Protect limited resources
Q It seems every time I have a problem with Windows and there's no logical explanation, I'm told the culprit is system resources. I can launch the Resource Meter to see the status of my user, system, and Graphics Device Interface resources, but nothing explains what those are and what causes them to drop so low. û Janice Angle A System resources are a flaw in Windows' design, and the best I can say about them is that they were much worse in Windows 3.x. The resources are composed of two sections in memory called heaps, each of which is only 64K. (Windows 95 has other heaps with no size limit, but a lot still happens in the old, smaller ones.) The closer either heap gets to being filled, the more unstable Windows becomes. The two heaps are GDI, which stores images for on-screen display; and User, where programs keep windowing and other information. The Resource Meter simply shows whichever of the two is worse off at the moment. Applications share resources like they share disk space ù reluctantly. As you enter, use, exit and re-enter programs, the heaps fill up. You can reduce the problem by practising bare-bones computing ù don't run unnecessary programs or use wallpaper ù but the only way to clear a heap is to exit and re-enter Windows. If you didn't install the Resource Meter, insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM. When the blue Win 95 window appears, click Add/Remove Software. In the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialogue box, click the Windows Setup tab. In the Components list select Accessories and then click Details. In the Accessories dialogue box, check System Resource Meter. Click OK twice. To launch the meter, select StartûProgramsûAccessoriesûSystem ToolsûResource Meter. The meter will appear as a tray icon. Double-click the icon for a detailed view. û Lincoln Spector
Category: Win95
Issue: May 1998