Well, my virtual memory anyway. For some time now, I've been getting weird freezes where FS9 or sometimes other software hangs - not always terminally, but for several minutes - with CPU utilization having shot to 100% and stayed there.I have a Compaq 1.8GHZ, 512MB RAM, Windows XP Home updated, Nvidia 52.16 drivers running two GeForce 2 MX cards (yeah, I know, but we're not all as rich as you lot).This is the picture when I do the three finger tango:http://www.paxship.com/slug.jpgOccasionally, I get an error message saying my system is low on virtual memory. When the system hangs as shown, the fan winds up as though it's trying to cool down a hot motherboard but a) I have never overclocked or tweaked my hardware and :( the environment is not hot either.Is it possible that my computer memory is actually failing or something like that? Can that happen? I've tried setting virtual memory manually, and letting Windows manage the system (default), but I seem to have the problem regardless.I can't believe my system is taxed enough to be doing this. Any ideas, O Fellows of the Forum? I have the technical expertise of an epileptic emu so would appreciate any input.Mark "Dark Moment" BeaumontEDIT: Although I don't show it here, I usually use EndItAll to reduce the number of processes, which takes it down to about 34; but same problem, makes no difference to this particular problem.http://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

Hi Mark,the freeze-up could be a result of various things - your graphics card may be caught in a loop (did you install all landclass files properly?), it could be a sound problem, or a problem with one of the .dll files in FS.However, you seem to have an awful lot of processes running, which is probably not helping. Take a look at the screenshot of my task manager compared to yours - and that's with various programs open and no End-It-All. Like you, I run End-it-all before starting FS, and I end up with around 8-10 processes left running. If I was in your position, I'd have a look at the startup options, and disable as many programs as possible. For example, media programs like Real Player etc. like to start up with Windows, even though there is no reason for doing so - it's better to start the process when needed, as it will also save boot-up time.Cheers,Gosta.http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/50712.jpg

Ha! The comparison of Task Managers is interesting, Gosta, but I should point out that I am showing you mine when frozen, not its usual running state. I think the CPU usually ticks over at about 14% with FS. I would bet you haven't even got yours fired up in your own shot, although I do note you've double my memory so that might help anyway.No, I do take your point on processes. I shall do some work there, you're right, because I've been told that before but was too lazy to sort it. Will have a look see.Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

Jeez, this forum is becoming impossible to get into (even on non-weekend and non-holiday days). I was going to write what Gosta wrote... seems you have alot of background processes running. Even after using EnditAll. I just checked mine. Even with my AV scanning and MBM running I have 22 processes in the background.I can remember a ComPaq laptop my wife owned a couple years ago was the same way. Seems they like to have alot of their stuff running in the background (as do most computer manufacturers). Have you visited Black Viper's site?http://www.blackviper.com/index.htmlGood luck,

Hi Mark,I know your shot was from a frozen machine, that's why I ignored the CPU usage - it will be 100% on any frozen computer, regardless of what CPU you have :). I was really trying to point out the difference in the processes that are running. A freeze-up usually means something is caught in an indefinite loop. To find out what, you'd really have to start with the computer running the bare minimum. To do that, go to Start Menu/Run, type 'msconfig', click 'selective startup', then go to 'Services', select 'Hide all Microsoft Services', then select 'Disable All'. Now restart your computer. Beware though, you will also have disabled your firewall, antivirus etc., so DON'T connect to the internet while in selective mode (if you're on broadband, disconnect the cable). Now run FS and see what happens. If the freeze-up reoccurs, it's something within FS or driver related. If it doesn't, it's probably one of the processes interfering with FS etc. To reset your startup, just go to 'msconfig' again and select 'normal startup'.Cheers,Gosta.http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpg

Mark! The solution is simple, & you know it!Go without food for a week, then with the money saved,upgrade the box to P4 3.06. You're eating too much food.Hope this helps.Peter Sydney Australia

Thanks all for writing.I'm not really winning; I have tried a few of the things above, including eating less, but still can't get those processes down. Following Black Viper's advice - for which thanks, I'm sure it works for some - only blocked me from the Internet for four hours, didn't it, until I could work out what he had recommended to disable that had negatively impacted my system. I found it and re-enabled it, so all is well, but despite doing other stuff he suggested, editing my STARTUOP menu a little and going without dinner I still seem to have 52 processes running in Windows XP.Ah well. I should just stick to flying and live with the hangs, I suppose. Thanks again.Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

Hi Mark,if you're not comfortable with removing services or selective startup, try doing it with EndItAll. If you accidentally kill off a vital process, you just need to restart, and everything is back to normal.As an idea, here's a screenshot of what's running on my computer by default.Cheers,Gosta.http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/50789.jpg

<<<>>>Hi again GostaAs I say in my first post, I do use EndItAll.It's not so much a matter of being uncomfortable with removing services or selective startup - I've been attacking this problem in both those directions - it's simply that these things never work for two people the same way. When I followed "Black Viper's" kill list I ended up with no cable access and had to trawl through all the items again to identify what HE would close that I CAN'T close. And even after taking out a number of things from my START menu and killing them in msconfig and the services thingy, I am still seeing plenty of background processes when booting up. Not sure why.Anyway, none of them take any CPU and not much memory either as most are on standby. The hangs are almost always FS related with all the processor percentage being allocated to the sim.Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

Hi Mark,>Anyway, none of them take any CPU and not much memory either as most are on standby.http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpg

Pray Gentlemen, Where can I find this EndItAll program??I would ove to give it a try.

Hi,This is a well-known problem with FS. Many users have reported this issue. I am strongly convinced this is nothing related to the programs running into the background but is a FS-related problem. In my case if I use my home airport (LPPT, located a few miles from where I live) I get always this problem - a huge usage of page file with the corresponding FS9 crash!

http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/toolbox/enditall/Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

Thank You very much, Sir for the link

I am 66 years old and I am also losing memory !Roger