I'm unsure if this is correct place, but I am wondering why, after installing additional 512mb
memory into my Dell Dim 2400, which had only 256 to begin with, my system info screen
shows only 197mb available memory!? I am not techie inclined, so don't understand
this memory usage process anyway. since adding memory I have only saved a few small
items on my pc....do saved email deduct from avail memory? Do bookmarks deduct from memory?
Thanks
don

"Unused ram is wasted ram."

The more ram you add, the more windows will use. Odds are, what you are seeing is normal.

Saving files like email and bookmarks take up hard drive space which is much different then Memory...

Sounds like you have an on-board video card (built into the motherboard), this configuration on most systems use System Memory for video. What you see is the usable System Memory.

Okay thanks, I guess I just won't worry about it...at least the extra 512 mb got the speed back up on my pc.
baron

Storage room on your hard drive is different from the amount of memory your system has - two different things entirely. Many people confuse the two. Your hard drive is for storage of data only and is static until ordered to recall data for the program to work with. That data is then loaded into your computers memory to be immediately processed and worked on, and the more of that you have available the more data your computer can load into your computer memory. By increasing from 256 to 512, that is why your computer is now running faster. What you are viewing is what your memory is currently using and how much you have left of the 512. This will vary from program to program, depending on what it needs to run. Running your e-mail takes very little. However, the "mother of all demanding programs" are video games, and that is why hard-core gamers run 2 or 4 gigs (not megs!) of memory, and even video cards now have their own memory on the card to relieve the demand off the system memory.

Thanks ranchhand, now I understand a little more about the process's....I added the 512 to the 256, and may add more later on. Thanks for explaining this.
don

Additionally I would set Virtual Memory to System Managed.