Why physical memory is 100 percent loaded. The physical memory of the computer is loaded, what should I do? Ways to clean up computer memory. Malicious code and its definitions

  • 02.07.2020

Most computer users are of the opinion that there is never a lot of RAM. Of course, it's hard to argue with that, especially when it comes to modern machines, where the hardware configuration requires solid performance.


In addition, most of these devices have a Windows system on board, which is a 64-bit version.

Modern users are often faced with the problem that the physical memory of the computer is loaded. What to do in this situation? This question often confuses the average user and makes the professional rack his brains trying to find a solution to the presented problem. You should not go deep into the complexity of "operational misunderstandings", it is better to use simple, but at the same time effective methods for diagnosing and optimizing a computer system. This is what will be discussed further in the article.

What to do if the physical memory of the computer is loaded?

A similar question quite often comes to the mind of users who are faced with the problem of a terrible slowdown in the Windows operating system. The next time you turn on the computer, the startup of the OS becomes progressively slower. Thus, the operation of the operating system at the start and during use is simply unbearable due to the "long waiting process". If earlier some applications were “flying”, then when certain problems arise, they, to put it mildly, start for quite a long time.

Obscure service messages now and then appear on the monitor, annoying with their presence. Such a scenario of actions, especially if they are manifested in a complex way, can quickly drive every user crazy. However, not all of them understand that the reasons lie in the results of their own omissions. Therefore, the issue that worries most users will be considered. It is about how to make sure that the physical memory of the computer is loaded and what are the methods of correcting this situation.

What should be done first if the device has lost its speed?

First of all, it is necessary to conduct a thorough diagnosis of the system. It is worth noting that everything necessary to perform such actions is provided in advance by Microsoft developers. Thus, it is time to consider the practical part of today's story. You will need to do the following:

1. Click on the taskbar, which is located at the bottom of the screen, with the right mouse button.
2. Select "Dispatcher..." from the drop-down list.
3. After entering the working area of ​​the service window of the same name, you need to apply the "Performance" tab.

The RAM utilization rate is estimated according to the graph presented visually. If the computer is running Vista or a later version of the Windows operating system, this figure should not exceed 70-75% of the total value of the physical swap. When it turns out to be higher, it is worth unloading the RAM area.

Memory problems occur at OS startup

If it is found that the physical memory of the computer is loaded at 80% or even higher than this value, you should pay attention to autoload. It is likely that during the Windows startup process, this service activates all sorts of background applications and various software. As a rule, this is the reason for rebooting the RAM.

As a result, it is simply torn between requests from various programs to allocate the amount of memory they need to work. No matter how scary and hopeless it may sound, fixing this unpleasant situation is quite simple. To do this, you need to register the command "msconfig" in the search bar of the Windows start menu. Then you need to press the "Enter" button, the field of which the user enters the "System Configuration" service menu. You will need to activate the "Startup" tab and edit the priority list of the software to be launched.

This will get rid of the problem, and the operating system will start much faster. True, after the done manipulations, you will have to restart the computer. You can make sure that the situation has been corrected, and everything superfluous from startup has been removed, in practice.

Optimization methods for clearing RAM

First you need to do the most important thing, that is, disable unused software. Usually, in order to make sure which programs are activated in the background, you need to look in a special area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe operating system. It's about the system tray. After all, it is from there that you can deactivate the selected software by pointing the marker at the object and pressing the right mouse button. It is possible that immediately after the implementation of the proposed recommendation, the issue of cleaning the physical memory of the computer will be completely resolved. As you know, some applications running in the background are very “gluttonous” in terms of using system RAM resources.

Another option that will help free up memory

1. Press the key combination "Alt+Ctrl+Del".
2. When you get into the service window, open the "Processes" tab.
3. Analyze the presented list and, using the manual correction method, turn off the background application, which is not necessary.

True, it is worth warning in advance that it is not recommended to rush to deactivate “aggressive items”, because disabling certain Windows services that are of particular importance can adversely affect the overall stability of the entire operating system.

"Miracle" RAM optimizers

If the physical memory of the computer is 90 percent full, some users immediately try to clear the RAM area when using special programs. True, not everyone suspects that optimizing this type of RAM is a waste of time. As you know, they do not contribute anything concrete in solving the problem that has arisen.

