Windows 98 error: Windows virtual memory minimum too low

Mom's new computer. I'm still running 98. This message came up on her desktop. What's it mean? Any action required?

Windows virtual memory minimum too low. Your system is low on virtual memory. Window is increasing the size of you virtual memory paging file. During this process memory requests for some application may be denied..

 

I would check the settings on the swap, AKA virtual memory, file. I doubt your Mom is a gamer, so just be sure it's set to 'Let Winderz figgure it out....'

 

Another way .

http://www.aumha.org/a/memmgmt.htm
To improve swap file ( Virtual Memory ) usage on systems ( W9x/ME ) with more than
64Meg RAM .

DON'T set any min/max parameters . Let Windows handle it!
Put this entry in the system.ini file under [386enh] .
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1
Check on your swap file occasionally; if you haven't been playing
games or running intensive apps, the swap file often will be 0 (zero).

 

Performance OPtions in XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308417

NOTE*The default size of the virtual memory pagefile (appropriately named Pagefile.sys) was created during installation is 1.5 times the amount of RAM on your computer.

Depending upon how much ram was/is available and all the varibles this involves that initial value may not have been enough based on the users multitasking habits (or the amount of ram needed to load and run the programs they have opened at one time).

This looks like Xp has now determined that that initial size was not enough and is issueing a warning that that amount needs to be and will be increased. I assume since that increase wil not take effect until a reboot, programs may still be resource starved.

Part of XP's ability to monitor and adjust to a users habits and needs:
Not unusal, Xp has done this at least once on one of the comps at home. Of course it only has 74mgs of ram, hence the need to increase that initial swapfile or in XP lingo "Pagefile.sys ".

===========
The above may be normal and no cause for worry after increasing the "paging file size ". But (there's always a "but ", isn't there?) there are bad things to aware of such as those programs with memory leaks or bad ram or a corrupted Swapfile or a swapfile that has found it's properties mysteriously changed to read only. Known bug for some is having the "Indexing Service" enabled. This may be resource hog with a never ending appetite.

After making sure the size increase does not seem unreasonable, I'd let the pagefile.sys increase occur and see if this takes care of the problem.

If the size is unusauly large or I still ran into memory problems I'd look to other causes for the said same.

 

How do you know when Windows has finished increasing the virtual memory? I've had the same message pop up from the taskbar the last few days, when I have tried to play a game I just got. The game is Medal of Honor Allied Assault Breakthrough. If I try to play the game, the game is real choppy and freezes up. I have several other games from the same series that play with no problem.

 

With W98, before stating the game do ALT/CTRL/DEL and end process on all EXCEPT exployer and systray.

 

Hi Ann - 98 or SE ?
regards

 

LDTate,

I don't have Windows 98, I have XP Home Edition. Any suggestions for that OS?

 

Bucksone, I'd read the post and visit the link goddez1 posted in this thread.
I've only had one or two games that gave me trouble with W98SE. In both cases it was a problem with my video card. My card wouldn't work with the game. (Medal of Honor). Might want to visit the game site and see if anything is listed with your issues with the game in their FAQ.