Having trouble: Adding RAM with a USB memory stick to a Windows XP desktop that has 4GB installed

Anonymous
2014-03-22T21:13:11+00:00

Short form:

I want to use a 16GB USB flash drive memory stick as RAM, but seem to be unable to use more than 4GB, due to the system requirements, limiting what I can enter for values (size). WHY??

More detail:

The computer is a desktop machine, having a 3.0GHz dual-core processor, and 4GB RAM installed. I believe the hard drive is a 1T.

I have a 16GB USB flash drive memory stick, which I want to use to boost the RAM, for games, and such. There are 3 spare USB ports on the back of the tower. The flash drive is new, with NO files saved on it.

When I go into the Settings; Computer; Virtual Memory, the computer is not allowing me to enter a value greater than 4096 in the field for "Initial Size" or "Maximum Size", for the Page File of the USB drive.

The Value for C: that I see is: "2096-4092".

Main Question:

Is there some reason why I cannot allocate more of the memory stick for RAM?  

(Does the flash drive need to be formatted?)

Does the values for C: need to be changed?

I presently have "4090" entered for values "Initial Size" and "Maximum Size" in the custom size, for the Page File of the USB Drive.

Screenshot provided of Virtual Memory Settings screen: (you can see the L: drive settings (selected), and the C: settings, also)

http://prntscr.com/336ocy

Question 2:

Also, is the "4G" of RAM which I have added to the machine, being added to the 4GB which is already installed in the tower?

Question 3:

Does the OS wait until the system RAM is full before using the External RAM?

Thanks!

edit to add:

What I learned from Microsoft article "How To Set Performance Options in Windows XP":

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308417/en-us

To manually change the size of virtual memory, follow these steps:

...Note After you change the size of the paging file, you may be prompted to restart Windows. If you are prompted to restart, the changes will not take effect until Windows is restarted. 

...

  • To have Windows select the best paging file size, click System managed size. The recommended minimum size is the same as 1.5 times the RAM on your computer, and 3 times that figure for the maximum size. For example, if you have 256 MB of RAM, the minimum size is 384 MB, and the maximum size is 1152 MB.
  • For best performance, do not set the initial size to less than the minimum recommended size under Total paging file size for all drives. The recommended size is the same as 1.5 times the RAM on your computer. It is good practice to leave the paging file at its recommended size as performance can decrease if a paging file is too large. However, you may increase its size if you frequently use programs that use lots of memory, such as graphics programs or games.

What I am unclear of here, is that, as you can see in the screenshot, the Recommended Size under Total paging file size for all drives is 3019M.

And, the values set for the Paging File in C are 2046-4092.

The tower has been rebuilt, and has 4GB RAM.

I do not know if these numbers reflect an original build of 2GB, whereas 3GB (3019M) would be 1.5 times the installed RAM, perhaps.

Under Virtual Memory, I see the following (shown in screenshot):

Drive C

Space available: 725194MB

*Custom Size

Initial Size: 2046

Maximum Size: 4092

Total paging file size for all Drives

Minimum allowed: 2MB

Recommended: 3019MB

Currently Allocated: 2046MB

Given that the system has 4GB RAM installed, shouldn't the minimum be 1.5 times that value, or ~6000MB ? (not 3019MB), and the maximum be 3 times ? (not 4092)

"The recommended minimum size is the same as 1.5 times the RAM on your computer, and 3 times that figure for the maximum size."

Can I change the values on the Virtual memory for C drive to 2046-12000MB ?

That is what I am reading from the article. But, it also says to not have a paging file on the same drive as the programs.

"Try to avoid having a paging file on the same drive as the system files, usually drive C."

Also, why am I unable to enter values greater than 4096 for the USB drive in Initial or Maximum?

I also have a question as to whether I should select "Programs" or "System Cache" in memory usage, due to the cache requirements of games, running very few programs. 

edit 2:

I learned that the usb drive needs to be formatted in NTFS, so I did that, which isn't easy, as that isn't a selection in the choices in the Format menu, without going into Device Mgr. 

