Memory on the graphics card is not an alternative to memory on the motherboard. They fulfill two different functions. I would guess that it's the main memory on the motherboard which is your problem. As Optimist says 384Mb is far too little these days.

You could look up the manual for the motherboard on the manufacturer's website to see the maximum memory it will take (it is likely to be 3 x 256Mb). After 9 years it might be more cost effective to buy a new pc though.

The bottom line is it's not worth spending loads of money on a system which only has limited RAM, small hardDrive (8GB) & obsolete slots.
ISA changed to PCI, to AGP1 then AGP2 & now PCI Express. Most plug in boards now seem to have PCI Express which is not compatible to any previous slot.
Have now found an old Voodoo3 graphics card which has improved things a little, but as you say, a new P.C. is probably the way forward.

Harry

It does sound as though you may be better with a new PC. If you're on a budget, you could pick up a new box (mius the O/S, monitor etc) for 150.

If you do decide to increase the RAM, my experience is that even old boards will take at least 256MB per slot but you may have to update the BIOS.

I have just upgraded my PC memory from 2GB to 4GB. Do I need to change any settings to get maximum benefit from the additional memory.

I am running Windows XP

I think it was Opti who explained to me about increasing pagefile size accordingly so as to correspond with physical memory, Jeffie. It should be a previous post on this thread, but it'll be quite a way back.

I have just done mine, sadly only from 384mb to 768mb, but the bios should find and read the new memory. The bootup screen will show what it is reading.
One thing I did find out though, is that when upgrading the memory you should check to see if the motherboard was designed to take it. Stamped on the motherboard is the manufacturer's name & the model number. On the manufacturer's website there will be a facility to input the info & check to see what upgrades are advised. RAM is definitely checkable as speed & type are not always interchangeable.

Harry
it has picked up the memory and is recognising it ok. I ran the crucial scan and bought their recommended memory.

I just wondered if I need to change virtual memory or anything else to get the most benefit

Windows XP can't use all of the 4GB because some virtual memory space is needed to map system devices. Look in task manager to see how much total physical memory you have available. The maximum is just over 3Gb I think, but there may also be a BIOS setting to do with obtaining extra memory in this situation. You would have to look at the motherboard manual but it may be called something to do with device mapping.

Physical memory is showing as 3143648, available 2460000, cache 84000

So XP is only seeing just over 3Gb, that is a limitation to do with 32-bit XP. There might be a BIOS option that might help, but to be honest you don't seem to need the extra memory. You are using less than 1GB (3143648 less 2460000) at least with the programs loaded at the time.

Help--I have recently treated myself to a Dell laptop and wireless router. I had problems connecting even when right next to the main computer/router paid to have it set up for me and after a week had to pay again as it started playing up again showing limited access and wouldn't connect. The chap said it was too advanced for my weak broadband as I'm a long way from the station and therefore lucky to get b/band so he adjusted the settings and said it should now be fine---it was for three days! now I'm back to a laptop I can't use. I know nothing about computers but is there a booster kit I can get?

There is no booster kit but improving the house telephone wiring often helps matters a lot if you have telephone extension sockets. If you have a new style BT telephone socket, remove the face plate and plug the router directly into the test socket underneath. If that makes a difference then matters can be improved.

As regards virtual memory, the rule of thumb used to be (in the days when RAM and disks where a lot smaller) that the virtual memory or swap file should be 2.5 to 3 times the installed RAM.

If you have 3GB+ of RAM that would be ridiculous, I'm not even sure that Windows can use any of it if it is already up to it's maximum installed.

What is worth doing is to set the min and max page file sizes to be the same. That way, when it starts to use it, at least it won't waste time adjusting the file size. On 3 GB RAM try 1GB page file, possibly 1.5 GB for 768 MB RAM. You will be reaching for the off switch before those levels are reached.

opto
Where do I set the page sizes

Right click My Computer - Select Properties - Select Advanced Tab - Click Settings button in Performance box - Select Advanced Tab - Click Change button in Virtual Memory box.

I forgot to mention, If you have a second physical hard drive (as opposed to a second partition on your main HDD) then put your page file on that disk.

OPTO
They are set to initial size 3067MB, Maximum size 4092MB. You suggest setting to 1000MB?

With the intention of speeding up my machine, I'm interested in doing this page file thingy too, Optimist.

If you were to put the page file on a separate disc drive, (ie, other than on drive C or on a partition) then what if the PC should go wrong or you forget that you've done this thing?

