computer low on resources ----what?

[livincountry]

I have a Dell Dimension 2100 (Celeron) with 128M RAM. I kept getting a message that said "computer is running low on resources, please close some applications" something like that anyway. I thought it was RAM so I purchased another 128M of RAM from Dell. The RAM is recognized but the problem of "low resources" comes up unless I close all but one program at a time. I have cleaned out all the temp directories I can find. I do have a firewall and virus protection running all the time but I thought adding more RAM would fix this.

What the heck does "low resources" mean?

 

[Trev]

What operating system are you running? I'm told that with each release of Windows they increase the user resource area.. a cynical person might think they deliberately left it small initially so people would feel an incentive to upgrade. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Adding RAM doesn't seem to help.. I'm not really sure what does help, to be honest. Must be some Windows gurus here who have some ideas.

Maybe one of your programs has a memory leak.. that is, it doesn't release memory it's no longer using?

HTH,
Bob

 

[trailertrash]

here's a link to a good site that may help,

http://komando.master.com/texis/master/search/?s=SS&q=system+resources

this should take you right where you want to be

 

[OkeeDon]

I use a small, free program called FreeRam ( web page) to free up memory choked by memory leaks, but it doesn't affect system resources. Here's what the FreeRam program says about system resources:

"You may find that your System Resources (found by going to System Properties in Control Panels) is unchanged after FreeRAM XP Pro optimizes your memory. Some users have emailed me about this. Know that System Resources and RAM are two entirely separate, different entities. RAM is used by Windows to load and retrieve data quickly, while the System Resources can be used to store user and graphics information and to reference other memory. FreeRAM XP Pro optimizes your RAM, *not* your System Resources. Therefore System Resources usually remain unchanged after using FreeRAM XP Pro. However, FreeRAM XP Pro is able to monitor System Resources for you, and alert you if they get too low, which can cause problems (eg, freeze or crash).

"Note: Under Windows 95, 98, and ME, System Resources are limited to 2 MB. On Windows NT, 2k, and XP, it can grow and shrink to suit Windows' needs. That's why these operating systems tend to be more stable."

 

[Inspector507]

Our IT gurus at work told me to shut my computer down at least once a week to keep this from happening so often. I always shut mine down at home, but at work I just left it running. I now shut it off every Friday evening unless they're going to do maintenance.
Haven't had the problem in months.

 

[RoyJackson]

If you're running Win 98, you can try troubleshooting to see what (if anything) is eating the system resources.

If you go to START-PROGRAMS-ACCESSORIES-SYSTEM TOOLS, you'll see the Resource Meter application (or, you can type (or copy and paste) the following:

RSRCMTR.EXE

into your START-RUN window.

This application (it's on the Windows CD-ROM if not installed) monitors the usage of your system's RAM, CPU, etc.

 

[pruntyc]

If you will run Windows XP, you won't have the problem as they don't use the resources with it. So you won't have it anymore. I aways had it to, when I was using 98, or ME. but not with XP, that is why you don't have the crashes anymore either like with 98 or ME.

 

[livincountry]

Thank you for all the responses. Great insight!

I am running ME. I have (or had) the opportunity to upgrade to XP when I purchased it ~ 2 years ago. I'll have to see if this has expired or not. Thanks again!

 

[livincountry]

Trailertrash, the Kim Komando site is just what the doctor ordered.

Clark county? I live in Clark County. Just finished our week at the fair. The kids had hogs. Glad to see them go...Hogs not the kids! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks again.

Tony

 

[trailertrash]

livincountry:
I live just outside S. Charleston, it truly is a small world sometimes.We went to the fair twice , mud drags, and tractor pulls, young daughter child was there all week.Those boys(pullers) have some very, very expensive toys considering they only get to run about 5 mins. a week.I hope the k k site helps she has a lot of good info on there and a lot of free stuff too.