How Do I Check My Virtual Memory on My Computer?

You can check your virtual memory by following these steps.

Virtual memory is the amount of hard disk space allocated for saving data while the operating system is running. This memory is in addition to the random access memory (RAM) that is built into the computer. In order to free up RAM, the operating system will save data to the hard drive in what is known as a "paging file." You can check the amount of virtual memory on your computer by following these simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Computer

Instructions

1. Start your computer and locate "My Computer" icon on the desktop or in the "Start" menu.

2. Right-click the "My Computer" icon and select "Properties."

3. Click "Advanced" tab at the top of "System Properties" window.

4. Under the "Performance" section, click the "Settings" button.

5. Click the "Advanced" tab at the top of "Performance Options" window.

6. Note the total paging file size under the "Virtual Memory" section. This is the amount of virtual memory you currently have set. You can click "Change" to change the size, or simply click "OK" twice to close the windows.

Tips & Warnings

• Allowing your virtual memory to get too large may cause some performance issues, since the hard drive is far slower than accessing memory in RAM. If you are seeing performance issues you might want to consider increasing the amount of RAM in your computer.

• Modifying the virtual memory settings may have undesirable results like poor performance. You should not modify these settings unless you understand all the potential impacts it may have on your computer's performance.

References

• Definition of Virtual Memory