Windows 8.1: Constant 'Low Memory' warnings with 5GB of free memory

Anonymous
2013-12-11T19:24:33+00:00

I'm getting these 'Low Memory' warnings constantly it's getting really annoying (like everything else in this OS).  I'm running Win8.1 64bit with 8GB of RAM, as soon as it passes 3GB of RAM used these warnings appear telling me to close various programs.  No 32bit processes are nearing their 2GB limit, the RAM's memtest indicates no issues.  How do I stop these warnings!?!

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

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Anonymous
2014-01-06T06:26:05+00:00

Windows 8 reserves a % or 2gb whichever is smaller for the paging file by default, this is more than enough for most use-cases.

@Bob Eyster - you should read http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2008/11/17/3155406.aspx

The issue has absolutely nothing to do with the paging file.  It's 2/3rds empty when getting this error.  What appears to be happening is that the initial 4gb, which is available for 32bit applications, is being used by the 64bit applications causing it to think it's going to run out of 32bit addressing space once it hits the 4gb limit.  In reality the 64bit applications should be pushed into the 2nd 4gb space to make room fro the 32bit applications.  Unfortunately this error message doesn't seem to recognize the difference between the two and reports the error erroneously.  Calculating just the 32bit apps they are using less than 2.3gb of addressing space with 64bit using the remaining 0.9gb.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-27T16:25:00+00:00

    Hi Jimmy,

    Your computer has two types of memory, random access memory (RAM) and virtual memory. All programs use RAM, but when there isn't enough RAM for the program you're trying to run, Windows temporarily moves information that would normally be stored in RAM to a file on your hard disk called a paging file. The amount of information temporarily stored in a paging file is also referred to as virtual memory. Using virtual memory—in other words, moving information to and from the paging file—frees up enough RAM for programs to run correctly.

    Low memory problems occur when your computer runs out of RAM and becomes low on virtual memory. This can happen when you run more programs than the RAM installed on the computer is designed to support. Low memory problems can also occur when a program doesn't free up memory that it no longer needs. This problem is called memory overuse or a memory leak.

    If the computer becomes low on memory whenever you run certain programs, one or more of those programs might have a memory leak. To stop a memory leak, you need to close the program. To repair a memory leak, you need to check for updates for the program or contact the publisher of the software.

    To determine which program is using the most memory, follow these steps:

    1. Open Task Manager by right-clicking the taskbar, and then clicking Start Task Manager.
    2. Click the Processes tab.
    3. To sort programs by memory usage, click Memory (Private Working Set).

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-27T17:20:34+00:00

    Yes, I am aware of how computers work.

    If I was low on RAM and thrashing my paging file I'd be getting a lot of hard faults showing up in the resource monitor (aka: going to the HDD for data that should be in RAM, as stated previously I'm not seeing this).  In addition, as stated previously, the highest amount of RAM ever used is 3.2gb of 8gb - so 4.8gb of RAM doing absolutely nothing.  Meanwhile Windows 8.1 is complaining there's not enough and the paging file (2gb) is no where near full nor is the RAM.

    Just a tip:  Task Manager is great but it only shows limited information. 

    1. Win+R
    2. Type "perfmon /res" (without quotes)
    3. Hit enter
    4. Click the Memory tab

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-11T23:03:45+00:00

    I let Windows manage the page file so I assume it's 2GB.  I'm not hard-faulting either.

    I get multiple error messages along the same vein:

    "Your computer is low on memory

    To restore enough memory for programs to work correctly, save your files then close or restart all open programs"

    Then a similar one comes up listing a specific program (a game, firefox, excel, etc) and a "Close Program" button appears.  When it came up for Firefox I checked to see if it was leaking memory or something, it was only 341MB of RAM being used.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-11T20:38:41+00:00

    What is the exact error message you are getting?

    Have you disabled the virtual memory (pagefile)?

    If not, what size is it set to?

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