How To Clear Up Computer Memory



Part 1: How to Clear Memory Cache on Windows 7. To start with, you can simply take the assistance of the Windows 7 native interface to clear memory cache on your system. It is a freely available solution and won't consume a lot of time or effort as well. To clear cache memory in Windows 7, you can simply follow these steps: 1. Unnecessary files on your hard disk take up disk space and can slow down your computer. Disk Cleanup removes temporary files, empties the Recycle Bin, and removes a variety of system files and other items that you no longer need. Run fewer programs at the same time. Scan your computer and delete Free up some memory urgently pop ups with HitmanPro In order to make sure that no more malicious folders and files linked to adware are inside your PC, you must run another effective malicious software scanner. We suggest to run Hitman Pro. No installation is necessary with this tool.

Dec 21, 2020 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions

Memory dumps are made by Windows whenever your computer crashes and you see a blue-screen appearing in front of you. These dumps contain copies of the memory of the computer system when it crashed. The memory dumps are stored in the form of a paging file on the computer system and can help in the identification of the reasons and the issues that were responsible for the system crash. There are various types of memory dumps that Windows can create. Depending on their type, memory dumps can be quite large and take up a great deal of space on your hard drive. If you want to clear out this space, then all you have to do is to delete memory dumps.

Part 1. How to Delete Memory Dumps

If you have had a blue-screen a while back, you should have a memory dump file sitting on your hard drive. Since memory dumps contain copies of a good portion of your computer’s memory, this .dmp file might have a file size of up to 800 MBs. If you are experiencing a shortage of memory on your hard drive and want to free up some of the space, then deleting these memory dumps would be a good choice. However, the memory dumps are buried deep into the Windows folder and you would have to dig deep to find them.

The best way to delete memory dumps is to utilize the Disk Cleanup Utility offered by Windows. It will offer you the chance to delete these files automatically. You just need to check their boxes when choosing the files to delete in the Disk Cleanup menu. Another way of deleting memory dumps is to make use of system optimization software and data erasure tools.

More ways to free up space:
6 Ways to Delete Folder on Windows/Mac
The Quick and Easy Way to Delete Windows Update Files
How to Automatically Free up Storage Space with macOS Sierra

Part 2. How to Completely Delete Memory Dump Files

You can delete memory dumps quite easily by using the Disk Cleanup utility offered by Windows. However, there is a chance that the space occupied by these memory dumps isn’t completely vacated even after they have been deleted using the Disk Cleanup utility. The only way to be perfectly sure that the memory dumps have been permanently erased from the hard drive is by making use of a data erasure tool. Such tools are capable of erasing all types of data from the hard disk. However, not all tools which claim to erase data are reliable.

There are only a few that do the job as per requirements. Stellar BitRaser for File is a data erasure tool which can delete memory dumps from the hard disk forever and ensure that it isn’t recoverable.

  • Simple and user-friendly interface
  • Capable of erasing data, leaving no chance of data recovery
  • Compatible with various versions of Windows
  • Clears internet search history from the hard drive to keep it private
  • Utilizes around 17 different erasure algorithms for deleting files

Step 1. Download and launch Stellar BitRaser for File on your Windows computer.

Step 2. Click the 'Memory Dumps' option to process.

Step 3. Click the 'Erase Now' button to completely erase memory dumps in Windows.

Stellar BitRaser for File needs just a single pass to completely delete memory dumps from the hard drive. However, if you are concerned that the memory dumps aren’t completely removed from the system, then taking a couple of extra passes would undoubtedly ensure that the memory dumps are erased forever. By the way, you can also learn to clear Windows error report to free up disk.

Part 3. What is Memory Dump Files for Windows?

1.Complete memory dump

Complete memory dumps save a copy of all of the system memory at the time of the system crash. Such memory dumps contain data from all of the running processes when the computer stopped all of a sudden. A complete memory dump requires having a paging file on the boot volume which has a file size of at least the entire physical RAM and an extra MB.

2.Kernel memory dump

Kernel memory dumps collect the kernel memory alone and are thus far smaller in size than complete memory dumps. Memory allocated to the HAL or Hardware Abstraction Layer and kernel-mode program and drivers is recorded in a Kernel memory dump. This type of memory dump also requires a page file on boot volume for its creation. It is considered to be the most useful dump file.

3.Small memory dump (64 KB)

Small memory dumps occupy the smallest space on the hard drive. This type of dump file can hold as low as 64 KB of data in it. The amount of system memory recorded in a small memory dump is only useful for identifying the reason for the system crash but isn’t enough to debug it. A paging file having a size of at least 2 MB on the boot volume is necessary for creating a small memory dump.