A friend was telling me about formatting a usb drive ex-fat for a newer application, and got me thinking. I had selected FAT32 for this one, and had noticed no change in the page file graph usage after adding the drive, like it wasn't getting any data placed on it.

So, as custom settings for this USB drive, I have the Initial value at 4091 and the Maximum at 4096, with "System Cache" selected as opposed to "Programs" in Memory usage, in Performance settings.

Any answers or tips would be appreciated.

Am I on the right track?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-27T00:06:30+00:00

    Contents of the startlist text file:

    These Windows services are started:

       Agere Modem Call Progress Audio

       Application Layer Gateway Service

       Automatic Updates

       AVG WatchDog

       AVGIDSAgent

       COM+ Event System

       COMODO Dragon Update Service

       Computer Browser

       Cryptographic Services

       DCOM Server Process Launcher

       DHCP Client

       DNS Client

       Event Log

       Fast User Switching Compatibility

       HID Input Service

       HTTP SSL

       IPSEC Services

       Java Quick Starter

       MBAMScheduler

       Network Connections

       Network Location Awareness (NLA)

       Plug and Play

       Pml Driver HPZ12

       Print Spooler

       Protected Storage

       RealNetworks Downloader Resolver Service

       Remote Access Connection Manager

       Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

       SeaPort

       Secondary Logon

       Security Accounts Manager

       Security Center

       Server

       Shell Hardware Detection

       SSDP Discovery Service

       System Event Notification

       System Restore Service

       TeamViewer 8

       Telephony

       Terminal Services

       Themes

       TimesUpKidz

       vToolbarUpdater18.0.5

       Windows Audio

       Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework

       Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

       Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)

       Windows Live ID Sign-in Assistant

       Windows Management Instrumentation

       Wireless Zero Configuration

       Workstation

    The command completed successfully.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-27T00:26:36+00:00

    Services which I disabled yesterday via services.msc:

    Distributed Link Tracking Client

    Error Reporting Service

    Help & Support

    Indexing Service

    Messenger

    Net Logon

    NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing

    Network Provisioning Service

    QoS RSVP

    Remote Desktop Help Session Manager

    Smart Card

    Task Scheduler

    TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Properties

    Util Mega Browse

    Web Client

    Windows Time

    edit to add:

    I have downloaded and installed the tasklist file, and pasted it into the SYStem 32 folder.

    "tasklist | sort /R /+58 >c:\Memuse.txt  will sort the processes by biggest memory users and pipe the results to the indicated .txt file.  Omit the redirector to see the results at the command console (tasklist | sort /R /+58)"

    When you sat to 'omit the redirector', are you saying to type the 3 commands again, only without the redirectors, and now that I have installed the tasklist file, the mem users will be sorted?

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-27T01:34:08+00:00

    I get it now. The last line was also a Command Prompt, with and without the redirecter.

    These Windows services are started:

       Agere Modem Call Progress Audio

       Application Layer Gateway Service

       Automatic Updates

       AVG WatchDog

       AVGIDSAgent

       COM+ Event System

       COMODO Dragon Update Service

       Computer Browser

       Cryptographic Services

       DCOM Server Process Launcher

       DHCP Client

       DNS Client

       Event Log

       Fast User Switching Compatibility

       HID Input Service

       HTTP SSL

       IPSEC Services

       Java Quick Starter

       MBAMScheduler

       Network Connections

       Network Location Awareness (NLA)

       Plug and Play

       Pml Driver HPZ12

       Print Spooler

       Protected Storage

       RealNetworks Downloader Resolver Service

       Remote Access Connection Manager

       Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

       SeaPort

       Secondary Logon

       Security Accounts Manager

       Security Center

       Server

       Shell Hardware Detection

       SSDP Discovery Service

       System Event Notification

       System Restore Service

       TeamViewer 8

       Telephony

       Terminal Services

       Themes

       TimesUpKidz

       vToolbarUpdater18.0.5

       Windows Audio

       Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework

       Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

       Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)

       Windows Live ID Sign-in Assistant

       Windows Management Instrumentation

       Wireless Zero Configuration

       Workstation

    The command completed successfully.

