Determining how much RAM is installed and available.

Question:

Determining how much RAM is installed and available.

Answer:

Notice: RAM and available hard disk drive space are two completely different things. If you're wanting to know how much disk space you have available see document CH000369.

Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, and Vista users

To check how much RAM is available on your computer follow the below steps.

  1. Click Start
  2. Click Settings
  3. Click Control Panel and double-click the Systems icon.
  4. In the General tab will be listed the amount of RAM currently installed and detected.

and/or

Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, and later users can also run the System Information (msinfo32) program that comes pre-installed on the computer. Additional information about this program can be found on our msinfo32 definition page.

View used resources

To determine the amount of available system resources including memory as well as what is currently being utilized open the Task Manager.  In the Processes tab you will be able to see which programs are using what resources. In the Performance tab you will have can see an overall picture of all the system resources.

Windows 95 users

To check how much RAM is available on your computer follow the below steps.

  1. Click Start
  2. Click Settings
  3. Click Control Panel and double-click the Systems icon.
  4. In the General tab will be listed the amount of RAM currently installed and detected.

Windows 3.x users

Click File / Exit Windows. At the MS-DOS prompt type mem and press enter.

See our mem command page for additional information about this command.

MS-DOS users

At the MS-DOS prompt type mem and press enter.

Notice: MS-DOS 6.2 will not accept or recognize more than 64 megs of RAM when typing mem.

See our mem command page for additional information about this command.

Linux / Unix users

Linux / Unix users can use top command, which will display the total memory detected by the computer, how much memory is used, and how much is free.

Additional information:

  • Category
  • Memory Help
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