My system crashes with memory shortage even when there are 4GB is available

Anixx · Wednesday at 11:14 AM

My system crashes due to memory shortage even though there is available memory.

I have 16 GB RAM, and the pagefile is disbled. I do not have a discrete video card.

So, when the Task Manager and System Settings report 4 GB memory "availale" (3.5 GB cached and 500 MB free), and I open a new tab in a browser, crashes either the tab, browser or DWM, kicking me to the logon screen. This happens in all other software as well.

I understand that full 16GB should not be available because part of the memory is used for video memory. Still, I wonder, why the Task Manager and Settings report available memory?

Helmut · Wednesday at 11:46 AM

Don't disable the pagefile, let Windows manage that.
Performance options > Advanced tab > Programs.
Change... tick top box for Auto manage.

Anixx · Wednesday at 11:49 AM

Helmut said:
Don't disable the pagefile, let Windows manage that.
Performance options > Advanced tab > Programs.
Change... tick top box for Auto manage.

My prevuous computer had only 4 GB memory and a small pagefile of 1 GB, and I did not experience memory shortages in daily tasks. It was a few months ago, under the same OS.

zbook · Wednesday at 3:50 PM

Please see posting instructions:

BSOD - Posting Instructions

BSOD - Posting Instructions This will show you how to help provide needed information about your system and dump files. It will not contain any personal or sensitive information about you or your data. To get better help with your Windows BSOD issue, please read these instructions and follow...

www.elevenforum.com

FrancoDT · Wednesday at 4:03 PM

I've read that with Windows 11 you should always have a pagefile set no matter how much RAM you have which in my case is 32GB. It is best to just let Windows dynamically manage the page file if you don't want to have issues. I'm guessing you'll no longer have an issue if you enable the pagefile.

FrancoDT · Wednesday at 4:12 PM

A little more info;
A Page File acts as an overflow for your system memory (RAM) when you have too many applications running at one time. However, it is constantly being used by Windows to store temporary data regardless of how much RAM you have installed. Having no Page File or mismanaging the size of the Page File can lead to performance issues and crashes. Furthermore, a Page File is required by many applications, including our own games.

How to Manage Your Virtual Memory (Page File) In Windows

Introduction A Page File acts as an overflow for your system memory (RAM) when you have too many applications running at one time. However, it is constantly being used by Windows to store temporary data regardless of how much RAM you have instal...

dovetailgames.freshdesk.com

Anixx · Wednesday at 5:45 PM

FrancoDT said:
I've read that with Windows 11 you should always have a pagefile set no matter how much RAM you have which in my case is 32GB. It is best to just let Windows dynamically manage the page file if you don't want to have issues. I'm guessing you'll no longer have an issue if you enable the pagefile.

When I used a mechanical hard drive, enabling the pagefile dramatically reduced the performance, so I always had it disabled (even though I had less memory then, only 2-4 GB), and had no issues. Now I have SSD and more memory, and I think even on SSD it should reduce performance, even if not that much as on a hard drive.

FrancoDT · Wednesday at 5:58 PM

Anixx said:
When I used a mechanical hard drive, enabling the pagefile dramatically reduced the performance, so I always had it disabled (even though I had less memory then, only 2-4 GB), and had no issues. Now I have SSD and more memory, and I think even on SSD it should reduce performance, even if not that much as on a hard drive.

I think you'll get better performance and more importantly no BSOD with it enabled. Give it a try for a while as I think you'll prefer having it enabled.

Anixx · Wednesday at 6:06 PM

FrancoDT said:
I think you'll get better performance and more importantly no BSOD with it enabled. Give it a try for a while as I think you'll prefer having it enabled.

I xefinitely had MUCH worse performance with it enabled on a mechanical hard drive.

My system crashes with memory shortage even when there are 4GB is available

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer