Computers have both RAM (Random Access Memory) and hard drive space. Computers can access data in RAM much faster than they can from hard drives, but hard drives have much more room. Windows typically sets aside a certain amount of space on the hard drive to use for "overflow" information when it runs out of RAM. This use of hard drive space to simulate extra RAM is called Virtual Memory.

If you have Windows 95:

Generally, leave Virtual Memory alone! Windows 95's default virtual memory typically works well, so unless you've deliberately changed how your system handles virtual memory, your system should be fine.

If you have Windows 3.1x:

1. In Program Manager, go to the Main program group and double-click on Control Panel.

2. In Control Panel, double-click on 386 Enhanced.

3. In 386 Enhanced, click the Virtual Memory button.

4. In the Virtual Memory window, if it shows over 19,000 KB for Size, then you're okay, so Cancel out of everything. If it shows less than 19,000 KB, click the Change button.

5. In the expanded Virtual Memory window, see how much space is listed next to Maximum Size. If that shows less than 25,000 KB, then Cancel out of everything, delete some unneeded files from your hard drive, run Defrag, and start over from Step 1.

6. If you have at least 25,000 KB next to Maximum Size, enter 20000 in the New Size box and make the Type Permanent. Then click OK. (If you see an alert window that starts "Windows will not use more than…"; click OK.) Click OK to 386 Enhanced and Windows will restart itself to use the new virtual memory settings.