Little help from the x-perts re: memory stick

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  • George Bellefontaine
    Moderator Emeritus
    • Jan 2001
    • 7637

    Little help from the x-perts re: memory stick

    What is a memory stick and what uses does it have. For example, can a group of downloaded videos or other files be stored on it to keep from using up virtual memory on your hard drive ?
    My Homepage!
  • H.T.C
    Senior Member
    • Nov 2003
    • 368

    #2
    Originally posted by George Bellefontaine
    What is a memory stick and what uses does it have. For example, can a group of downloaded videos or other files be stored on it to keep from using up virtual memory on your hard drive ?
    The newer 50 or 60 gig cards could hold films if any are at retail yet but most likely pricey.

    Mem-cards are for storing saved game files/ photos/music etc.

    Sony ps3 and their bravia? tv sets have are sd-capable instant plug-in card use and great for photos on a larger sceen.
    Robert

    Comment

    • Chris D
      Moderator Emeritus
      • Dec 2000
      • 16877

      #3
      Sure, George. I carry one around, and it's useful for transporting files, like when I want to bring something home from work. It's also sometimes useful socially, if you ever interact with computer-geeky people. Somebody might say, "hey, check out this video I found!" or, "Look at this picture!" If you like it, you can just say, "hey, can you copy that to my memory stick?"
      CHRIS

      Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
      - Pleasantville

      Comment

      • George Bellefontaine
        Moderator Emeritus
        • Jan 2001
        • 7637

        #4
        Thanks for the replies, fellas. Awhile back my grandson was downloading a rock concert and he got a warning on my computer saying the virtual memory was dangerously low. I thought some kind of external storage device would avoid downloaded vids taking up memory space.
        My Homepage!

        Comment

        • PewterTA
          Moderator
          • Nov 2004
          • 2901

          #5
          For the virtual memory message, you need to do one or two things.

          One is add more physical memory, if you have 512MB or 1GB, upgrade to more 1-2GB.

          Seconding is you need to possibly change your virtual memory settings. Right Click on My Computer and go to Properties. In Windows XP there will be an Advanced tab and on that tab will be a Performance section with a Settings button. Click on that and go to the Advanced tab and you should see a setting for Virtual Memory. Go there and you can either manually set it yourself or let the PC set it for you. General rule of thumb is the settings (if done manually) is the initial size is same as the amount of physical memory you have (ie 512MB/1GB) and the maximum is best set at 1.5x the physical amount.

          Also if you have more than one disk (physically) in the PC, it is best to move it to another disk to help increase performance.

          Another (third) thing you can also check is if you go to Start -> Run -> "msconfig" (without the quotes) you will get the system configuration utility. Go to the Startup tab and it will show you most of the stuff running in the background on your PC. Uncheck anything you don't want to run at startup (like qttask -- quicktime). It won't remove it, just stops it from running, so you can experiment with things in there to see if it helps. If something doesn't work right after, all you have to do is go back and re-check it. Simple as that.

          If you see something in there that you have no clue, just put the name into a search at yahoo/google and it'll most likely tell you what it is (like something for your video or sound card).

          Any other questions, post here and I (or anyone else) can most likely tell you what the thing is or if you need it started up upon boot.
          Digital Audio makes me Happy.
          -Dan

          Comment

          • impala454
            Ultra Senior Member
            • Oct 2007
            • 3814

            #6
            In very basic terms, virtual memory is just space on the hard disk that Windows sets aside for programs that need more memory than just the physical RAM you have. I.e. if you're opening or downloading a very large video (like a rock concert ). The hard disk is a much slower device than the RAM, so if you're using a lot of virtual memory your system will feel very slow.

            The suggestions pewter mentioned should help a lot. Getting a fast hard drive also is a great speed booster (depending on your system, not sure what you have).
            -Chuck

            Comment

            • George Bellefontaine
              Moderator Emeritus
              • Jan 2001
              • 7637

              #7
              Thanks Pewter and Chuck. Here's my pc:

              Pentium 4 CPU 3.00GHz
              3.06 GHz with 512 MB of RAM

              In the Virtual memory setting it is set at 768. The things mentioned are pretty much what is happening. The computer slows down duringlarge downloads. Now I do not have this problem often, just now and then. Should I increase the Virtual Memory setting ? If so, to what ?

              Thanks again, fellas.
              My Homepage!

              Comment

              • impala454
                Ultra Senior Member
                • Oct 2007
                • 3814

                #8
                I would say you definitely need more physical RAM. Around 2GB total should help immensely. RAM is very cheap lately too so it shouldn't cost you much. Two 1GB sticks shouldn't cost you more than about $50-75 right now, provided you're willing to open up your PC and swap them out. I don't think there's much more software-wise you could do to help it.
                -Chuck

                Comment

                • George Bellefontaine
                  Moderator Emeritus
                  • Jan 2001
                  • 7637

                  #9
                  Well for about 80 to 90 % of my usage, the pc is quite fast with just the 512 MB of RAM, so I don't necessarily want to spend money if I don't really have to. Wouldn't I just be fine with increasing the virtual memory setting to perhaps 1000MB ?
                  My Homepage!

