If your computer has become very slow and, when you try to open a program like Nero or Microsoft Office, it takes ages before the computer loads it, maybe your Ram memory is not enough.

I'll briefly explain, what is the Ram memory? It's the fast memory where the computer loads the programs and all the data it needs to run them. It doesn't keep any record on it. when you close that program you'll free the share of memory that had been allocated earlier to run that program, and when you turn off your computer all the memory will be free and the data and setting will be saved on the Hard Drive. When the Ram memory is not enough to load or to run the program you want to use, Windows creates a virtual memory on your HD so that it can avoid the computer to stop, but this memory is a lot slower, and your computer will be like a turtle.

You must consider that to run Windows XP you'll need 256 megabytes of Ram but to be OK with the other programs, preferably 512 MB and if you are doing video and photo editing , 1 Gig Ram is what you look at.

To check how much memory you have installed on your computer do this:

1. Start    Right click on MyComputer and select Property




2. On the General Tab you can see how much Ram you have and what processor .



To check how much memory your computer needs do this :

3. Open a program like Nero and start burning or Word and Excel together
4. Press cntrl + alt + del and open Task Manager

5. On the Performance Tab under Physical memory you can check how much memory is in use. If the Ram available is very little or if the total Ram is more than what is installed on your computer, Windows has to create Virtual memory and that slows your computer. It is recommended that you upgrade with a bigger memory.




6. Press on Processes tab and you can also check the memory being allocated for each process running on your computer