The developers of such utilities promise wide functionality, but in reality there is nothing like that. They only create the illusion that memory is being freed, but at the same time they can introduce certain difficulties into the operation of the operating system. Thus, the manual method is much more efficient and expedient to carry out than the imaginary "help" offered by third-party developers. Therefore, it is better to forget about this optimization method altogether.

Malicious code and its definitions

Often, users have a question: “The physical memory of the computer is loaded: is it a virus or not?”. This problem is especially relevant when all the actions described above are implemented in practice. What then is the problem, why does the RAM lose its working potential? This needs to be sorted out. First of all, you will need to download an antivirus program from the Internet. It can be Dr.Web CureIt!, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware or HitmanPro.

Then you should scan the system using a running application, after which the infected objects will be cleaned up. At the same time, malicious viruses will be removed. It should be noted that the traditional anti-virus program installed on a computer is not always able to provide the device with reliable protection. It is quite possible that in the future it will be subjected to attacks of one or another “digital infection”, which will negatively affect the operation of the system as a whole. This is precisely the reason why it is necessary to check the OS using the above programs.

What to do when the amount of RAM is not too large?

If a user works in Word and listens to music at the same time using an Internet browser, and also sees that the physical memory is 77% loaded, there is no need to worry. However, sometimes things are much worse. Therefore, it makes sense to get acquainted with the problem from a technical point of view.

It is also worth asking yourself questions: how many RAM modules are installed on the computer in general, what are their nominal “abilities”? It is also necessary to point out the fact that, depending on the version used by the Windows system, the requirements for the amount of RAM can be in the range of 256 MB−2 GB. Thus, it is enough only for the needs of the operating system itself. If you decide to use resource-intensive programs on a computer that has limited RAM, you need to think about expanding the paging file.

Thus, we can say with full confidence that the difficult situation associated with the fact that the physical memory of the computer is loaded is now resolved. However, it is necessary to recall one more important "operational" moment. When using Windows Vista, the seventh operating system or later versions of a product developed by Microsoft, if there is not enough RAM, it is suggested that you try to deactivate the Superfetch service.

In the end, it is worth adding that you should not miss the opportunity to upgrade your own computer. For example, adding an additional RAM module significantly expands the functionality and improves the performance of computer technology. It all depends on the user himself, or rather, his timely actions, which will allow the device not to fall into unconsciousness.

RAM, or as it is also called, physical memory plays an important role in the speed of a computer and laptop. It is its volume that determines the number and "complexity" of simultaneously launched and running programs. The more physical memory, the more programs and games you can run on it.

To date, the minimum comfortable amount of RAM is 4GB. If it is less on your computer, then it is recommended to increase this volume by means of RAM strips to speed up the work.

But sometimes you can observe a situation when, when viewing the amount of consumed physical memory in the task manager, its volume is 90% or more. At the same time, not a single serious program or game is running, and the computer clearly slows down and periodically appears about the lack of virtual memory.

Determine what is loading physical memory?

Faced with a similar situation, the first step is to determine the culprit and find out which program or process consumes the most memory.

To do this, open the task manager by right-clicking on the taskbar, and select "Task Manager" in the menu that opens.

Launching the Task Manager

In it, go to the processes tab and if there is, check the box "Display processes of all users".

Processes tab in Task Manager with enabled sorting of processes by decreasing memory consumption

Now you can clearly see which program consumes the most memory.

Very often, in Windows 7, almost all of the physical memory is consumed by the svchost.exe process. If it is he who eats up all the RAM for you, then we advise you to familiarize yourself with.

In all other cases, just highlight the process that is consuming a lot of RAM and click the End Process button.

It is also worth checking the startup list and from it all unnecessary programs that are automatically loaded with the operating system and take up space in the physical memory of the computer.

For comfortable work at the computer in operating systems Windows 7 and higher

Windows 10 often has issues with disk utilization at 100%. The computer starts to work slowly and when we go to the task manager, we notice that the disk is 100% loaded. What could be the reasons for this and what to do in this case?

We reinstalled the system, the disk is in perfect order, only the basic set of programs is installed, everything seems to be fine, but not quite. But in simple terms, the hard drive is frozen, and in the task manager we can see that the disk usage has increased to a maximum of 100%.

Let's figure out why the disk is so heavily loaded and check whether this is a short-term situation caused by the action of running programs or the problem is of a long-term nature and how to solve it. An increase in disk utilization can be caused by many factors, so there is no single universal method to solve it.