                  Comment

                  • impala454
                    Ultra Senior Member
                    • Oct 2007
                    • 3814

                    #10
                    It won't make any difference in speed, but it might help as far as you "running out of virtual memory". Just make sure you have enough free hard drive space to accomodate the bigger page file (virtual memory).
                    -Chuck

                    Comment

                    • George Bellefontaine
                      Moderator Emeritus
                      • Jan 2001
                      • 7637

                      #11
                      Originally posted by impala454
                      Just make sure you have enough free hard drive space to accomodate the bigger page file (virtual memory).
                      Oh, oh. We're getting too technical for this computer challenged guy. How can I tell how much free drive space I have ? Sorry for the stupid questions.
                      My Homepage!

                      Comment

                      • impala454
                        Ultra Senior Member
                        • Oct 2007
                        • 3814

                        #12
                        You can go to your My Computer, right click on "C:" and go to Properties.

                        and no worries, there are no stupid computer questions
                        -Chuck

                        Comment

                        • George Bellefontaine
                          Moderator Emeritus
                          • Jan 2001
                          • 7637

                          #13
                          Originally posted by impala454
                          You can go to your My Computer, right click on "C:" and go to Properties.
                          I have 75.5 GB of space and 68.4 GB of free space. Is that okay to increase my virtual memory from 768 MB to 1000 MB ?

                          Thanks for the patience, Chuck.
                          My Homepage!

                          Comment

                          • impala454
                            Ultra Senior Member
                            • Oct 2007
                            • 3814

                            #14
                            Oh yeah for sure.
                            -Chuck

                            Comment

                            • Hdale85
                              Moderator Emeritus
                              • Jan 2006
                              • 16075

                              #15
                              I think usually page files are set pretty high by default like 2 gigs or something? Maybe not....

                              Comment

                              • impala454
                                Ultra Senior Member
                                • Oct 2007
                                • 3814

                                #16
                                the windows default settings are for a minimum of like 2MB and max of 1.5x your physical RAM.
                                -Chuck

                                Comment

                                • Chris D
                                  Moderator Emeritus
                                  • Dec 2000
                                  • 16877

                                  #17
                                  Originally posted by impala454
                                  and no worries, there are no stupid computer questions
                                  Okay! Then, where is the "any key"???? :rofl:
                                  CHRIS

                                  Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
                                  - Pleasantville

                                  Comment

                                  • impala454
                                    Ultra Senior Member
                                    • Oct 2007
                                    • 3814

                                    #18
                                    hah ok ok... there's a few...

                                    "is my automatic cup holder is broken?"
                                    -Chuck

                                    Comment

                                    • George Bellefontaine
                                      Moderator Emeritus
                                      • Jan 2001
                                      • 7637

                                      #19
                                      Thanks for the help Chuck and the anyone else who chimed in...
                                      My Homepage!

                                      Comment

                                      • impala454
                                        Ultra Senior Member
                                        • Oct 2007
                                        • 3814

                                        #20
                                        Any time.
                                        -Chuck

                                        Comment

                                        • George Bellefontaine
                                          Moderator Emeritus
                                          • Jan 2001
                                          • 7637

                                          #21
                                          Well I upped my virtual memory setting to 1000MB and the puter didn't blow up on me so I guess all is well in computer land. Now the next time I have a large video download, I'll see what happens.
                                          My Homepage!

                                          Comment

                                          • 1Michael
                                            Senior Member
                                            • Sep 2006
                                            • 293

                                            #22
                                            George you need more physical ram. It will run with what you got but the stuff is quite cheap these days and will make alot of difference in the performance.
                                            Michael
                                            Chesapeake Va.

                                            Comment

                                            • George Bellefontaine
                                              Moderator Emeritus
                                              • Jan 2001
                                              • 7637

                                              #23
                                              Originally posted by buggers
                                              George you need more physical ram. It will run with what you got but the stuff is quite cheap these days and will make alot of difference in the performance.
                                              Yeah, I beginning to come to that conclusion. Thanks.
                                              My Homepage!

                                              Comment

                                              • George Bellefontaine
                                                Moderator Emeritus
                                                • Jan 2001
                                                • 7637

                                                #24
                                                Well for $69 CDN I just increased my ram to 1.5 GB and all is well. Thanks for the help and recommendations, guys.
                                                My Homepage!

                                                Comment

                                                • alexcd
                                                  Member
                                                  • Feb 2006
                                                  • 30

                                                  #25
                                                  x2 for packing as much RAM into your PC as possible. My laptop now has 4GB and it cost me barely anything after finding a deal and selling my old memory on eBay.

                                                  Comment

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