This is a new one on me. I’ve seen this message twice in the past few weeks when shutting down. It says the Win virtual memory is low (this is XP) and that it’s adding more memory.
Is this some sort of natural degradation? Is it anything to be concerned about? Is there anything I might get rid of?
I don’t know much about computers, but this is not something you have to worry about. It relates to the cache on your HD,which holds some info from your memory for faster retrieval. I don’t know if it is the same as the cache, but someone who knows something can give more info. 
Windows uses a virtual memory system. Your total computer “memory” is the physical RAM you have installed plus the size of the virtual memory swap file. For example, if you have 64 MB of RAM and a 64 MB swap file, then your computer programs think you have 128 MB of memory. If your programs use up 128 MB of memory, then windows will simply make the swap file bigger, which is where that message comes from.
If you get more RAM installed in the machine, then you won’t see that message as often, possibly not at all. Your machine will also run faster since it has to do fewer page swaps (exchanges the data between the physical memory and the disk file). Page swaps are very slow compared to regular memory accesses.
You can easily add more virtual memory with the virtual memory setting (you don’t need to buy more ram
but you can). I don’t know where it is on XP,
but Im sure someone can let you know. Or I bet its listed on how to do this in their manual, START:H
It’ll probaby recommend you to leave it alone, though.
How much RAM do you have? I’m assuming not a whole lot. If in addition, your hard disk space is low, Windows might run into memory problems because it can’t create a swap file big enough to compensate for your small RAM capacity. Adding RAM is always a better (read: quicker running) option than enlarging the wap file, unless you’ve already got 1 gig of RAM or something.
Example: my PIII 550 MHz with 384 megs of RAM never gets into memory problems. But my hard disks have 2 and 30 gigs of free space, respectively. YMMV.
http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/WMPG/article.php/10706_1145481__2 for some good memory prices. Don’t fuck around with your virtual memory. Leave Windows do it and don’t do it manually. You may configure it so that you won’t be able to start up. I know. It happened to me. Luckily, I have Go Back.
Thanks, everyone. I’ve checked on some things and it appears to be all right now. I won’t mess with it unless I absolutely have to. I also have Go Back but I hope never to use it.