Freeing up memory?

[windywillow]

I am trying to create a document in Publisher, with pictures in the document, I'm getting a message saying the pictures can't be displayed because there's not enough memory available.

It then tells me to close some programs, but I'm not running any, other than the Publisher one.

Please could someone advise? Many thanks.

[HowardKennitby]

What make and model computer are you using? How much memory is fitted?

[Old_Geezer]

A reboot may clear out stuff that is running that you are unaware of.

Failing that increasing the size of your virtual memory file may help.

Or you could buy more memory providing your PC has the ability to use more than is presently fitted.

[windywillow]

It's a Packard Bell Easy Note Laptop. Sorry, I don't know how much memory I have, I don't know how I could find out. :o/

I've made many documents with pictures before, without a problem. I wonder if it would help if I deleted some documents with pictures in them?

[windywillow]

Thank you OG. You slipped in there while I was typing. :0)

[MarkRae]

Start, Control Panel, System will tell you how much memory you have installed.

As you've done similar work before without a problem, it may simply be that the Publisher document has become corrupt in some way, or one of the images. If you remove all of the images from the document temporarily, are you then able to open it without seeing the message? If so, try adding them back one by one. Also, check that the images themselves aren't larger than they need to be...

[windywillow]

Thanks very much Mark. I've sorted it by choosing another image, so it must've been a dodgy image I downloaded. I never thought about that.

Thanks to Howard and OG too, much appreciated.

BTW, I've just checked and I have 1.43 GB of RAM.

[MarkRae]

> BTW, I've just checked and I have 1.43 GB of RAM.

Not quite. That figure is the amount of FREE memory you have available after the operating system and running applications have taken their chunk. RAM these days comes in multiples of 1GB, so you've probably got 2GB on board. That's enough for all but the most memory-hungry applications e.g. CAD, sound recording etc. Chances are, though, if the machine is relatively modern, you may be able to ramp this up to 4GB, which would make an enormous improvement to the its usability.

[windywillow]

Thanks Mark. It's quite an old laptop and I think I got more memory added a few years ago.

Can't remember for sure so I'll speak to the computer shop about it.