As you may know, all programs that run on your computer execute (or run) in the "memory" of your computer.  As programs run, the CPU reads programs from your hard disk drive and loads those programs into memory.  The more programs that you run, the more full memory becomes.  As you close programs, Windows releases that memory for other programs to use.  Given this, computer memory is one of the most important pieces of hardware inside your computer -- and often the least understood!  This article will give you the information you need to find out how much memory (or RAM) is installed inside your computer and how you can manage it so that programs on your computer run smoother, faster, and crash less often.  Note that memory and hard disk space are completely separate things.

First, let's find out how much memory your computer has.   To do this, click Start, then Settings, then Control Panel.  Double-click on the "System" icon and then click the "Performance" tab at the top.   The top line will tell you the amount of memory your computer has installed.   Typically, your computer should have at least 64MB (megabytes) of memory - optimally, 128MB or more.  You can increase the amount of memory your computer has, fairly inexpensively, by talking to any computer repair shop.

Next, let's find out what programs are running on your computer - I think you'll be surprised!  Restart your computer and after it reboots, press the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys at the same time.  The Windows "Close Program" dialogue box will show you a list of all the programs that are currently in your computers memory.  Some programs you may recognize, others you will not.  Click "Cancel" to return to Windows.

Last month we explored the concept of computer memory, reviewed how much memory your computer has, and described how to view the programs that are currently running.  This month we will focus on how to remove programs that automatically start with your computer to free up more memory for your critical applications.  This will allow those applications to usually run more efficiently.

First, let us take a look at your "StartUp" folder.  This folder contains shortcuts to software that loads automatically every time you start your computer.  First, right-click on your Windows "Start" button and click Explore.  Next click the "plus" sign next to the "Programs" folder on the left and then find and left-click on the "StartUp" folder under Programs.  On the right side of the screen will appear several icons.  You should review the icons and see if any are unnecessary.   Note that removing an icon from this window will NOT permanently remove the program from your computer and it can still be accessed.  To remove a program shortcut from StartUp, right-click on the icon and then click Delete.

Next, close this window and click Start / Programs / Accessories.  Click System Tools / System Information.  Click the Tools tab, then "System Configuration Utility" and the Startup tab.  Review the programs in the list and remove checkmark from any programs that you know you don't need.  Click OK when done.  If you are unsure as to whether a program is necessary you might want to consult with a computer repair expert for more information on what the program does.

As you add and remove software from your computer you should repeat the above steps to make sure you still have the best configuration of programs loading every time  you start your computer.  I would also recommend that you restart your computer at least once a day.  This will completely refresh the memory in your computer and give you the performance you need to work efficiently.