Microsoft KB Archive/837869

Knowledge Base

Error message when you when you start or play a Microsoft game: "Your system is low on virtual memory"

Article ID: 837869

Article Last Modified on 11/14/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
• Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe
• Microsoft Flight Simulator X Standard
• Microsoft Age of Mythology
• Microsoft Age of Mythology Gold
• Microsoft Age of Mythology: The Titans
• Microsoft Age of Empires III
• Microsoft Age of Empires III : The WarChiefs
• Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe
• Microsoft Dungeon Siege
• Microsoft Dungeon Siege II
• Fable: The Lost Chapters PC
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: Century of Flight
• Microsoft Halo: Combat Evolved for PC
• Microsoft Rise of Nations
• Microsoft Rise of Nations: Gold Edition
• Microsoft Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
• Microsoft Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots
• Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2
• Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure
• Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger
• Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species
• Microsoft Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania

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SUMMARY

When you receive an error message about low virtual memory, the program is trying to use more memory (RAM) than is available on the computer. You can adjust the virtual memory settings in Windows to work around this issue, or add more memory to the computer.

SYMPTOMS

When you start or play one of the games that are listed in the "Applies to" section, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Your system is low on virtual memory.

Unable to allocate memory.

CAUSE

This issue may occur when there is insufficient memory on the computer, and when the current virtual memory settings are not set high enough.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, you can adjust the virtual memory setting. To do this, follow these steps, as appropriate for the operating system that you are using.

Windows Vista

1. Open the Printers item in Control Panel. To do this, click Start, type System in the Start Search box, and then click System in the Programs list.
2. Click Advanced system settings.
   

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

1. On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance.
2. On the Advanced tab, click Change under Virtual memory.
3. Click to clear the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives check box.
4. Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file that you want to change.
5. Click System managed size, and then click Set.
6. Click OK two times.
7. In the System Properties dialog box, click OK.
8. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart Now.

Microsoft Windows XP

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
3. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
4. On the Advanced tab, under Virtual memory, click Change.
5. Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file that you want to change.
6. Under Paging file size for selected drive, click to select the System managed size check box, and then click Set.
7. Click OK three times.
   

When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

Microsoft Windows 2000

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. On the Advanced tab, click Performance Options.
4. Click Change.
5. Select the drive that you want to use to store the paging file.
6. Increase the value for Maximum size (MB).
   

For the initial size, we recommend that you use the Recommended value under Total paging file size for all drives.

1. Click Set, and then click OK three times.
2. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.
   

Otherwise click Start, and then click Shut Down.

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition and Microsoft Windows 98

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. On the Performance tab, click Virtual Memory.
4. Click to select the Let Windows manage my virtual memory settings. (Recommended) check box, and then click OK.
5. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, install more memory (RAM) in the computer. Contact the manufacturer of the computer for more information.

For information about how to contact the computer manufacturer, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K

60781 Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P

60782 Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the minimum system requirements, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

320018 Dungeon Siege: Minimum system requirements for Dungeon Siege

331403 Age of Mythology: Minimum system requirements

820088 Rise of Nations: Minimum system requirements

823627 Flight Simulator 2004: Minimum system requirements

829479 Minimum system requirements for Halo: Combat Evolved

Keywords: kberrmsg kbsetup kbprb KB837869

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