I seem to have something using a lot of my memory. Right now I have a total of 191.0 MB of RAM and only 43% free.

I have Yahoo! IM open, call wave, outlook and the xchange.

Is there a way to see what is using all my memory? I understand that Windows ME eats up memory..i think aaron said that once here?

I closed call wave and now have 44% free. I did the same for Yahoo! and now have 51% free. Also closed outlook, now I have 57% free Still, something else is taking a lot of memory. Looks like Yahoo! and outlook uses a lot of memory. Unless this is normal? Would it benefit me to get more RAM?

Thanks :)

Your Male Pictures are taking up all the memory. SO this is what you do. Email them all to me :lol:

J/k

Just had to say it!!

It's not only memory, its resources, as in CPU cycles. Windows loads TONS of shit in the background that you don't need and ALL of that eats it up.

Virus scanners, schedulers, ICQ, you name it. Anything that loads in the system tray (the area next to the clock) uses resources.

I always disable the scheduler, speaker icon, monitor (to adjust your screen size), and anything else that isn't absolutely necessary.

Then go to Start > Run > msconfig > startup, and remove anything out of there you don't use. Some of it is necessary, but a lot of it is not.

Next, remove things from your startup. Start > Programs > Startup, and if you have several things that you don't have to load upon startup, right click on it and delete it.

The best I have ever done was about 85% free, but I often would run 60% or below.

You can add more memory all day long, but it won't give you more CPU cycles. A faster processor will help a little, but getting rid of all the extra shit will make a big difference.

Only load things on startup that you need. I disabled MS Office once and Mcafees virus scanner and saw a big difference. I don't recommend uninstalling the virus scanner though.

Windows 2000 Pro is much better about this. I load twice as much shit as I did under 98 and it handles it better. While I do NOT endorse anything with Microsoft written on it (actually I despise it), 2000 is MUCH better than 98 or ME.

Hope this helps somewhat.

I accept all major credit cards.

Originally posted by Milani
Your Male Pictures are taking up all the memory. SO this is what you do. Email them all to me :lol:

J/k

Just had to say it!!
They are mine..mine..ALL mine! :naughty: :lol: I only keep the for the different haircut styles. :angel:

Aaron, that advice will help alot! TY :* Trust me, you don't want any of my credit cards. :shh:

Hey, TC. There is a nice little application that emulates the task manager from Windows 2000/XP and will show you your running processes. You can get it here - Click here. (http://www.coralsoftware.com/Download/download.htm#task)

Download the program called "Win9x/ME TaskManager". That should help.

Another program which might help you keeping your system memory fresh and healty is Cache Man 5.11 (http://www.pcmedixwebs.com/cache_man.htm) .

Increasing or optimizing your system cache will not give you more resources, it will only at best give you more cache, which will probably use virtual memory if anything.

You can optimize it all day long and it won't free up resources. That is just part of the processor. A fast CPU will help out as they are more efficient, as well as unloading unnecessary files from start up and the system tray.

But cache won't increase your resources. It just makes things load faster. That's about all.

Thanks guys! :) You guys rock! :thumb:

Shekey, I have DL'd win9x and now i need a 'read me' file. I have bno clue what 'processes' is or how 'performance' tab works.
I see that 'rundll.exe' listed in processes ..is that spyware stuff? What are these other things listed?? :goofy:

Originally posted by TopCat
Thanks guys! :) You guys rock! :thumb:

I know. :D


Shekey, I have DL'd win9x and now i need a 'read me' file. I have bno clue what 'processes' is or how 'performance' tab works.
I see that 'rundll.exe' listed in processes ..is that spyware stuff? What are these other things listed?? :goofy:

Huh? You mean there is a README file included? Just use Windows notepad or wordpad to read it. Thats under Start > Programs > Accessories.

Processes means how many things are going on in the background, which is generally NOT user programs. It can be, as some load and sit in the background, but these are usually programs which Windows itself uses in the background. These can be anything. Network monitors, drivers, services, explorer, memory managers, etc. Things that Windows needs, but that you don't deal with directly.

Performance is CPU usage, memory usage, threads, processes, cache size, and so forth. Like if 60% of your CPU is in use, you are using 64 megs of virtual memory, things like that. You can use this to find out what is hogging memory.

For example, if you load Yahoo messenger (for example), and notice your CPU goes up to 70%, your memory use jumps, and overall performance decreases, then you unload it and CPU use goes down, memory use drops, etc, then that is your problem. I'm not saying yahoo does it, but you can use this to find out what is using how many resources.

It's not the best in the world, but it works.

In my opinion, Norton Systemworks is better.

BTW, no rundll is not spyware. That is a windows program that executes external DLL (Dynamic Link Library) which MANY, MANY programs include. The are just external code libraries. Nothing you need to worry about.

There are a LOT of unusually named programs in the process list. Not all are required, but I usually just leave them.

Originally posted by aaron
[B]
I know. :D

:p



Huh? You mean there is a README file included? Just use Windows notepad or wordpad to read it. Thats under Start > Programs > Accessories.
Read me... as in the place to go that explains how Win9x works. Like a manual. I have seen some downloads that come with this. Maybe it is called something else?

Just the Windows help screens, which are pretty useless. The best way to learn is to pick up a book.

Most downloads will have a readme file.

Originally posted by aaron
[B]Just the Windows help screens, which are pretty useless. The best way to learn is to pick up a book.


Really?? Do I have to open the book to or just pick it up?

I feel the best way to learn is to post all my questions here. :p

Originally posted by TopCat

Really?? Do I have to open the book to or just pick it up?

I feel the best way to learn is to post all my questions here. :p

Pick it up or open it? Hmmm tough call. Are you psychic? If so, picking it up should more than suffice. If not, crack it open!

Posting here is a good way, but you will learn more faster by reading a book? Why do I say that? It's kind of like an employer telling you he will answer any question you have. The downside is YOU have to think of the question.

While going over a book you might find a snippet that is something you didn't know and would have never thought about asking.

Pick up a dummies book or something. Even though the dummies series sound bad, they are VERY good. I own 2 myself. They really are good starter books.

Look for Windows 98 for dummies or such. I know you use Windows ME, but I'm not sure of a dummies book for that. Even the SAMS Teach Yourself.... in 24 hours are pretty good.

You will pick up all kinds of things in there. Then if you get lost, just ask here.

Not trying to turn you away, but you will find all kinds of things in a book that someone might forget to mention. I learned C programming entirely by reading. Never took one class.

Hey, TC. There was a book out called the "Experts Guide to Windows 98" that was incredible. The author has now made it available for free in .pdf format (since there isn't much demand for Windows 98 anymore, in the author's words). You can download it here - Expert Guide to Windows 98. (http://www.topqualityfreeware.com/featured5.shtml)

Other than that, pretty much all you can do is control what you have starting when the system boots. Like Aaron said, just use "msconfig" and see what is running in the "startup" tab.