How to fix an out of memory error
Experiencing an “out of memory” error usually means that the program that was running failed to load or was unable to complete the task requested by the user. To get you back on track, here are some suggestions for fixing an “out of memory” error without taking your computer to a professional.
Overview of computer memory types
A computer makes use of several different types of memory during normal use. The two most common are physical memory, such as that provided by your hard drive, and random access memory, known as RAM. The latter is what allows a computer to extract different and unrelated pieces of information almost instantly, while the former type of memory takes time to move physical parts around to retrieve information.
These two types of memory often work together. When the user opens a program, the time it takes to load is due to the time it takes for the disk portion to move to the proper locations and retrieve the program. Once the program is opened, even if it is minimized, it is consuming RAM and is therefore quickly available to the user.
A third type of memory is virtual memory, which is a way (in a nutshell) to extend RAM and allow larger programs to run without actually taking up all of your RAM.
Common causes of memory errors
An “out of memory” error refers to the amount of RAM available for whatever task the computer is being asked to perform. One of the causes of an “out of memory” error is having too many programs open at once.
Each program takes up a certain amount of RAM, and once the amount available on the computer is depleted, the machine has no more virtual memory available for various tasks, such as saving a document. The solution in this case would be to close some programs and try to limit the number of programs open at the same time.
Sometimes a computer is set up to have too much RAM, leaving not enough virtual memory available for certain actions. Occasionally, simply opening Windows in this situation may be impossible.
Microsoft recommends fixing this problem by reducing the amount of RAM allowed on the machine to less than 512 megabytes. To do this, a registry key may need to be edited and the user will need to run the msconfig command. Please search the Microsoft Support Center for detailed instructions on how to fix this issue depending on the version of Windows you are running.
Keeping the registry clean increases memory
Another way to address an “out of memory” error is to consider using a registry cleaner on your system. A messy registry contains too many entries and others that may also have been damaged or lost. The extra data takes up memory space and requires more time for the computer to review it.
