Free up Windows memory

I just tested this for some one else. But a while ago, I installed the rev 1 out(slightly buggy), whent to two microsoft sites. One tells you what programs you need to load. WellI loaded everything I could find from both sites. Now I do not know if this is the reason I recover my memory. I did notice recently while fooling around with freeware or shareware programs, which I have several drawers full, that they have a tendence on not releasing memory.

I have 128megs, and if I need to run all thes programs plus the microsoft development package, I would need about 500megs. Well after loading illustrator, autdesk,explorer,outlook express,pagemilland photostyler I found my resources drop down form 92 to 32 percent. The conventional memory stayed at 608. As I unloaded, the memory was returned. This is the only observation I have. Now one of the MS sites analyzes your system and tells you what you need. There is a fix for when windows will not say it is ready to shut down.

These are the sites:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default2.htm?page=productupdates

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default2.htm?page=productupdates

One day as I was talking to a MS tec support, abother thing than my question, he stated that he need to reboot his pc, because he was very low on resources. So I am sure they are aware of a problem, which I think is a third part problem,

try ctrl-alt-del to close the programs

Ironbar,
I'll try it and get back toyou after a couple of days of testing.  Thanks for the suggestion.
Rick

Iron bar: Out of curiosity does it work. I had it but took it off.What I tried is Ramdrive in win 98 at 16 megs, it of course quickened the pace of the pc only. I save frequently so no problems of the volitile memory.

If I remember correctly (hit a fire hydrant head on, short term memory) Win95, was reluctant to return memory.

I an not looking for any points, since you seem to be on track, but definately the amount of resources depends upon the amount of programs open. Since I do some website work, the scanner, is the heaviest user,then if I leave about three mor programs open the rsources do decrease. Only thing I do is minimize the programs which helps some. Isee as my solution to my problem if I will continue is more megs installed.

I will also go back and try ram boost.

There is a program called MEMTURBO (www.memturbo.com) get it !!!
It brings my 128 MB-RAM-system back from 10 MB free to 90 !!!)

rmbishow. Okay - I'd be interested in the MEMTURBO that BeTaKAT offers. Try them both - can't hurt.

gonzal13. I'm running 32m and use FrontPage2k for web development so I have 4-8 things open at a time. I've had target set at 4m and it seems to have eliminated my fails - but I just now bumped to target 8, release 6 and alarm at 3. I'll watch that for awhile. I'm told it is "resources" not memory that causes the problems, but ....

You would enjoy the feel at 32megs and get giddy at 64 - especially in web work. But WIN (anyversion) will always want more.  If your disk drive(s) are turning a lot and you have to wait - more mem will help.

Anyway, we'll see what the new settings do.

Later.

If you just CNTR ALT Del and end task on the exporer it should free up your resources again when it refreshes.
Hope this helps.

Just found this that might help:
http://home.cnet.com/category/0-3805-7-309039.html?st.cn.3805-7-309035.txt.3805-7-309039

Windows' memory management can be pretty sloppy. Instead of releasing the RAM allocated to a program once you exit the program, Windows hangs on to that RAM, and your system crawls along without it while you either reboot or beg for mercy (which, by the way, won't help). RAMBooster defragments your system's memory--both your RAM and your disk cache--to free up more memory for other applications. And while many apps can optimize memory, this clever freebie also lets you set aside a specific amount of memory for a particular program.

I'm testing RAMbooster and MEMTURBO and will return with my impression soon. Thanks for the suggestions.  I sure hope that this will help to plug the memory leak inherent in Window's OS.  

If I had say...256k RAM instead of my 96k, would the RAM abundance  protect me from this problem?
Rick

Don't bet on it ... Win would win.  Everybody says Bill G got his $$ from Windows - not so. He got it from investing in RAM chip makers. (:))

IB

rmbishow-
I recently answered a question like this one that was caused by TSR's at startup causing the leakage.  That person had over 300MB RAM.  So to answer your question correctly it would be maybe.
Good luck.

OK!  I tried both Memturbo and RamBooster.  They both work about equally well.  Memturbo has better Help Files though.  Both recover memory, but after a few minutes the memory seems to leech out again.  After several consecutive tries the memory comes in smaller amounts and for lasts shorter times.  It does probably keep me going longer before having to reboot. Oh Well.

Thanks again to all for your helpful comments.
Rick

Rick, Thanks.

Have you tried setting the RAMboost levels higher? With 96m RAM maybe the settings near the default are too low.  I manually trip the optimize when I feel it necessary. With the automatic optimize at alarm level, I feel comfortable it won't normally run dry (set to 3 megs currently).

AndyB
IB