How to Set Virtual Memory to the Initial Max Size

Virtual memory, also known as the paging file, is a system emulation of the physical memory (RAM) available on a computer. Such emulation takes place as RAM starts to deplete due to multiple processes operating simultaneously. In turn, virtual memory sets in to help each process finish its task more efficiently. To set a minimum or maximum amount of virtual memory usage, you must first disable the automatic memory management from the Windows-based computer.

• 1

  Click the Start menu, then right-click "Computer" and press "Properties" from the subsequent context menu. Click "Advanced System Settings."

• 2

  Select "Settings" within the "Performance" sub-section, followed by the "Advanced" tab. Click "Change" to launch the virtual memory menu.

• 3

  Clear the option that states "Automatically Manage Paging File Size for All Drives." Click the "Custom Size" option.

• 4

  Select the hard disk containing the paging file setting you wish to modify. Enter a minimum amount of megabytes in the "Initial Size" field, followed by the maximum amount in the "Maximum Size" field.

• 5

  Press "Set" once satisfied with the amount of virtual memory specified. Click "OK" to exit the virtual memory menu.