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
    2014-06-03T16:25:41+00:00

    Hi,

    You may refer to this article to know more about low memory problems in Windows 7 computer.

    Preventing low memory problems: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preventing-low-memory-problems#1TC=windows-7

    Thank you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-06-26T18:55:48+00:00

    @srimadhwa-  I ask that you please add value to the thread and not just quote boilerplate responses.  The link you provide furthers this discussion in no manner.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-08-11T05:00:04+00:00

    Thanks for the education.... A simple question - I have a laptop Asus and it came with Win 8.  I recently upgraded to 8.1  I no longer play internet games and do not have them loaded in my computer.  Only change since purchase of this in 2013 was the upgrade.  Today for no practical or evident reason, the low memory error code ---  came up which prevented me or my husband's logging in.  I tried F8 but to no avail - trying for Safe mode.  Can't recall exactly how I got in, and went right to this discussion.

    I was able to follow your discussion --- now I need practical advice what to do next.  I could not see any program which used the resources to cause this to happen - none.  As I said, last week I loaded up 8.1.  So, how would I go about getting back to where I was (win 8) with least impact (complicated roll backs or reloading programs?)

    Thanks so much I'm asking for simple a,b c list of how to back up and operate w/ out this annoying msg keeping me out of the laptop.  Thanks  Debra1533

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-18T07:59:05+00:00

    I am having the same issue with Windows 8.1 pro.

    Did anyone solve this issue?

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