Windows memory message

My elderly computer has just thrown a message alert ...... insufficient memory. Windows is doing something......sorry, can't remember what.

Should I check disk space to see what's going on?

Re: Windows memory message

do you know how much memory your pc has? if it's I MB or less you'll struggle especially if you're trying to open too many programmes at once

Re: Windows memory message

I would think so with 1MB of memory, but I can tell you got your GBs and MBs mixed up.

It might have been a message about Windows Virtual Memory, which isn't memory in the conventional sense. It's a section of the hard drive reserved for swapping things that aren't being used out of RAM and temporarily onto the hard drive. If your hard drive is down to it's last couple of hundred MB of free space you need to free up some hard drive space by having a good clear-out of unwanted files and programs.

Re: Windows memory message

You could also go into accessories>system tools > disc defragmenter.
over a period of time the hard disc can get in a twist with bits of files in all different places. A defrag will sort out it's housekeeping put files in order clear out any rubbish and free up disc space. depending what version of Windows you might also have "disc clean up" which will isolate any problem areas of disc surface.

Re: Windows memory message

I had a blonde moment! I actually posted GB then changed it!
I need to lie down in a darkened room!

Re: Windows memory message

Same thing happened with my ancient laptap a few months ago .... message telling me that it would carry out a disc defragmentation ... it did and it cleared about 40 GB of space ... amazing considering that the laptop only has a 75 GB of memory.

Re: Windows memory message

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/112676

Try that

Re: Windows memory message

Thanks for all the replies. I ran CCleaner only a short while ago after posting on here for a what I should do to keep my computer healthy.
I appear to have only one drive (the last techie to "fix" my computer merged D into C as well as friending himself on my facebook page!) - which is System C which says it has 76.6 GB capacity, 49.2 of which is free.

If I need to free up some space, there are programs I no longer use, but someone once told me to delete with caution!

Re: Windows memory message

If you don't want anything you have down loaded should be no problem deleting them.

Re: Windows memory message

Well, 50 gig spare is pretty good on such a tiny hard drive, so I would rule out it being a Virtual Memory message you're getting. I wouldn't delete anything. The size of the hard drive and use of the words "elderly computer" suggest you might have a pretty basic computer with about 500MB of RAM, and if so adding more RAM would help a bit.