FSX ain't enough? It works with, it crashes without. FSX is a huge app, that needs on boot around 2GB, with OS... impossible.But start opening programs, lots of them and heavy ones, and you'll see a windows out of memory error soon enough.I don't quite get it what do you want to check?

No no, it's crystal clear that it crashes in no time with only 2GB of RAM. That's what happened with the page file off in FSX and basically anything else. The whole system was unstable.I should have been nore specific: I mean test page file on vs off on full 8GB of RAM

No no, it's crystal clear that it crashes in no time with only 2GB of RAM. That's what happened with the page file off in FSX and basically anything else. The whole system was unstable.I should have been nore specific: I mean test page file on vs off on full 8GB of RAM

Hm, only two things pop to me mind:FSX with a HUGE LOD, so that it reaches 4GB but doesn't crash.Photoshop with an insanely big picture loaded and some intensive filtering started.Should bring any 8GB to its knees.EDIT: Or how about Linx with 4GB test memory and FSX with a big LOD?

Yes, I run a first test with standard LOD (4.5) and it hit 2.4GB, then the second one with 7.5 is the one in the pic :smile:Ok, I assumed that having 5 - 10 processes with a combined VAS of more than 2GB meant that there would be swapping, but it could be that it was just reserved space or something, and as soon as a page needs to be offloaded from RAM when the system runs out of it, it crashes with no page file available. I really don't know, but makes sense that no page file = no swapping available.I'm in the mood for some testing. Can you please suggest a scenario to test page file on vs off please?@Oli have you tried different driver versions?

Wnen you say different drivers you mean Graphics driver right? I tried a few - I was a little confused which ones to try...any recommedations/starting points?

Wnen you say different drivers you mean Graphics driver right? I tried a few - I was a little confused which ones to try...any recommedations/starting points?

You can't do much wrong using latest official driver. That's the one that I have successfully running.

OK so I uninstalled as per the instructions above and reinstalled after restarting.Here are screenshots of process explorer again - the first is before applying the 9.1 patch - the second is after the patch.As you can see - vas is seemingly still very high. This is without anything installed with the default Cessna sitting at Seattle, default options and resolution 800x600.

4GB VAS no VAS, Vram no Vram pagin files..... who's on first??http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aehzwwD2II&feature=related

OK so I uninstalled as per the instructions above and reinstalled after restarting.Here are screenshots of process explorer again - the first is before applying the 9.1 patch - the second is after the patch.As you can see - vas is seemingly still very high. This is without anything installed with the default Cessna sitting at Seattle, default options and resolution 800x600.

This ain't nearly normal. Maybe a Vista thing, but my W7+FS9, I deleted FS9 yesterday, and for your sake just installed basis right now: 498mb VAS on first start without any patch or anything.It would be very weird for Vista to cause this, but maybe it's really Vista's bugged memory manager.Are you familiar with Acronis True Image?

This ain't nearly normal. Maybe a Vista thing, but my W7+FS9, I deleted FS9 yesterday, and for your sake just installed basis right now: 498mb VAS on first start without any patch or anything.It would be very weird for Vista to cause this, but maybe it's really Vista's bugged memory manager.Are you familiar with Acronis True Image?

Thanks for doing that.After a quick google I am now familiar with Acronis. Are you suggesting that I make a backup image of my HD and then reinstall Windows or something?

stupid question, but just in case. is your OS up to date with all the service packs and stuff?

stupid question, but just in case. is your OS up to date with all the service packs and stuff?

I guess so - I always install the updates when they become available on the task bar - I will check this though when I get home

You can also try downloading Heaven Benchmark and run it in dx9 mode, to see if it's a fs9 only thing

Thanks for doing that.After a quick google I am now familiar with Acronis. Are you suggesting that I make a backup image of my HD and then reinstall Windows or something?

Yeah, it would be the quickest way to see if the culprit lies in the OS. Basically OS+drivers+FS9. I can't imagine this is a system thing...Btw. if you can get ahold of W7 DVD/ISO, that would be the best. You can test it before you buy it, I think it gives you 30days of gracetime to activate it. And before people start attacking me: I don't say to get a pirated version, but just an original DVD or retail ISO file. There are enough torrents around for that if you have noone who has a DVD...

OK I reinstalled vista - started flightsim and this was the result..much lower VAS!!Going to start re-adding various things now - first off graphics driver.

OK I reinstalled vista - started flightsim and this was the result..much lower VAS!!Going to start re-adding various things now - first off graphics driver.

Well, seems like a way better result! Good luck! - my advice, keep PE open, install addon, start FS, check... and so on.

Just a very quick post to thank everyone that helped me get through this problem. I think (touch wood) I have the problem solved now. I have fs9 installed with Ground Environment, REX, UT Europe, ASE and sitting at UK2000 Heathrow in PMDG 747 eats up less VAS than a simple default flight before the vista reinstall.God only knows what was wrong with the previous install, although I might still consider upgrading to W7 when I get paid next.Anyhow - thanks again!Oli