... or so my computer would like me to believe. Lately I've had a problem with my desktop PC (Dell) running Win98SE, with Intel P3 processor, and 128 MB RAM. Judging by recent threads, 128 should be more than enough RAM, but after running for a while, it begins to slow down, eventually refusing to open programs, giving me an error message instead, saying there is not enough memory. It suggests I close any other open programs, even when there is nothing else running except the “usual” background stuff (at least nothing that I’m aware of). At this point I have to reboot, which frees up some memory. Checking System Resources on the Performance Tab, under My Computer – Properties, its typically around 55% free just after rebooting, and maybe down to 10% or 13% free when I am forced to reboot. By way of comparison, there is an old first-generation Pentium dinosaur at the office, running Win95, with 32 MB RAM, and it has 92% of System Resources free, when none of the “major” programs are running. If I open on the Win95 machine (just as an example) a blank Powerpoint window, a blank Excel window, and a blank Word window simultaneously, the free resources drops to about 75%, then jumps back to 92% after I close them all up again) Only think I can think of is that there are programs running in the background, that I didn’t ask to run, or that the memory is for some reason not being released when a program is closed. My Norton AV does a full scan weekly and almost never finds anything. I’ve recently cleaned up with AdAware, which may have helped a bit, but its still a problem. Any suggestions?

With Resources at 55% after booting, you have WAY, WAY too much starting at boot time. All unnecessary apps. A reasonable target is in the 80's. So, when you run out of resources, you get an Out of Memory error. Use this site to reduce your startups. http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

Go to the "Start", "Run" and type in the command line "MSCONFIG". Go to "Startup" tab and see what is checked. These are the programs that are being loaded at startup. Just like the previous person stated, it sounds like you have to many things coming up on startup.

You posted: "Judging by recent threads, 128 should be more than enough RAM, but after running for a while, it begins to slow down" ------------------- Several points in your post that may help you to understand. First, 128MB RAM is plenty to run Win-98SE and several other programs of that era. However, it may well not be enough to deal with programs written in 2000 and later!!! This depends on what you are trying to run and when it was written (it's size). Second, When you check "system resources" this has specific meaning in Win 9x versions and it is NOT RAM!! It refers to to small 64k fixed memory management files in 9x that cannot be improved (has nothing to do with RAM or harddrive space). So.. what you have to do is stop needless programs from running (all the time)and wasting your system resources as well as RAM, etc. The other 2 posts are correct about how to locate what is auto-starting at each boot, and where to get info on how to cull out the needless ones: Players, office suites, scanners, OCR programs, schedulers, calendars, machine debug, etc, etc. Typically more than half of what you find in your 98 config utility should not be running in the background (STOP THEM!!) and have a good day.

DDS, I didn't start this thread but if Ken C doesn't mind, I'd like to ask you a question. quote: Second, When you check "system resources" this has specific meaning in Win 9x versions and it is NOT RAM!! Could you please tell me where I would check how much memory my computer uses? I've been going into My Computer\Control Panel\System and click on Performance, it tells me I have 256.0 MB of Ram and System Resources states currently right now 63% free. Isn't this the correct area to check this? Also if I may, I have cleaned up my systems tray but still after rebooting will only start out with 75% free. Is this about the best I can start with? Thank you for your time.

Hi Raylene, I would defer to what WhitPhil posted above, a Win98 puter with cleaned up start-up should show available "system resources" somewhere in the 80s% at first boot, but 75% isn't that far off of that mark is it. Some systems can run down to no resources before there are problems and/or an error but many show real problems below about 40% free resources. Again we have to be careful of what you mean when you ask about memory usage (what type?) Yes, you are in the right area to spot check "System Resource" (FREE), but this doesn't tell us about RAM usage. 256MB RAM should be OK for most average usage in 98 but it all depends on what programs YOU run (music or video editing or heavy gaming may demand more RAM) Even when RAM usage runs low you have virtual memory (pretend RAM area) dedicated on your harddrive to swap things around depending on your priority of what is open at any one time. You can go to Start, Programs, Accessories, see in the System Tools menu - click System Info. But this doesn't tell you much more. Also see if you have listed (in System Tools menu) "Resource Meter" and "System Monitor"? These are 2 more utilities for tracking usage levels. If you don't see them, they often are not installed but are on your installCD or .cab files on hdd. You said you "cleaned up your tray". Have you followed the "msconfig" instructions posted above to see all that is auto-starting? Way more than shows in SysTray. Another site to look up those programs is at: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_all.php#Search as well as the one WhitPhil posted above, to see what should be disabled.

DDS, Yes, going to msconfig is where I cleaned up my sys tray. I looked at both url's that you and WhitPhil left and went back into msconfig and removed the system tray (figured I really didn't need the little sound horn). I only have two items in my system tray, AVG_CC (my anti-virus program) and Free Surfer (pop-up add blocker). Just rebooted and started out with 78% free. So I think this is the best I'm going to get. ~smile~ Again, thank you so much. Raylene