low memory computer problems. help!

[NEAL BREW]

Im a computer moron so I was hoping someone here could help. Every time I read a post that has a video attached and I try to watch it my computer tells me I dont have enough memory or low virtual memory. I bought the computer new 6 months ago and it has a 40 gb hard drive . I mainly use the computer for the web and have few things actually stored on hard drive. What could cause this to happen? How do I remedy this? Any help would be greatly appeciated.

 

[Crazy87GN]

try using norton's clean sweep.... i have it set so it does that every time i turn the comp on....

 

[klrv6]

Swap!!

If you are running XP and bought the lowest, 128 MB memory sold in computers 6 mo ago, you will run out of memory. You can pick up another 128 stick or maybe upgrade 256/512/1024? You may also want to limit the number of programs you load at startup. if other users are logged in, log them out. LMK

 

[kgouldsk]

Go here:

http://www.ad-aware.com

and download ad-aware. Install it, run it.
There's a button to check for updates - do that.

Then run a scan, and it will look for all the miserable little adware programs that get installed on your computer. Since you're new and don't know to watch out for these, you probably have a zillion of them. They can cause this.

It will probably want to reboot your computer, then will run again after you reboot to remove the last of them.

Finally, go here:
http://toolbar.google.com/

Download and install the Google toolbar. It blocks popups, which is what a lot of these programs use to install themselves.

After that, once in a while, run ad-aware again. It's good to run it at least every couple of months if not more often.

If you don't have an anti-virus package, get one. I like Norton Internet Security. Get it here for $34
http://www.directdeals.com/Item_CD-10098800.aspx

It also has a very good SPAM filter tool, and some firewall tools. It helped my mom and dad out a lot.

 

[kshef]

if that didnt work
then goto Control Panel
System
Advanced
then goto the Advanced tab
under Virtual Memory....how many MB does it say your paging file size is?