I have had this one several times on another Comp forum/Chat room, and it usually comes down directly to lack of available Memory, Solution I use seems to work with no ill effects.
As follows:
Press the START & BREAK key too open ‘SYSTEM PROPERTIES’.
Select the ‘ADVANCED’ tab.
Press the ‘SETTINGS button under Performance.
Select the ‘ADVANCED’ tab.
Press the ‘CHANGE’ button under virtual memory.
(Single Hard disk installations only)
Formula for new setting.
Total amount of installed RAM (Memory) x 1.5 = ????????
So 512mb of RAM times by 1.5 = 768mb.
1024mb of RAM times by 1.5 = 1536mb.
Enter the resulting figure of your calculation into the ‘MAXIMUM SIZE’ box and press the SET button. you can in truth enter as higher figure here as you like really, subject to HDD size, I have mine set too 3gb on all my sysytems but I suggest you do not change the minimum figure from the default.
Press OK Page closes.
Press APPLY then OK page closes back too system properties.
Close all and then YOU MUST reboot to fix the new settings.
(Dual or more Hard disk installations only)
Set C drive too NO paging file by clicking the NO paging file radio button once then press the set button once.
Highlight the drive you wish to use for your Paging file.
Enter the sum from your calculation and then proceed as for a single installation and reboot.
Some will disagree with this method I am sure but so far for low utility and program memory problems it has always solved that problem, it will not however solve the problem if it is due to an actual software issue or incompatibility.