windows virtual memory

[wendyl]

From time to time when working on large files I get apop up saying windows virtual memory is low and it is increasing meanwhile access to programmes may be restricted. I recently added 512 memory making just under 1G in total. this has not resolved is there another answer?
Thanks for any advice

[commoner]

.....increase the size of your virtual memory (paging file) ...read this and do the job....commoner.

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/j_helmig/wxpvmem.htm

[fo3nix]

what operating system are you on?

what are large files? 50mb, 80mb? how much ram is being used by this? (when you're using these large files, do ctrl+alt+del, click processes tab, and you'll see how much mem is being used)

and also, what is 1GB? Do you mean that you have shared graphics memory taking some of the ram, or is your stick of ram a 256mb one?

[wendyl]

fo3nix in answer to your question
OS windows XP home
Total memory 896mb (128+256+512)
60gb hard disk (26.5 used)
My web site file in question shows 471,636K following your instruction
sorry I don't understand the question about shared graphics memory
does that help?
many thanks
Wendy

[fo3nix]

OK, that's your problem.

What program are you running, to be using 471MB? That's a huge amount, for a website especially.

[wendyl]

fo3nix
Programme is PagePlus 10
Website has 12 pages including lots of pictures - it relates to local history and a postcard collection

[fo3nix]

ok, well those pictures must be huge. you need to re-size them for the web, so that they're far smaller. photoshop can do this for you, if you have it (save for web). or other free ones exist too.

[wendyl]

the pictures vary from less than 2mb to 10mb
they are not huge are they?
thanks again - hope I'm not being too much of a pain!
W

[OBonio]

2Mb to 10Mb pictures is MASSIVE! Are they in BMP format? If so, get them into JPG format. That'll save some space.

[wendyl]

Oh dear it seems I'm in trouble the pictures are all jpgs already and embedded in the pages. If I make them smaller can my readers view them larger?. I already had a comment the written details on them are 'a bit small' and am getting requests for more pictures too
W

[OBonio]

I would hazard a guess and say the images are actually a lot bigger than the size you are displaying them on the website. Open one in Irfanview (very handy little program). Is it the same size as on your website?

If it's a lot bigger, you need to resize the image. You can do this with Irfanview.

http://www.irfanview.com/

[fo3nix]

wendyl: remember that those pictures are going to have to be seen by people that browse your site. now, I have no idea how fast your internet speed is, but mine takes a good 20 or 30 seconds to download a 2MB file. I'm not waiting that long just for one picture to load (and a lot longer for the larger files), and no-one else will either.

The standard pictures need to be about 60kb or so. The smaller the better. when you save as a jpg, save it as about '60' quality (you normally get a scale from 1 to 100), together with sizing the image down to the size you want it for the site.

[wendyl]

Thanks again fo3nix. I have to divert my attention to other activities for the next couple of days but I will follow your advice and see if I can make the changes you suggest after that
W

[wendyl]

obonio and fo3nix Have followed your advice and resized all the pictures currently on site using irfanview and will do same to any I add in future - thanks

Is it possible you can help further?
1. How can I zoom in or or enlarge picture view on web site or do I have to link to larger views on another page
2. Can you recommend a free 'forum' I can add

very many thanks wendy

[OBonio]

Hi Wendy,

Sorry for not following up on this sooner!

1) You need to link to larger photos to do this, so you have 2 different versions. One small (the thumbnail) and one large.

2) Free forum software... http://www.phpbb.com/ This needs a MySQL/Access/PostGre/SQL server database and your website needs to support PHP too. Your ISP can help you with this.

[wendyl]

my sincere thanks OBonio for the very informative answer. I had thought of linking to bigger pictures but had token note of the advice to reduce the sizes given earlier. However, I will try just particular pictures. After a hectic week with other priorities I will follow up the forum advice too - thanks again

Wendy