Hi---My desktop has gotten unusally slow and it is driving me nuts. I think i need to free up some memory on it, how do i know how much memory the "my documents" section is using up and also the C drive? Please let me know. Thx!
My Documents and the C Drive doesn't take up memory, but HARD DRIVE SPACE instead. To check this go to START > My Computer > then right click on the C: Drive (it might be have a different name, but it should say C drive) > then once you've right clicked on it, click on properties and it should show a pie graph. The purple shows the free space, and the blue shows the used space. If you have less than 10 GB left, then I'd worry. This is assuming you have a 20GB + hard drive. If you have less than 15GB of hard drive space, then you should have at least 50% free.
1GB is aprox. 1024MB
To free up space go to control panel > add remove programs > and look for programs that you don't use any more or that you won't need. Make sure you have the original CD if it's commercial software (like office 2003 etc.) because if you uninstall it, and don't have the original CD you'll have a hard time installing it again.
Hi---My desktop has gotten unusally slow and it is driving me nuts. I think i need to free up some memory on it, how do i know how much memory the "my documents" section is using up and also the C drive? Please let me know. Thx!
before deleting anything you might want to check for the start up programs and background programs you have running. if you have lots it will kill your pc speed.
Hi------Guys: 
Thanxs for responding. I think before i delete programs and such, i would like to try what Dave suggested and check set-up and background programs i have running,
but how do i do this? Let me know.
I just checked my C drive, and apparently i only have 9.30GB total on my PC, the pie chart shows me using up 6.30 and my free space is at 3.00
I should state i have an older PC, but i mainly use it for email, internet, photos and some word processing. Not too much on the media stuff or gaming.
Also, i keep getting a message box pop-up that tells me my "virtual memory is low"
How can i free up some of this?
Hi------Guys:
Thanxs for responding. I think before i delete programs and such, i would like to try what Dave suggested and check set-up and background programs i have running,
but how do i do this? Let me know.
I just checked my C drive, and apparently i only have 9.30GB total on my PC, the pie chart shows me using up 6.30 and my free space is at 3.00
I should state i have an older PC, but i mainly use it for email, internet, photos and some word processing. Not too much on the media stuff or gaming.
Also, i keep getting a message box pop-up that tells me my "virtual memory is low"
How can i free up some of this?
to remove programs, go to your control panel in the start menu and select add/remove programs. this will then open a box which allows you to easily click unistall.
10gb! that is seriously low, i would advise investing in a new hard drive which are relatively cheap now.
what is your RAM? it sounds like you only have a 128mb or something which is very low and would struggle to run even basic tasks. again i would advise upgrading the ram. for the meanwhile if you go ctrl+alt+del a window will pop up showing the tasks running on your pc, have a flick down the list and see if there is anything which you reconise to be running and isn't required, if so end task. that should help a little.
I think i am going to buy me a newer hard drive. Do you really think i need RAM also? Is the standard RAM 512 mb?
Hard drive space, and memory are two different things.
Hard drive space determines how many files you can store, while memory (RAM) determines how many programs you can run at once. For example, you run a program that takes up 256MB of RAM , and you only have 256MB of RAM, when you run another program that takes up let's say 32MB, you'll notice that your PC will slow down.
As a side note, Windows XP takes up ~100MB, however in reality, you are using more of your RAM due to other programs like the web browser, chat client, etc.
Thanxs NJER: Both my memory and my hard drive need upgrading, as they are both old and not very big in size. See specs below.
HD = 9.30 gb
RAM = 128 mb
No wonder my PC is driving me batty with slowness. Jeez!
I believe nowdays the RAM price is quite reasonable. You should get at least 512MB if you are using WinXP.
Great answers guys. I need a clean up on my computer too . .
//Andreas