Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of Claude Constantinescu
Claude Constantinescu

asked on

Computer Low on memory and frozen

I have an HP desktop with Windows 7 Pro on it that all of the sudden today it stopped working, the hour glass goes round and round and I have nothing open.
I looked into Event Viewer and a couple times it says Low on memory because of Outlook or Genie or .Net framework. I uninstalled Genie, but I can't uninstall the other 2 programs.
I can't even shut down the system it just stays there.
I ran malwarebytes on it but doesn't find anything
The virtual memory is controlled by the system, and it says it's set at 9999 and the recommended is 5999
Have you seen this before?

Thanks
Avatar of Steven Carnahan
Steven Carnahan
Flag of United States of America image

Can you open task manager and see what is using the memory? It will be on the processes tab.  You may need to show processes from all users (will require elevate permissions)
Avatar of Russ Suter
Russ Suter

Virtual memory? Is this a virtual machine or are you running virtual machines on this system?

If I had to guess, of the programs you mentioned above I'd say Outlook is the most likely culprit. You might have a corrupt PST file. You can try running a repair on your PST file. Instructions from Microsoft on how to do this can be found here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/272227
Avatar of Claude Constantinescu

ASKER

I cannot even open Task Manager, the thing goes round and round
No this is not a virtual machine
You can get into event viewer and system properties but not task manager?

Do you have applications currently running on it? What happens if you hit Alt+Tab? Does it switch between the applications?

You may need to do a hard boot (hold the power key until it powers off).  As soon as it comes up to the desktop open task manager and put it on the processes tab.  The memory will jump around for a little while until all the startup processes have completed but then watch for one that steadily increases.  Although it really sounds more like a CPU issue than memory so watch that as well.
Let me explain that.
I do shut down the computer by keeping the power button pressed
When I start it again I have a few minutes before it goes haywire to check the Even Viewer, at that time Task Manager works, but nothing is running
When it starts going round and round I cannot do anything anymore and then I get this message
Virtual-memory-message.PNG
If you have a few minutes when the computer starts you can launch the Task Manager and watch which application starts eating memory.

You can also try running msconfig and disabling startup items. The extreme case of this would be to start in safe mode just to make sure things run normally in that environment.
I did what you said and this is what i found
IMG_3829.JPG
IMG_3830.JPG
SOLUTION
Avatar of Steven Carnahan
Steven Carnahan
Flag of United States of America image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
I will try that, thanks
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
It doesn't do it in safe mode
I disconnected computer from the network and I am running another malware bytes
Try blowing out dust and junk.  also reseat memory and all connectors.

If you still have issues, use the Ultimate Boot CD...http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

and run some tests on your memory.

I'd say you either have memory hardware issues or the OS has become corrupted and needs to be re-installed.

You can either do a bare metal or a non-destructive repair.  I'd try the non-destructive repair first.  Be sure to backup all of your data.
If it doesn't do it in safe mode then it is probably a program in the startup.
I found a mallware called ShopAtHome.com installed on the computer, I uninstalled it and works good now, it was also in the Startup
Thanks
You may want to add a spyware program to your arsenal.  ShopAtHome is what is called a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program).  Those and BHO's (Browser Helper Objects) are two of the biggest problems I see.
Thank you for advice, I thought Symantec would catch that but I was wrong!