Question about RAM usage.

Is it normal for me to be using 50 percent of my RAM and 40 percent SWAP upon start up?

I've only done a few virus scans with Microsoft Security Essentials and it hasn't seemed to help.

 

Waste,

Need more info.

What is your O/S?

What is your current amount of installed (physical) RAM?

What is your O/S showing as available (not installed, but actually what it is able to use)?

Also:

Are you running a clean Windows installation? Or, is this a system image that you've kept alive for a few years?


If you're running Win7x64 and have 4GB RAM or less and as clean an installation of Windows as possible (with the amount/type of software you need installed...) then, I would recommend at least 8GB and making a custom size for you swap file of around 512MB (or thereabouts, even 'Zero' MB if none of your programs require this file and you can successfully install 8GB of RAM (or more...).

Good luck.

 

I agree with tilleroftheearth, it would be nice to have some more information about your computer to properly analyse the problem and help you out. Although, if you have been using the computer for a while, you might have installed multiple programs that launch themselves on startup. some may include; social messenger programs like Windows live, skype or steam, Antivirus software that starts up automatically, File management software like Adobe Bridge, or many other things that you may have in your startup folder in your start menu.

Would you be able to tell us what programs are running when you first start up your computer, as they are the main usage of RAM. Thanks

 

Don't forget the gadgets, if your desktop is full of them, they might also be eating a good portion of your RAM.