    Image Name                   PID Services                                     

    ========================= ====== =============================================

    System Idle Process            0 N/A                                          

    System                         4 N/A                                          

    smss.exe                     632 N/A                                          

    avgrsx.exe                   672 N/A                                          

    avgcsrvx.exe                 712 N/A                                          

    csrss.exe                    916 N/A                                          

    winlogon.exe                 940 N/A                                          

    services.exe                 984 Eventlog, PlugPlay                           

    lsass.exe                    996 PolicyAgent, ProtectedStorage, SamSs         

    svchost.exe                 1164 DcomLaunch, TermService                      

    svchost.exe                 1228 RpcSs                                        

    svchost.exe                 1324 AudioSrv, Browser, CryptSvc, Dhcp,           

                                     EventSystem, FastUserSwitchingCompatibility, 

                                     HidServ, lanmanserver, lanmanworkstation,    

                                     Netman, Nla, RasMan, seclogon, SENS,         

                                     SharedAccess, ShellHWDetection, srservice,   

                                     TapiSrv, Themes, winmgmt, wscsvc, wuauserv,  

                                     WZCSVC                                       

    svchost.exe                 1364 WudfSvc                                      

    svchost.exe                 1448 Dnscache                                     

    spoolsv.exe                 1560 Spooler                                      

    agrsmsvc.exe                1784 AgereModemAudio                              

    avgidsagent.exe             1796 AVGIDSAgent                                  

    avgwdsvc.exe                1828 avgwd                                        

    dragon_updater.exe          1876 DragonUpdater                                

    jqs.exe                     2016 JavaQuickStarterService                      

    mbamscheduler.exe           2044 MBAMScheduler                                

    GoogleUpdate.exe             236 N/A                                          

    HPZipm12.exe                 504 Pml Driver HPZ12                             

    avgnsx.exe                   516 N/A                                          

    avgemcx.exe                  584 N/A                                          

    rndlresolversvc.exe          880 RealNetworks Downloader Resolver Service     

    SeaPort.exe                  960 SeaPort                                      

    svchost.exe                 2084 stisvc                                       

    TeamViewer_Service.exe      2152 TeamViewer8                                  

    ToolbarUpdater.exe          2260 vToolbarUpdater18.0.5                        

    WLIDSVC.EXE                 2356 wlidsvc                                      

    loggingserver.exe           2364 N/A                                          

    TimesUpKidzServer.exe       2428 TimesUpKidz                                  

    WLIDSVCM.EXE                2776 N/A                                          

    alg.exe                     2984 ALG                                          

    avgcsrvx.exe                3252 N/A                                          

    explorer.exe                3800 N/A                                          

    igfxtray.exe                3900 N/A                                          

    hkcmd.exe                   3924 N/A                                          

    igfxpers.exe                3952 N/A                                          

    svchost.exe                 3988 SSDPSRV                                      

    igfxsrvc.exe                4016 N/A                                          

    vprot.exe                    648 N/A                                          

    RTHDCPL.EXE                 1128 N/A                                          

    avgui.exe                   1316 N/A                                          

    svchost.exe                 1348 HTTPFilter                                   

    jusched.exe                 1764 N/A                                          

    FacebookUpdate.exe          2096 N/A                                          

    ctfmon.exe                  2832 N/A                                          

    Lightshot.exe                988 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                   476 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                  1988 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                  1856 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                  2628 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                  1624 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                  3556 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                  3700 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                  1776 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                  3896 N/A                                          

    dragon.exe                  4092 N/A                                          

    cmd.exe                     3812 N/A                                          

    tasklist.exe                2752 N/A                                          

    wmiprvse.exe                3056 N/A

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-27T01:34:40+00:00

    The > redirect operator sends the output of the command to a file or printer, if the file already exists it will be overwritten, the double redirect >> will append the output of the command if the file already exists, if the file doesn't exist it will create it.

    Do run the tasklist /svc >C:\startlist.txt command and post the results here so we can see the  running processes on machine.

    The last command was for your information only, you can run the tasklist | sort /R /+58 at the command prompt and see the results at the console window.

    John

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-03-27T02:12:00+00:00

    I was able to see the results in the console window, and also copied both lists.

    When I run tasklist /svc >C:\startlist.txt nothing happens.

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