BleepingComputer.com: physical memory query

Hi all, this is actually my first post too... but basically my physical memory usage as stated by the task manager is always really high, like 70% + - my paging file was 3000 and my RAM is a gig, and I just upped the paging file to 5000 thinking it might help but someone the physical memory usage went up to 82%!?

I don't get what's going on. I've analysed all the processes going on behind the scenes and stuff but there's nothing that should be rinsing the physical memory like that... Maybe I've misunderstood exactly wot physical memory is or something?

as it stand i just checked it again and it's been running at 870meg consistantly for the last 5 mins at least, and yet the only thing I'm using is firefox! any ideas please?

cheers...

hello

1gb of ram is not enough for vista, I have 3gb and physical memory in task manager is 38% right now with just google chrome open...

you could try to reset your theme to a lower setting (like basic or classic) see if that helps. right click on desktop and choose "personalize" > theme > choose basic (from the drop down box) click apply and see if this helps....

what version of vista are you using? (is aero applied in themes?)

you could try using a spare flash drive for readyboost to see if that helps...

try the memory diagnostics test in vista, type memory in the search box, that will bring it up.. just click it and run the test to be sure!

best of luck !!

Quote

That's one very good point. You'd be much better with 2GB.

Regarding this:

Quote

Vista and Windows 7 handle RAM very different, than previous Windows versions.
In layman terms, starting with Vista, Windows motto regarding RAM is: "Unused RAM is a wasted RAM. I'll take everything, you give me".
More info:
Why Does Vista Use All My Memory? - http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000688.html

cheers guys those answers make a ot of sense. The only thinking that isn't adding e up at the moment is that something has happened recently where usage is higher than normal, and the hard drive light is flickering almost constantly now, but nothing's running, so i check out the processes and yeah there's a whole nuch of stuff that looks like it's draining the computer but i have no idea how to analayse wot's doing wot, or even how to get rid of unneeded processes, like i installed mysql ages ago, then uninstalled it, but there's still a process in there called mysql.exe and it appears to be have been allocated loooooads of memory and seems to be running! it's a wierd one, its like there's loads of ghost processes running and i can't identify where they are or turn them off...

my laptop has a partition with all the files i need to make a boot CD - i'm thinking of just completley wiping the laptop and reinstalling windows, but not sure how to go about it correctly, and pointers?

cheers guys, lots of help...

hello again

If it's a laptop you can set it back to factory settings with the click of a couple keys... http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-s...structions.html
If thats what you want, its really painless.

Go to start > type msconfig click on msconfig (in the menu) click OK @ UAC prompt > startup tab > see how much stuff starts, any thing you don't want to start just uncheck it and reboot...
(the only thing you really need to start is your anti virus)

While you are in msconfig, go to "boot" tab theres a little box on the right side that says "timeout" and probably has 30 seconds in the box, change that to 3 seconds. (this will speed your startup time!)...click apply and reboot.... good luck with whatever you decide.

Be aware. Msconfig is not a preferred method for disabling start-up items. Many programs that load at start-up can and should be disabled from with-in the specific program.

Some programs need to run at start-up for them to function properly. In my experience there are several AIO printers for an example that require starting at least one process with Widows for full functionality.

Use due diligence, and research when disabling start-up items. Many times it comes down to trial and error.

Download Autoruns for Windows: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinte...s/bb963902.aspx
No installation required.
Simply unzip Autoruns.zip file, and double click on autoruns.exe file to run the program.
Go File>Save, and save it as AutoRuns.txt file to know location.
You must select Text from drop-down menu as a file type:



Attach the file to your next reply.

ThunderZ, on Jan 28 2010, 02:56 PM, said:

hello

As a little test I just put "autoruns" on my laptop, enabled everything in "msconfig" startup tab... disabled the exact same items in autoruns....

It added about 12 seconds to my startup time, (21 loading bars) why?

Thanks

PS: I put everything back the way I had it, and I'm back down to 9 loading bars.. (thats how i timed my experiment !!)

Curious. But do`t have a clue.

thanks again guys, had a look at the info provided by msconfig and autoruns and there is sooo much stuff that shouldn't be running, let alone starting up on boot... However, I have decided to attach the autoruns file first as I am intrigued as to Broni's next piece of advice. I shall make my move from there...

Thanks all...

You have quite few unneeded startup, but it's not crucial at this point, because your computer is infected.
Start new topic in appropriate section.

erm, cheers, but wot's it infected with? i can't start a new topic if i don't know what to start it about lol..

thanks

Start new topic here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum103.html just stating, that your computer is infected and they'll ask you to run some scans.

ok cheers, all, will do