Memory dumps are paging files that contain copies of computer memory at the time of its crashing. It can provide developers the chance to diagnose the issues that caused the computer to crash. There are various types of memory dumps available and each one carries a different amount of system memory in it. Because of their large size, memory dump files can take up a lot of hard drive space. You can delete memory dumps to free up space on your hard disk. This task can be accomplished by using the Data Cleanup Utility. However, if you want to delete it permanently from the system, then using a data erasure tool like Stellar BitRaser for File is your best available option.

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When you use up all of the available RAM on your computer, you may notice that your device struggles to complete tasks. If you find that your computer’s applications are frequently crashing and it takes longer to do simple tasks, then you might be wondering how to free up RAM on your computer.

How To Clear Up Computer Memory

What is RAM?

Your computer’s Random Access Memory (RAM) is stored on a memory chip that is typically found on the motherboard. This where your computer stores short term data. RAM is the hub of storage for all active and running programs and processes. Your computer uses the information it has stored in RAM to complete tasks while simultaneously receiving and performing other functions.

How To Clear Up Computer Memory

When you use up all of the available RAM memory, your computer’s performance can slow down because it doesn’t have the storage required to complete its tasks. When you clear RAM space, it gives your computer the capability to carry out tasks. Depending on your computer, there are a few different ways you can free up RAM space.

How to Make the Most of Your RAM

It can be easy to use up your RAM because it supports so many functions. Before you start removing programs from your computer, try these quick fixes to free up RAM space.

Restart Your Computer

The first thing you can try to free up RAM is restarting your computer. When you restart or turn off your computer, all of your RAM (stored data) will be wiped clean and programs will be rebooted. This can potentially clear out some processes and programs that are running behind the scenes, taking up your RAM storage.

How To Clear Up Computer Memory

Update Your Software

It’s important to be running the most updated versions of your computer software and applications. Older renditions of software and apps can take more memory to process, causing your computer to slow down.

Try a Different Browser

Something else you can try is changing browsers, as some have been known to use more data than others. If you’re not already, try using a browser like Chrome or Firefox, which are typically good browsers for memory management.

Clear Your Cache

If you still find yourself short on RAM, the next option is to try deleting your cache. Sometimes your cache can take up a lot of space because it uses RAM for memory functions. The cache holds on to information that your computer uses to reload pages it has seen before rather than downloading them again. This can save you time when browsing, but if you are short on RAM, it’s something you can sacrifice with minimal effect.

Remove Browser Extensions

Many of your daily work and home computer operations have been made easy by the use of browser extensions. However, they also require memory, so you might want to think about disabling or removing your extensions.

5 Ways to Free up RAM on Windows 10

If you are still having trouble freeing up your RAM storage, you might have too many programs and applications without even knowing. Try these five ways to free up RAM storage for Windows 10 computers.

1. Track Memory and Clean Up Processes

You should monitor your computer RAM usage so that you don’t deplete your supply before you really need it. To monitor your computer’s memory, you can navigate to the task manager to check the processes. This is where you’ll be able to see which programs are running and what kind of space they are taking up.

To locate your computer memory:

  1. Hold the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys to open the Task Manager.
  2. Select the “Processes” tab.
  3. Click the “Memory” column to view how much space they are taking up.

You can now see which of your programs are taking up the most time and space on your computer. If you find anything suspicious eating up your memory, you should delete programs you don’t need or use.

2. Disable Startup Programs You Don’t Need

If you have used your computer for at least a few years, then you have probably downloaded a fair amount of software that you either forgot about or no longer use. After the processes tab tells you which programs use the most space, you will want to maneuver to the startup tab to stop those you no longer need.

To disable startup programs:

  1. Select the “Startup” tab from the Task Manager.
  2. Click “Startup impact” to organize the programs from high to low usage.
  3. Right-click to disable any programs that you don’t need.

Startup programs are those that activate when your computer is booted up. When these programs start, each one takes up a little bit of RAM in the background without your consent. After a while, all of the software and programs can add up. Be sure that the ones that aren’t needed are disabled or removed.

3. Stop Running Background Apps

The next items that could be taking up RAM are your applications that are set to automatically run in the background. You may have used your computer for years before noticing some of these apps taking up your RAM storage. This can quickly exhaust your memory, battery, and data bandwidth.

To stop background apps:

  1. Go to computer settings.
  2. Click the “Privacy” category.
  3. Scroll down the panel on the left side to “Background Apps.”
  4. Turn off any apps you do not use.

How To Free Up Computer Memory Space

Applications are often automatically set to run in the background of your device. This enables them to display notifications and update their software automatically. By turning this off on apps you don’t use, you can save RAM storage.

4. Clear Page File When Shutting Down

When you restart your computer, your page files don’t get cleared or reset because unlike RAM, they get stored on the hard drive. So, when RAM gets stored on-page files it does not get cleared with the rest at shutdown.

