30: How Do I Change My Virtual Memory Settings

Microsoft usually recommend that you allow Windows XP to manage your virtual memory (also referred to as Paging File.) However, sometimes you can get bombarded with messages saying that you do not have enough virtual memory and Windows needs to make necessary adjustments to the virtual memory.

In order to get around this problem it sometimes becomes necessary to manually adjust the virtual memory. This can be done in the following way.

Click the Start button.
From the Start menu Click Control Panel.
When the Control Panel window opens click the System Icon.
In the System Properties window click the Advanced tab.
The top section of the Advanced tab window is market Performance.
Click the Settings button.
The Performance Options window opens.
Click the Advanced tab.
At the bottom of the window you will see a section marked 'Virtual Memory' Click the Change button.
In the next window your main C: drive should already be highlighted. If it isn't then right click on it with your mouse to highlight it.
Now look just below the Drive section. You will see a section marked 'Paging File for selected drive.'
Right click on the radio button next to the Custom size to enable this option.
The Custom Size dialog box now become available for use.
The normal formula for virtual memory is 1.5 times that of your physical memory. So if you have 128MB of physical memory the formula would be as follows:

128 + 64 = 192MB (64MB being half of 128).

In the Initial Size (MB) dialog box type in 192MB (or whatever figure you have calculated - in our example 192MB).
In the Maximum Size (MB) dialog box type the same figure, i.e., 192MB.
Now click the Set button to save your new settings.
Next click OK.
In the next screen click the Apply button followed by OK.
You should now be back at the System Properties window. Click OK to Exit.