Out of memory

[plec]

My T42 is throwing up an out of memory message when starting the program, Zoot XT. It runs quite happily on another laptop and on my desktop. I've tried to run it in safe mode but get the same message. Strangely the program, although apparently shut down, still appears to run in Task manager. I'm new to the T42. Is there something quirky about them?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

[Norway Pad]

Welcome to the forum!

I have no specific suggestions regarding your application.

But how much memory do you have? The T42 supports up to 2Gb of RAM.

Some memory issues can also be fixed by increasing the size of your paging file (virtual memory) I have set this file (Both Initial and Maximum size) to 1.5 x the size of my installed RAM. To check this, go to Control Panel, System, Advanced tab, Settings button for Performance, Advanced tab, Change button for Virtual Memory. Chose Custom Size and set both values to 1.5 x your installed RAM size. I have also seen this set as high as 3x installed RAM.

[Bruce Guttman]

One other issue can be something called a "memory leak" where a shut-down program does not release all its resources to the computer when it goes away. Get enough of these and your memory is clogged with dead areas. The only solution is a reboot, where the memory gets reallocated as programs reload.

One other thing to worry about might be viruses or other nefarious programs that are hiding within the system and eating your memory out from under you. Do you have a virus and/or malware scanner running?

If you are running Windows XP you probably need something above 256 Meg for good operation (although I've run XP in limited size on a system with as little as 80 Meg). I have found 512 Meg to be a good amount of memory in an XP machine. A Vista machine or Windows 7 machine will need more memory.

[plec]

Thanks gents for your replies. I should have been more detailed in my initial post. The out of memory problem occurs solely with Zoot. The error is produced even in Safe Mode. The T42 has 1 Gb of memory and copes splendidly with any number of programs running at the same time, except - Zoot XT!

I've checked virtual memory as Norway suggests and that's OK. I've also checked the memory available to Java.

As the program runs fine on my other laptop and PC and the T42 quite happily handles other much weightier programs running simultaneously, but this program won't run even in safe mode, I wondered whether there was something in the IBM preload, that might be loaded even in Safe Mode, which could cause a conflict?

For instance I was surprised when I first got the refurbished T42 that after formatting and the preload there was only around 27 GB left on the installed 40 Gb drive. I'm not familiar with the preload and wondered if this was typical.

Many thanks for your help.

[RealBlackStuff]

That Zoot stuff seems rather complex, and I wouldn't be surprised about some sloppy coding somewhere.
Go complain to its programmer(s), or do perhaps an update?

The preload (unless previously cleaned up) contains Symantec crapware and other junk.
Now's the time to remove it all.

[SMA]

Zoot seems to be a downloadable game, so if you have just downloaded a fresh copy for the T42, then it will most likely be a version different
from the one on the other PC's you are comparing to. So that comparison doesn't really tell anything.

Since you have just reloaded the T42, make sure to get all the XP updates from Windows Update.
Also getting the latest version of DirectX from Windows Update might be what's needed to get that game going.

[plec]

Thanks for your replies.

SMA, Zoot is not a game, it's an excellent Information Manager. Each of the systems has the same version of the program running, so the comparison is fair. Each runs XP, so the only difference I can think of, given that safe mode boots just the 'bare bones', is that something in the 'Preload' is also being loaded in this mode which is not being loaded in the vanilla XP boot.

RealBlackStuff, you suggest cleaning the install up a little. Any advice on what's safe to remove from the preload?

Thanks again for your help.

[RealBlackStuff]

What we call the 'preload' is your actual C-drive with Windows on it.
The way recovery CDs install it, there's a lot of crapware (like Symantec/Norton, Acrobat, etc.) included, which needs to be removed. There could also be outdated IBM/Lenovo utils on it (System Update is an important one, current is 3.14) that prevent the functioning of the Zoot database.
Also check if you need to run Zoot as Administrator or not.

[plec]

Thanks RBS. I've just installed the current system update and flashed the latest bios. Thanks for your help. I think I'll have to revert to an earlier version of Zoot.

Cheers