thing. If he can't figure it out though I'll be sure to let you know.

Yes that is it I think. Pretty huh?

Really nice.

Ok, let me know if there is a problem.

Will do.