Ram Usage High Even When 'doing Nothing'

[ayabrea38]

I have a Vaio laptop that seems to be doing things when I dont think it is because the RAM memory usage meter is showing 34% even when I have nothing doing,yet now I am here it has gone down to 27%
Is this memory usage anything to worry about,because when I first got the Vaio it was showing about 2% when idle.
What have I gone and done now?
Any advice would be great
Thanks,
Aya

[Buenchico]

In Task Manager, click on the 'Processes' tab and look down the 'Mem Usage' column to try to identify the cause of the problem. Obviously you'll be looking for any high figures but also watch out for any figures which are constantly changing (even if the figures displayed are actually quite low). For example, MsMpEng.exe has a nasty habit of exhibiting odd behaviour and slowing computers down. [It's the updating service for Microsoft Security Essentials].

[VHG]

There are things that a laptop or computer can do even when you are not doing anything yourself.

Lots of software checks the internet on a regular basis to see if there are newer versions of itself available. Java, Adobe Reader etc all do this.

Your security software could be checking the internet for updates, or indeed doing a security scan.

Windows could be indexing files, to make it quicker and easier to find files if you do a search.

Windows could be running a "Windows Update" to see what files need installing, and downloading them and installing them.

All these things can be going on, even if you are not touching the machine.

One way to check what is running is to press Ctrl + Alt + Delete all at the same time and select Task Manager.

On the Task Manager screen select the Processes tab.

This shows you what Processes (parts of programs) are running. You should select "Show processes from all users" at the bottom to see all processes.

Click the "title" of the CPU column to put the highest numbers at the top.

The list will change on a second by second basis, but you will soon see what processes are using the most CPU.

Search the web to see what they are, or put the names here and we will tell you what they are.

[VHG]

I just realised you put RAM memory usage and not CPU usage.

When you start your computer many things are loaded into RAM, such as parts of Windows, parts of other programs like security software, printer software and so on.

Also many programs set themselves to autostart when the computer starts, so they "start" quicker if you want to use them.

Once you got the PC, and installed various extra programs, a lot of these may now autostart, filling up your RAM memory.

You need to run a Windows programs called msconfig to see what programs are starting up when Windows starts.

You can look at the list and see if there are any you can STOP starting up when Windows starts.

But be careful what you stop because some files may be needed to make Windos work properly.

[VHG]

Note a RAM usage of 34% is not a problem.

It is only when RAM usage gets near 100% and your computer needs to start "swapping" that you need to worry.

In fact I am surprised to hear it was a low as 2% when you first got it as Windows and other programs will always be loaded into memory when the computer starts up so I would expect a "new" computer to be about 15% or 20% (depending on the amount of RAM in the computer).

Note even if you are not using the computer then programs are not removed from RAM memory, so you will always find a certain percentage of RAM is always going to be used just to keep the computer working.

RAM usage will go up from when you first got the computer as things like security software and printer software (and other programs) will all be installed and loaded into RAM when the computer starts, and stay there.

I dont think you have anything to worry about.

[ayabrea38]

System Idle P is using 92-95%everything else is very low or zero.But having carried on reading what you said VHG,maybe the best thing is to leave it alone,if System Idle P at 94% is OK?
Thanks for your answers
Aya

[Buenchico]

'System Idle' refers to the demand (or, thankfully, the lack of it) on your CPU, which is completely separate to the RAM usage. I've had several problems with computers slowing up where the CPU has had very few demands upon it but the RAM being used was far too high.

[VHG]

As Chris says, System Idle displays how much of the CPU is NOT being used.

So if you were using 4% of the CPU then System Idle would be 96% so the higher the better.

Make sure you are not mixing up RAM usage with CPU usage, they are two totally different things.

[ayabrea38]

At last someone can explain what system idle P means!
Have you ever tried to get a simple answer from Google?
Thank goodness ABer's are here to save the day.
Thanks again
Aya