You are on the right track. The message is simply indicating that for 
some application(s), the computer needs more memory than the combined 
physical memory and the virtual memory normally specified so the amount 
of virtual memory is being temporarily increased. Virtual memory is the 
use of space on the hard disk as if it were memory rather than storage. 
As long as there is excess drive space, this is no problem with the 
exception that using the hard disk for memory is a lot slower than using 
physical memory. If speed is not an issue and everything else is 
operating satisfactorily, than you can leave things as they are.

That being said, 512MB of RAM is really absolute minimum for XP with 1GB 
being the practical minimum level for XP. If you increase the amount of 
memory, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised at the improvement in 
your computer's operation. As you indicated, upgrading the memory is 
easy. It usually involves taking out one screw on the bottom of the 
laptop, inserting the additional memory stick and closing it back up. 
You actually do not get into the innards as the RAM access on a laptop 
is located just under the laptop shell outside of the innards. Just 
don't lose the little screw.

If you do not know the type or capacity of RAM upgrade that you want, 
you can go to www.crucial.com using the laptop and select using their 
scan to determine what RAM you now have and your options for upgrading. 
You do not have to buy the RAM from them, but they are reliable. Once 
you have the information on any RAM you might desire you can shop around 
for the best deal. As a caution, some brands of RAM may not be 
compatible so you might want to find out for yourself what you now have 
and then question the retailer you have chosen about compatibility.

Tom

Lewis C. Emerson wrote:
> Friends,
> Twice during the past several months a message has popped up saying something like "Your Virtual Memory is low.  Windows is increasing your VM, but some applications may be affected".
> I'm ashamed to admit that I have absolutely no idea what is going on.  The machine is an Acer Laptop (Aspire 3003WLMi), running Windows XP Pro and with 512 MB DDR Memory.
> Should this be increased to 1 GB or more?  I have opened the case of two desktops over the past 6 or 8 years and put in an extra memory stick.  I really didn't know what I was doing, but just followed the steps that came with the Kingston (I think) memory.  By some stroke of luck everything worked just fine.  I have been a radio ham op for 60+ years so was bit familiar and at ease with electronic gadgets.
> I am older now and more clumsy, and would be afraid of digging around inside into the miniature (probably) innards of this thing
> Gentle suggestions would be much appreciated.
> Doc, W4ITJ. 
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>
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