Re: Total memory used

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Rick \ (rick_at_mvps.org)
Date: 06/16/04


Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 06:49:22 -0400

Hi,

WinXP will try to find a use for all available memory. Your assumption about
low memory systems is essentially correct, it will use what it finds, then
use the virtual memory. With large amounts of ram, the system will use what
is needed at boot to load programs. The rest will be used for caching of
data and anything else you initiate. If it starts to peak out, it will start
to use the pagefile.

-- 
Best of Luck,
Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science!  That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
"D." <d@no_usenet_email..org> wrote in message
news:2e30d0dsds6leqnoldm2euu7br6meru80i@4ax.com...
> Does Windows XP use more physical memory to load stuff in at boot up,
> if it sees it has some extra memory to mess with?
>
> I ask, because I have 1 gig of RAM, but I see 400 MBs are used at
> boot.
> Total Physical memory = 1024 MB
> Available Physical memory = 621.16 MB
>  (that is a reading with something running).
>
> Now, since I know that a computer can run XP on even as low an amount
> of RAM as 128 MBs, then these programs & Windows must be seeing extra
> RAM & using it, as opposed to lower memory systems maybe using more
> "virtual memory"?  Or how is the memory issue handled?


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