What is virtual memory and when it says it is low how do you increase it to stop that message?

I don't use my computer for much more than games, email, surfing and yahoo messenger. I often get this virtual memory is low message when I am installing or playing games off of big fish and other sites like that. What I want to know is simple terms is what I can do to change that message? I had my computer reformatted in February and at that time he added a 1GB memory stick of RAM to my machine.What is virtual memory and when it says it is low how do you increase it to stop that message?
1. Virtual RAM is exactly what it sounds like-- virtual as in, not really there, RAM or random access memory. It is fake RAM that the Operating System creates on the Hard Drive or some other storage. It is much slower than a real chip of RAM since your hard drive has moving pieces and real RAM is just a chip with no moving pieces. The OS does this so you can run many programs cheaply (ie. you don't have to go buy more RAM when you run out of RAM that isn't in use).



2. It depends on your OS how to go about increasing it. But in Windows you'll want to increase the page file or swap file as it is called. In XP: Right click on the 'My Computer' icon %26gt; select 'Properties' select the 'Advanced' tab. Under the 'Performance' group click the 'Settings' button. The go to the 'Advanced' tab on that dialog window... the last group called 'Virtual memory' click the 'Change' button. Increase the numbers there under your primary drive... ie. 'C'



Note: if you're running out of hard drive space, this could make the issue harder as the OS is running out of space to use as virtual memory.



See also: http://www.delete-computer-history.com/i for more details and Vista info.What is virtual memory and when it says it is low how do you increase it to stop that message?
right click computer in start menu%26gt;properities%26gt;advanced settings%26gt;advanced tab%26gt;open performance section,click on settings%26gt;click advanced ,there you go.