How to Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool in Windows Vista

Windows Vista has a built-in feature called the Memory Diagnostic Tool. It will check the RAM in your computer for errors and notify the user if the RAM needs to be replaced. This utility will not find all errors, but will check for obvious hardware failures in the memory. This guide will walk-through how to run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool in Windows Vista.

1. Click the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
   
   
   
2. Select Control Panel on the right half of the Start menu.
   
   
   
3. The Control Panel should open to a series of categories. If it does not, click the Control Panel Home link on the left.
   
   
   
4. Click the green System and Maintenance link.
   
   
   
5. Click the green Administrative Tools link which is the last heading in the menu.
   
   
6. Double-click the Memory Diagnostic Tool icon in the next window.
   
   
   
7. Select the Restart now and check for problems option to begin the diagnostic.
   
   
   
8. The Memory Diagnostic Tool will run two passes on the RAM check for errors. If any errors are found they will be displayed on the screen. Once the test is complete the system will automatically reboot back into Windows Vista.
   
   
   

How to Determine the Type of and Maximum Supported Memory for Your Computer

Upgrading the amount of memory installed on your computer often improves system performance. However, installing the wrong type of memory will usually result in the computer not functioning at all. If you install more memory than the system can support, it may result with the same issue.

There are two important features to look for when upgrading the memory: what will your hardware support and operating system limitations. With regard to operating system limitations, Windows and Mac 32-bit operating systems will not support more than approximately 3 gigabytes of memory. Linux 32-bit will support more than 3 gigabytes of memory, but requires recompiling the kernel.

For Windows and Mac operating systems, it is a limitation of the operating system and can only be overcome by changing to a 64-bit operating system. Windows XP uses a 32-bit operating system, with very few exceptions. (Reference: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions) Windows Vista and Windows 7 can be either 32-bit or 64-bit. Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard) and above are 64-bit operating systems but earlier versions are 32-bit.

To determine if Windows Vista or Windows 7 is 32-bit or 64-bit:

1. Left-click the Start button.
2. Right-click Computer.
   
   
   
   
3. Left-click Properties. The System Properties are displayed and will show the version of the operating system.
   
   
   

Make note of the Installed Memory (RAM) immediately above the System Type. This will tell you how much memory the system recognizes. NOTE: This information can be affected by memory used for the video.

Once you know what your operating system is the next step is to determine what your hardware will support. There are different ways to do this:

• If you know the manufacturer and model of the computer or motherboard, you can look the information up on the manufacturer’s web site. The information is typically in the technical specifications for that model. Below is an example of the information from Hewlett Packard’s web site:
  
  
  
  
  Note that it shows the memory that came installed on the computer and the type of RAM that is compatible (in this case PC3-8500 and PC3-10600), how many slots are available, and that it is Dual channel. Dual channel memory should be matched for best performance, although it is not required for the computer to operate.
  
• An alternative to the manufacture site or user’s manual is to use a system scanning utility. An example of this is the Crucial memory scan utility available at www.crucial.com. Below is an example of the output from using the Crucial utility:
  
  
  

Once you know your operating system, the type of memory you have, what the maximum supported is, and whether it is dual channel or not, you can purchase your memory.For information on physically installing the memory go to Micro Center Tech Support's Tech Center for more helpful resources: "How to Install RAM Memory", http://www.microcentertech.com/tech_center/DB/read_article.php?faqid=./HowTos/HOW6000032B.htm

How to Improve the Gaming Performance of Your Graphics Card

The overall goal of increasing the performance of a graphics card is to increase the frames per second (fps) at which a game operates. This can be achieved multiple ways. Some suggestions are as follows:

1. Change the video settings in the game.
   Going into the video settings and lowering some of them can greatly increase the fps of the game. Settings to lower include:
   
   • Resolution
   • Texture Quality
   • Bit Depth
   • Shadowing
   • Effects
2. Remove background processes.
   Though the card may be operating at a high level, there may be programs slowing down Windows, which can decrease your fps. To remove background processes:
   
   
   • Check for icons in the Notification Area (by default this is located to the left of the clock in the bottom right corner of the screen). Just right-click on icons for programs not currently in use, and select the Exit or Close option.
3. Update your graphics card drivers.
   The graphics card manufacturer generally has the latest updates.
   

Optimizing your System with Disk Cleanup

Windows has several built-in tools that can help keep your system running smoothly. One of these tools called Disk Cleanup can remove extraneous files quickly from your computer. To start Disk Cleanup, follow these steps:

1. Go to Start » Accessories » System Tools » Disk Cleanup. Or go to Start, then type in Disk Cleanup in the search bar.

2. In the Disk Cleanup window, select the Files to Delete. Click OK.

The program will ask if you want to permanently delete the files. Click OK to begin the process. Take caution when choosing what files to delete – you cannot recover the information once removed.

There are other features of Disk Cleanup such as removing programs and system restore. The Programs and Features option links to the Control Panel where you can unnecessary software. The System Restore and Shadow Copies option removes any extra backup copies to save only the most recent. For more information, go to Microsoft Support »

Reference:
Microsoft Support. Delete files using Disk Cleanup. http://bit.ly/4ge7Dl
Microsoft Support. Disk Cleanup for Windows XP. http://bit.ly/1qBdrW

What is Windows Task Manager?

The Windows Task Manager is an important utility that can help you monitor and repair application issues with your OS. This program shows you what software is currently running on your system in addition to system processes and performance measurement. To optimize your computer, the Windows Task Manager is key to evaluating how well (or not so well) your computer is operating.

There are three methods for starting Windows Task Manager:

1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE at the same time. In the new window, click Task Manager.

2. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.

3. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager from the menu.

After the Task Manager is booted, you have access to several different views of your system’s activities.  In the first tab for Applications, the Task Manager lists all programs currently running on the computer. If you have an application that crashes or won’t respond, you can quit the app without shutting down the entire system by selecting “End Task” from the menu. 

Under the Processes menu, the Task Manager shows the processes active on your computer.  This is not the same as services; processes show what programs are running under the user’s account, but services shows all programs running on the computer.  When you are troubleshooting performance issues, these menus are helpful in identifying unnecessary active applications or even locate malware on your machine. If you find a process that you don’t recognize, you can check it against a list of known valid processes at Uniblue’s Windows Process Library. To end a process, click on the item within the process list and click on the “End Process” button.  IMPORTANT: When disabling a process, it may affect core functions of your computer, so proceed with caution!

The remaining tabs on the Task Manager are for Performance, Networking and Users. The Performance tab displays a graphical view of the CPU and Memory usage on your machine. The Networking tab performs a similar function but for your network connections. The Users tab lists all active users on your machine, and you can disconnect or logoff other users from this window.

Windows Task Manager is a critical tool for keeping your system operating smoothly and can be useful for identifying viruses or other malware. For more tips on how to troubleshoot system issues with Windows Task Manager, go to Microsoft Support »

Reference:

Uniblue Windows Process Library
http://www.processlibrary.com/

Microsoft Windows Task Manager
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323527