Microsoft KB Archive/65760

Project Err Msg: Out of Memory

PSS ID Number: Q65760 Article last modified on 10-04-1994

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WINDOWS

= SUMMARY =

If Microsoft Project for Windows generates an “Out of Memory” error on startup or while running, the trouble is probably related to the percentage of Windows system resources currently available.

Microsoft Project versions 1.0 and 3.0 may start with system resources as low as 14 percent, and Microsoft Project 3.0 with system resources as low as 21 percent, but it is more likely that anything below 28-30 percent will generate an error and prevent Project from loading. The same thing applies while Project is running.

One solution is to close one or more applications and retry loading Project or retry the operation in Project that caused the error message. For loading Project, it is often possible to close an application to free up enough system resources to prevent the “Out of Memory” message, and then reopen the application after Project has loaded. Another solution is to increase the amount of system resources available in the Windows environment by minimizing the number of visible icons when Windows Program Manager is started.

= MORE INFORMATION =

The behavior described above is due to the structure of Windows 3.00 and the way that Project checks memory on startup. Windows uses two 64K segments for storing information about the current Windows environment. One segment, the User segment, is used for storing data about all of the “windows” that are open. Open windows include such items as list boxes, buttons, and edit text controls, all of which consume space in the User segment. The second segment, the GDI segment, is used for storing data used by the Windows graphics manager.

Whenever a large operation (such as booting or loading a project) is attempted from Project, the first thing that Project does is check the amount of free memory in the User and GDI segments. There must be at least 5K of space available in each segment for Project to load or proceed running; otherwise, the operation will be aborted, and an “Out of Memory” message will be generated.

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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.