How to Clear PC Main Memory

When your computer is in use it takes advantage of whatever memory is currently available from the Random Access Memory (RAM) or hard drive and then releases it once it's done. Depending on how a program is coded or even how it was closed down it may not always release all of the memory it was originally using. While your computer's operating system generally does a good job of taking care of lost memory fragments that haven't been released properly, you may want to manually clean your PC's main memory every now and again if you notice your computer running more slowly than normal.

Instructions

1. 

   Open your web browser by double-clicking on its desktop icon. Navigate to a website that offers a PC memory cleaning software utility such as "Clean MemXP" or "Clean RAM" (see Resources below). Click on the download button at the top of the screen.

2. Click on the button labeled as "Save File" if your web browser opens a second window asking you to verify that you actually want to download the file. Wait for the download to finish and then minimize your web browser and return to the desktop. Click on the "My Computer" icon to see the folders on your hard drive.

3. 

   Navigate to the folder where you saved the installation file for the PC memory cleaning utility. Double-click on the file and then click on "Next" when a new window pops up on your screen. Click on the box labeled as "I agree to the terms of this license agreement" and then click on the "Next" button. Click on "Next" again to start the installation. Click on "Finish" once the installation has completed to close the window.

4. 

   Return to the desktop and then double-click the icon that corresponds to the program you installed. Click on the "Extra" button on the toolbar at the top of the program's window. Choose the "Free Memory" option and wait for the program free the memory not currently being used by your computer's RAM.

5. Click on the "Extra" button again and then choose the "Defrag" option. Click on the hard drive that you want to defrag and then click on "Start." Wait for the defragmenting process to complete to finish clearing your computer's main memory.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using the Windows Vista operating system you will need to right-click on the desktop icon for the PC memory cleaning utility and then choose the "Run as Administrator" option from the pop-up menu.

• Save any documents you currently are working on and close them before you run the PC memory cleaning tool in case it interferes with any programs you have running and closes them down prematurely.

Resources

• Clean MemXP
• Clean RAM