RAM problems

[highwaychilli]

My laptop is using 1.30GB out of 3GB of RAM with nothing running. Right now I'm only running MSN and Internet Explorer, and it's using 1.60GB. I don't know much about RAM, but this doesn't seem right. I use Windows Vista, don't know if that's what it uses. (Keep in mind my computer is crashing a lot, and I want to find out if this has something to do with it).

[patio]

Vista handles RAM differently than OS's in years past...

what are your issues ? ?

[highwaychilli]

My laptop is very slow in general. For example, my winamp is causing me trouble. I have to try to open it several time, because it crashes. Sometimes it tells me it crashed, but sometimes it doesn't. It just doesn't open. And these are the worst cases because the program doesn't run on applications but continues to run on processes, using 100% of the CPU (I have to close it with the task manager). Other than those little things, another major problem is that the computer is overheating a LOT (overheating meaning to the point that it shuts off). I don't know if my room is too hot, but this didn't use to happen so often.

[soybean]

the program doesn't run on applications but continues to run on processes, using 100% of the CPU

what program?

[mroilfield]

My laptop is very slow in general. For example, my winamp is causing me trouble. I have to try to open it several time, because it crashes. Sometimes it tells me it crashed, but sometimes it doesn't. It just doesn't open. And these are the worst cases because the program doesn't run on applications but continues to run on processes, using 100% of the CPU (I have to close it with the task manager). Other than those little things, another major problem is that the computer is overheating a LOT (overheating meaning to the point that it shuts off). I don't know if my room is too hot, but this didn't use to happen so often.

I think the OP is talking about winamp and means that under task manager it isn't showing up under the applications tab but still shows up under the processes tab.

[Allan]

1) Ram usage is not your problem.
2) If something - ANYTHING - is keeping the cpu spiked you need to check that app and run full scans for malware with BOTH your AV utility and MalwareBytes.

[soybean]

An uninstall and reinstall of winapp might also be helpful.  I'd uninstall winapp and observe Task Manager for awhile to verify nothing else was causing abnormal consumption of CPU resources, and then reinstall it.

[highwaychilli]

Yeah I was talking about winamp, and the task manager. For AV I use the free Avira, I've heard it's good. I didn't have MalwareBytes. Downloaded it, awesome. I had figured re-installing winamp would probably fix it, but I wanted to know if that was only a symptom of the whole problematic I was facing. I ran the scan on both Avira and MB, and both found a couple of things. For the moment the computer is responding much better. Thanks a lot.

[Allan]

Well, you know what? If your scans came up with some malware why not go the whole route and make sure your system is "clean"? Follow this link and all instructions: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html

[stevener11]

Back ground process are eating up ram. Windows 7 support over 4 gigs of ram.  My laptop runs quite a bit fast with Windows 7, but not as fast as my Desktop. 

[BC_Programmer]

Windows 7 support over 4 gigs of ram. 

not the 32-bit version.