RAM working to near 100% Win 7

[magpienja]

Hi all...had a prob with the desktop for a month or so now...on startup it can run very slow a freeze up all together...once its been ruining a while it seems to settle down.

The main thing the PC is used for is browsing the net we use Google Chrome and a wifi connection from our Vigin Super Hub...we used to have an ethernet connection but things seem better on wifi...with the old ethernet connection things used to be very good.

We use the gadget that on Win 7 that displays CPU and RAM usage.

Ram is topping 90% at times with nothing is use but a web page...we have 3GB of ram.

It will settle down after its been running for say 15-30 mins...when the RAM percentage may be 50% or a bit less.

Any ideas.

[exmanman]

Windows recently released a fix for known memory issues in Windows (KB3065097)

The issue was Windows Updater grabbing most of the memory and never releasing it, thus slowing everything down. You can see it in Task Manager as Image Name svchost.exe burning all the RAM (make sure you tick the 'Show processes from all users' box.

I have a Windows 7 Netbook. I had turned my Windows updates off so missed KB3065097, once I'd applied it the problem was solved. I've also applied it to a customer's laptop which had the same issue and that worked too.

You can check to see if you have it or not by following these instructions;

Seeing which Windows updates are installed - Windows Help (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/which-windows-updates-installed#1TC=windows-7)

[magpienja]

Mmmm I dont seem to have that one....so I take it if I just run an update from Microsoft I will get it automatically....is that correct??

Many thanks for your help.

[exmanman]

Magpienja,

I think it's actually 3050265, I was referring to notes I made a while ago and I think MS sometimes roll up updates together. It is classed as an optional update so you should be able to locate it as you described, but if you can't some help below. Let me know if it works for you!

How to obtain the update from Windows Update
To obtain this update from Windows Update, follow these steps:

Click Start, and then type Update in the search box. In the list of results, click Windows Update.
In the left pane, click Check for updates, and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your computer.
If you see a message telling you that optional updates are available, or telling you to review optional updates, click the message to view the optional updates.
In the list, select the check box for update 3050265, click OK, and then click Install updates.

Fixes that are included in this update

This update addresses an issue in which system performance can be decreased during scans. This issue has the greatest effect on computers that have a small amount of physical memory.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3050265

It seems MS have been busy superseding earlier updates again! If you can't locate the update described above, have a look at the link below which lists later updates for the same issue :

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/windows/en-us/4a782e40-bbd8-40b7-869d-68e3dfd1a5b4/windows-update-scan-high-memory-usage

[magpienja]

Completed a full update...checked for the latest updated updates on that link you sent...checked to see if the latest fix has been installed on my PC 3102810...no sign of it or any of the previous.

Ram running at 62% at the moment whilst I type...just out of interest what would an average RAM usage % fig be.

Nick.

[exmanman]

They may all be optional updates, in which case you would need to select them for inclusion prior to the main update. Or you could just try updating them individually from the links.

Hmm that one is really the piece of string...depends what's using most, with me it's Firefox, but that will be different on my Netbook and PC, so many factors. 65% isn't unreasonable.

[cdtaylor_nats]

Running just Chrome my Win 10 system is at 46% of 8GB.

[magpienja]

46%...just looked at mine and coincidentally its also 46%.

So fingers crossed the update may have done the trick.

So do you guys recommend regular Windows updates...must admit I shy away from them...heard so many horror story's over the years of things going wrong after an update.

Nick.

[dazdaz1]

Some say he knows the location (Scotland) of the Holy Grail. I'm sure he will be here soon.......... Saab

[Saab Dastard]

So do you guys recommend regular Windows updates

Yes, but not automatic updates. By all means let Windows tell you that there are new updates available, but you should then decide whether or not you want to apply them.

In particular, don't allow Windows update to install drivers, other than MS's own intellimouse drivers. Always go to the vendor's website instead and download their own drivers directly.

I usually wait 24 hours after patch Tuesday to get an idea of any horror stories of screwed-up patches. It happens, but it is avoidable without Automatic updates.

Of course, all this is going to change with Win 10, where the ability to choose seems to be removed, or at least restricted.

SD

[magpienja]

Exmanman...things seem a lot more stable since I got the latest MS updates...fingers cross thats sorted it.

Many thanks for your help.

Nick.

[exmanman]

Good to hear Nick, thank you and you're welcome !