Clearing page files on your hard drive will clear any RAM it has stored and help keep your computer running efficiently. You can set this to automatically clear when your computer shuts down, just like the RAM. Do this by opening the Registry Editor:

  1. Type “Registry Editor” into the start menu search bar.
  2. Click “Yes” to allow Registry Editor to make changes to your device.
  3. On the left, scroll to and select “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.”
  4. Scroll to select “SYSTEM.”
  5. Select “CurrentControlSet.”
  6. Find and select “Control.”
  7. Scroll to select “Session Manager.”
  8. Look for and choose “Memory Management.”
  9. Select “ClearPageFileAtShutdown.”
  10. Enter the number “1” under the value data and hit OK.

5. Reduce Visual Effects

With improving technologies, there are many more possibilities for computer effects and visuals. For example, you can turn off the animations for apps and icons that use storage for unnecessary effects. If you seem to be running low on RAM storage, there are some effects you can shelve until you free up more memory.

To access your computer’s visual effects:

  1. Open your File Explorer.
  2. Right-click on “This PC” on the left-side panel to select properties.
  3. Click “Advanced system settings” on the left.
  4. Select the “Advanced” tab.
  5. Choose settings under the “Performance” category.
  6. Change to “Adjust for best performance.”

This setting will disable all animated features on your computer. This will create more storage for you, but limit your computer’s aesthetics significantly. However, you can also customize which visual effects your computer will perform to your preferences in the same tab.

5 Ways to Free up RAM on Mac

Clear

For Mac users, there are many convenient tools to monitor and free up RAM storage on your computer.

1. Fix the Finder (Close Finder Windows Too)

How To Clear Up Computer Memory Space

When you open a new window in the finder, the data each window displays gets stored as RAM. Adjusting the finder preferences can make your folders open in tabs rather than new finder windows.

To open your Finder Preferences:

  1. Click “Finder” in the top left of your screen.
  2. Right-click on “Preferences” from the dropdown options.
  3. Check to Open folders in tabs instead of new windows.

How To Clear Up Memory On Your Computer

There is another way to clear RAM storage by merging your Finder windows. To do this you will select the “Window” dropdown rather than Finder. From there you will select “Merge All Windows” to put all your Finder windows into one place. This will save you on storage as well as declutter your desktop.

2. Check Activity Monitor

To keep track of your RAM usage on Mac you can check the Activity Monitor, which shows you how much memory is being used and what is using it. Utilize the Activity Monitor to determine which apps take up most of your storage. Remove the ones you no longer use.

To Check the Activity Monitor:

  1. Search “Activity Monitor” in the spotlight search bar (command + space).
  2. Click on the “Memory” tab.
  3. Remove unwanted applications.

3. Check CPU Usage

You can also use the Activity Monitor app to check your CPU health and usage. CPU is your Central Processing Unit, and it carries out instructions from the computer software information stored as RAM.

To monitor your CPU, just select the “CPU” tab in front of the memory tab. This is where you can see if any apps take more processing power than others.

4. Clean-Up Programs and Applications

If you are looking to keep a consistently healthy amount of RAM storage, then you will want to keep your computer clean and organized. A cluttered desktop is going to use storage much faster because macOS views each desktop icon as an active window. Even if you don’t think you can organize your files, putting everything into one general folder can free up a lot of RAM.

5. Free up Disk Space

If you find that your RAM is completely full, but you’re still in need of storage, you can use free space on your Mac’s drive called virtual memory. This extra storage is found on Mac computer’s hard drives so that you can continue running apps. The function is always on, however to use virtual memory you will need to be sure you have driver space available to swap.

Additional Ways to Free up RAM on Windows or Mac

How to clear up virtual memory on your computer

How To Clear Up Computer Memory Using

The best thing to do is to be proactive with your computer’s RAM so that you don’t have to worry about freeing up space. Use these additional ways to keep your RAM storage free.

Install a Memory/RAM Cleaner

If you find that you do not have the time, or you just cannot manage to organize your computer, there are memory cleaner apps to help you disinfect your computer. Many of these cleaners have special features for removing apps or extensions and allow users to manage their startup programs.

Increase RAM

You can always add more RAM to your computer if you have a lot of information you don’t want to delete. Buying and installing RAM is easy to do for a desktop computer, but can be troublesome for laptops. Be sure that you invest in the correct type of RAM for your computer as well as the correct amount for your specific storage needs.

Scan for Virus and Malware

When you download any software programs or extensions to your computer there is the chance they could have a virus or malware attached. Once you have malware on your computer, it can steal both your information and your RAM space. To prevent picking up any malware or viruses try using Panda Security antivirus to protect your computer and memory.

Now is the time to stop file hoarding. Many of the files on your computer are taking up RAM space without you realizing it. Now you know how to safely declutter your computer of these unused files and how to free up RAM so your computer runs more efficiently.

Sources: ComputerHope | WindowsCentral | HelloTech | DigitalTrends