Need computer help with RAM.

[trof]

I think it's RAM.
Pages load slowly, or just hang up and stop. I have DSL.
Many time I get a momentary window that looks like a dos command window that says "not enough memory..."
It comes and goes so fast that it's hard to read.
Is there some way to clean out my RAM?
I'm only using 5 gigs of my 40 gig hard drive, so it's not that.
I have 128 mb of sdram.
Windows XP and IE.
Thanks.

[GOPisEvil]

1. I'd bump that up to 256mb.

I run 256 and have nary a problem.

[BigMcLargehuge]

2. you need more than 128 megs of SyncDRAM

that's your problem. HD space has very little to do with it. Swap space is a last resort for a computer struggling with low RAM. Get more RAM... it's cheap as hell now too... get a 512 meg chip for about 100 bucks.

No more low memory warnings.

[truthspeaker]

3. RAM doesn't need to be cleaned out but 128 mb is a little low for XP

Most likely culprit is viruses and/or spyware. Do you have an up-to-date anti-virus program? Have you run a program like AdAware recently?

[Droopy]

4. Just add another 128 mb of ram

It's cheap now-a-days. And I'm sure you've got another slot for ram.

[orthogonal]

5. You may have aTrojan infestation

Check to see if you have any Trojans.

You often get Trojans (software that purports to be useful but in reality takes over your computer) by downloading "toolbar helpers" or innocuous games.

Some systems can have literally hundreds of Trojans running, using up memory and network bandwidth.

Look for AdAware or something similar.

[Misunderestimator]

6. You can also try a freeware Memory cleanup program like this:

http://winshell.softnews.ro/ramdef.php

I use it and it works well. I usually have 20-30 programs running at one time, and the memory sometimes "bleeds" and does not get recovered even after shutting down the programs. Before I had this, I often had problems with low memory, and had to shut down some of my programs. Now I just let Ramdef clean it up for me and retrieve (defragment) my "lost" memory.

I've been using it for almost a year without a problem.

[trof]

7. I can always count on you guys.

Thanks.