I'm thinking, if my computer goes wrong 6 months to a year down the line, well, I'll take it in to be repaired. But I'll forget I've done this for sure! And the repairer wouldn't think to find out if my PC has a missing page file on Drive C or not, would he?

I think that to put the page file on a second drive, that's even external to the PC itself, might be a bit too far advanced for me to do because of my own crap memory. I reckon I need a memory page file, sorta kinda, myself.

:-)

A page file of 3G or more may comply with the rules that Windows uses to calculate the optimum size (a multiple of the installed RAM) but would be totally impractical even if 32 bit Windows could use that much, which I doubt.

Virtual memory was invented to get round the problem of not enough RAM in the days when extra RAM was prohibitively expensive. It takes at least 200 times longer to access virtual memory than normal RAM so the best bet is not to use it at all.

Unfortunately, Windows likes to have at least a small page filein order to run so you may as well give it 1 GB or so just to be on the safe side but if you ever manage to use it all then you will have stopped your computer. If you don't believe me then try opening a mere couple of hudred photographs at once and see what happens.

Any page file that you have is best run on a seperate hard drive than your main one because otherwise the same disk will be tryng to read the operating system and the page file at the same time. The file also needs to be contiguous as far as possible. Many defrag programms will not defrag the page file (the paid for version of Diskeeper will) but you can get round this by reducing the file to the minimum, defrag the disk and then reinstate the page file.

Unless you have an external SATA or possibly a Firewire connection, it is not worth running a page file on an external disk because these are significantly slower and in any case, Windows may not allow it.

If you have your page file on a secondary disk and then remove it, the worst problem that you will get is that Windows will not start because it needs a swap file. All you need to do is start in safe mode and reinstate it. If you are really worried about that possibility then leave a small (30MB) page file on your C Drive.

I you wonder how much memory your PC can take and the type and size of the memory chips then see this site which will scan your PC and tell you the details

http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner/index.aspx

Well I've done something stupid again, and I seem to be thicker than usual.
Having been bugged for most of yesterday with threats to re-start my machine in order to install updates, I finally let the updates have their wicked way last night.

Only this morning, when I switched on again, my second screen didn't light up. (Heck, I'm shortly going to 4 screens, and I can't even manage 2)
So I've diddled about with the screen settings, and although the 2nd screen is alight now, mousie doesn't want to go there - and basically, it's blank.
I mucked about too much with the settings, because now I don't even have the option to revert to the previous setting, which was multiple screen something or other - now I just have no.2, which is generic PnP monitor on 256MB ATI radeon X1300 Pro.

I don't even know why the updates upset everything in the first place - these are the ones:

Cumulative Security Update for ActiveX Killbits for Windows Vista (KB956391)

Installation date: ‎16/‎10/‎2008 10:49

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

Security issues have been identified in ActiveX controls that could allow an attacker to compromise a system that is running Microsoft Internet Explorer and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=125345

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Update for Windows Mail Junk E-mail Filter [October 2008] (KB905866)

Installation date: ‎16/‎10/‎2008 10:48

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Recommended

Install this update for Windows Mail to revise the definition files that are used to detect e-mail messages that should be considered junk e-mail or that may contain phishing content. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=79015

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Security Update for Windows Vista (KB954211)

Installation date: ‎16/‎10/‎2008 10:48

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

A security issue has been identified that could allow an authenticated local attacker to compromise your Microsoft Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=121738

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - October 2008 (KB890830)

Installation date: ‎16/‎10/‎2008 10:48

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

After the download, this tool runs one time to check your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps remove any infection that is found. If an infection is found, the tool will display a status report the next time that you start your computer. A new version of the tool will be offered every month. If you want to manually run the tool on your computer, you can download a copy from the Microsoft Download Center, or you can run an online version from microsoft.com. This tool is not a replacement for an antivirus product. To help protect your computer, you should use an antivirus product.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=39987

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Security Update for Windows Vista (KB957095)

Installation date: ‎16/‎10/‎2008 10:47

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

A security issue has been identified that could allow an authenticated remote attacker to compromise your Microsoft Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=127994

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Security Update for Windows Vista (KB956841)

Installation date: ‎16/‎10/‎2008 10:47

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

A security issue has been identified that could allow an authenticated local attacker to compromise your Microsoft Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=128103

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista (KB956390)

Installation date: ‎16/‎10/‎2008 10:47

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

Security issues have been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a system that is running Microsoft Internet Explorer and gain control over it. You can help protect your system by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.

More information:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=128060

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com


Short of doing a system restore (and then what will happen about the updates?) - any ideas please?