virtual memory

[Ginger Haack]

Now and then I get the message that my memory is low and the system is increasing my virtual memory as a result. I am not given any information as to what I should do about the memory. One day recently, when I clicked Outlook Express, I got the error message: "Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service." Nothing worked. I turned my computer off. The next day it worked. However, I suspect that one of these days, it will happen again, and I may not be so fortunate as to recover working order.
I checked My Computer. Total size of memory, 69.5 GB. Free Space, 45.3 GB. (? Can that be right?)
I am using a Compaq Presario desktop, S5100NX. Yes, it's old.
Can you help me? If so, will you please email me at ghaack159@gmail.com.Thanks.
Ginger Haack

[Bob Crawford]

This is a bug (error) in some programs known as a memory leak. This means the program does not release all the memory it requests and over time this uses up all the memory available for system resources. Periodically rebooting the system will clear up this problem because it releases all memory no matter how it was allocated.

The space you refer to is space on the hard drive. System resources are allocated from RAM memory so hard drive space doesn't matter.