[Boo]

Can anyone tell me why my Photoshop Elements 4 would be running sooooo slow on my computer? I have a Compaq Presario 900 series laptop. Its a 30gb hardrive with 256 memory. I have about 27 gb free space.

Its driving me nuts. Loading up and moving from Standard Edit to the Organiser and visa versa, or opening up pikkies from the organiser and sometimes even when I'm editing its just so painfully slow slow.

Is it a memory prob? I've not got a clue......

[GfK]

Originally Posted by Boo

Can anyone tell me why my Photoshop Elements 4 would be running sooooo slow on my computer? I have a Compaq Presario 900 series laptop. Its a 30gb hardrive with 256 memory. I have about 27 gb free space.

Its driving me nuts. Loading up and moving from Standard Edit to the Organiser and visa versa, or opening up pikkies from the organiser and sometimes even when I'm editing its just so painfully slow slow.

Is it a memory prob? I've not got a clue......

If you're running WindowsXP then its almost certainly a memory issue. My laptop ("designed for Windows XP" it says on it), only has 256Mb memory - 240Mb after 16 of it is allocated to the graphics card and it runs like an absolute pig sometimes. Basically what happens, is when your computer is running low on physical memory, it starts to use virtual memory instead - which means it writes temporary files to your hard drive, where it would usually just be storing this crap in system RAM. Its the hard drive writing process that slows your system down immensely.

My desktop PC is currently running WinXP Home. All I have open is Firefox and MSN. Slightly more than 500mb of my 1.5Gb RAM is in use. Where PC manufacturers get the idea from that 256mb is anywhere near enough, is anyone's guess.

[stepheno]

Agree with GfK - at least double your memory, preferable 1gb.

regards

[Boo]

If you're running WindowsXP then its almost certainly a memory issue.

Yes I'm running Windows XP, so it sounds like I need to buy more memory. Never bought anything like that before never lone taking my computer apart so another learning curve is looming I see lol.

[GfK]

Originally Posted by Boo

Yes I'm running Windows XP, so it sounds like I need to buy more memory. Never bought anything like that before never lone taking my computer apart so another learning curve is looming I see lol.

Changing memory is easy. With the power off, unscrew one of the panels on the bottom of the laptop (it will usually have a small image of a chip on it) - you'll see either two or three memory slots with memory sticks in each. There's a retaining clip at the end of each stick - push them outwards gently, and the chip will pop up allowing you to remove it.

To re-insert, line the chip up with the slot and push gently but firmly until it drops into place - it will be raised up by about 30 degrees at this point, as it was when you removed it. Then push it down so that the retaining clips hold it in place again.

You'll need to establish which type of memory you need, as there are several different kinds. You should be able to find this information from the user manual that came with your laptop. Failing that, it may say on the chip itself, or in the access panel.

When upgrading memory, you also need to make sure that your system will support the amount of memory you are trying to put in. For instance, my laptop will only accept a maximum of 2 x 256Mb PC133 144-pin SODIMM.

[Boo]

Thanks for instructions GFK I'll check out my user manual as suggested and see if I can't figure it all out. I take it that the manual will also tell me how much memory it can take?

[GfK]

Originally Posted by Boo

Thanks for instructions GFK I'll check out my user manual as suggested and see if I can't figure it all out. I take it that the manual will also tell me how much memory it can take?

Yeah, look in the technical specifications, it will tell you what type of memory it uses, and the maximum amount of memory that your system supports.

[Glen]

Make sure you touch something metal to ground yourself first, as static discharges can knacker things up.

[dod]

Originally Posted by stepheno

Agree with GfK - at least double your memory, preferable 1gb.

I'm running 1Gb at the moment and seriously looking at going to 2. Even with a fairly high specced machine I find running batch jobs on up to 15-20 pics really strains the machine.

[Boo]

Everything is on a go slow when PS is running, infact twice now I've had a little bubble come up saying 'virtual memory too low windows is increasing page file...' or something along those lines. Now this has me flummuxed but it sounds like I need more memory what ever happens. The whole system keeps throwing a wobbly and going sooooooooo slow, surely this can't all be down to PS being put on the hard drive? Or is a case of the the straw that breaks the camels back?

[GfK]

Originally Posted by Boo

Everything is on a go slow when PS is running, infact twice now I've had a little bubble come up saying 'virtual memory too low windows is increasing page file...' or something along those lines. Now this has me flummuxed but it sounds like I need more memory what ever happens. The whole system keeps throwing a wobbly and going sooooooooo slow, surely this can't all be down to PS being put on the hard drive? Or is a case of the the straw that breaks the camels back?

You can check how much of your hard drive is allocated for use as 'virtual memory'.

1. Right-click "my computer" and choose "properties"
2. Click on the "Advanced" tab
3. Under 'performance', click on "Settings"
4. Click on the "Advanced" tab
5. Under 'Virtual memory', click "Change"

Make sure its set as follows:
Custom Size
Initial Size: 360mb
Max Size: 720mb

Click "Set", then "OK" if you've changed anything. You can increase the maximum size if you still find that you're running low on virtual memory.

[Boo]

Just checked it and its already set at 360mb & 720mb so whats the max I can go up to? From my Windows Task Manager I can see that my CPU usage keeps going up to 100% and the fans on the machine keep going bonkers I take it that this is due to the memory prob as well?

[barrymoir]

I had same issue with my laptop, and only when i went up to 512 could i say i notice a huge difference, xp itself needs a minimum of 128meg, im sure your sharing some of your memory too with your graphic card, i can share up to 64 meg, and even now with 512 i can really forget about batch raw converting as it slows the laptop up big time( laptopp only takes 512 too =[[).

[GfK]

Originally Posted by Boo

Just checked it and its already set at 360mb & 720mb so whats the max I can go up to? From my Windows Task Manager I can see that my CPU usage keeps going up to 100% and the fans on the machine keep going bonkers I take it that this is due to the memory prob as well?

Possibly.... go in to Task Manager again and click on the "Processes" tab. Look for whatever is using all your CPU time under the "CPU" column. They should all be 00 or thereabouts, with the exception of "System Idle Process" which should be somewhere around the 95+ mark normally.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by GfK

Possibly.... go in to Task Manager again and click on the "Processes" tab. Look for whatever is using all your CPU time under the "CPU" column. They should all be 00 or thereabouts, with the exception of "System Idle Process" which should be somewhere around the 95+ mark normally.

mmmmm yeah, I waited for everything to settle down and then opened up PS and it went up into the 90's and the fans came on, If I try and open the Organiser, open pikkies or even just clicking from one page to another then it the usual happens - takes ages to go from one screen to the other, fan comes on and PCU usage goes right up.

Once opened it does settle but the moment I start doing anything then bobs your uncle it goes off on one again.

Oh well, its a pain but I'm gonna have to sort the memory issue out aren't I. thanks for your help I'll try and up the max for the virtual memory but I'm not sure what to put it up to.