Q – Janice Angle A 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 — reluctantly. As you enter, use, exit and re-enter programs, the heaps fill up. You can reduce the problem by practising bare-bones computing — don't run unnecessary programs or use wallpaper — 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 Start–Programs–Accessories–System Tools–Resource Meter. The meter will appear as a tray icon. Double-click the icon for a detailed view. – Lincoln Spector
Protect limited resources
Category: Win95
Issue: May 1998
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