Windows search engine and file indexing

In Windows 8, 8.1, or 10, the cause may be when the search engine is drawn into a looping process, resulting in increased disk load when searching for files. Fortunately, it can be disabled manually by stopping the search.

To do this, right-click on the Start button and select "Command Prompt (Admin)". Or, in the search bar of the Start menu, type the command "cmd", and then click on it and select "Run as administrator".

To temporarily stop the Windows search engine, type in the command prompt window:

NET STOP "Windows Search"

The Windows Search service will be stopped and the looped process will be closed. Now we go to the task manager and check if the load has decreased and how busy it is. If this method worked and the problem does not appear on the next search, then nothing else needs to be done.

However, the problem may recur after a while, especially if the computer has an old disk installed or the system has problems indexing files. Then you can completely disable indexing, despite the fact that this will slow down the process of searching for files in the system to some extent.

To disable indexing, press Win + R to bring up the Run window. Then enter the command:

services.msc

The services window will open, where you need to find "Windows Search" in the list.

Double click on it to change its launch options. If the service is running, stop it by clicking the Stop button and then change the startup type from Auto to Disabled.

Disabling this service will bring some benefit, especially for older computers, where indexing slows down the system a lot.

SuperFetch Service

The disk may be heavily loaded by the SuperFetch service. Its impact on the operation of Windows is twofold. In most cases, SuperFetch has a positive effect on the system, both in the latest versions of Windows 8.1 and 10, and in earlier Vista and Seven. But on some computers it causes problems, including excessive disk usage.

SuperFetch can be completely disabled in the same way as file indexing, in the system services section, which is invoked using the services.msc command.

In the list we find the service "SuperFetch". Then we open it with a double mouse click, stop it with the "Stop" button and set the "Startup type" to "Disabled".

Antivirus check

Often the hard drive is 100% loaded due to malware infection on the computer. In Windows 8.1 or 10 Task Manager, you can sort loaded processes in the disk usage column. To do this, just click on "Disk" to sort the various processes.

If the disk is loaded at 100 by some unknown process, then you can try to turn it off. If you know which program is responsible for this process, you can remove it. However, if it is an unknown EXE file and, especially, its process cannot be terminated due to "Access Denied", you should check your computer with an antivirus.

The reason may be the anti-virus program itself, which we install after installing Windows 10 - perhaps at this moment it scans the disk in the background. In this case, wait until it finishes checking and see how busy it is. If the antivirus constantly heavily loads the hard drive, then it should be replaced with another one.

Check disk chkdsk

Corrupted files can cause heavy loading. If there are errors reading files and folders, then this will most likely lead to the aforementioned looping process during the search. What to do if there are corrupted files?

You should scan the disk with the chkdsk command with additional options to not only identify problems, but also try to fix them. To do this, launch a command prompt in administrator mode and enter the following command:

chkdsk.exe /f /r

After scanning, we restart the computer and check how much the drive is loaded.

The drive itself may be the source of the problem. If you are using an old hard drive, which may be damaged, then it can boot the Windows system and cause your computer to slow down. It should be checked for bad sectors, for example, with the Victoria or MHDD program, and then see how loaded it is. In case of multiple damage, you should consider buying a new one. Sometimes the problem occurs due to a defective SATA cable, so this should also be checked.

There is an opinion among users of computer technology that there is never too much ... And you can’t argue with this, dear reader, especially when it comes to modern machines whose hardware configuration corresponds to solid characteristics, and the Windows system installed on board the PC is 64-bit version. However, the “sore” problem of many - “the physical memory of the computer is loaded, what to do” - still continues its inglorious existence, confusing the average user and sometimes forcing an experienced computer guru to rack his brains over solving the “lack of RAM” problem. However, we will not take root in the extreme complexity of "operational misunderstandings" and resort to simple but effective methods for diagnosing and optimizing the computer swap of the system. Well, the article promises to be memorable. RAM secrets are waiting to be revealed!

Sentry, the physical memory of the computer is loaded!

What to do and how to deal with it? Probably, these are the questions that come to the mind of the user when he becomes an unwitting witness to the monstrous slowdown of the Windows operating system.

  • With each subsequent turning on of the PC, the launch of the OS slows down and slows down.
  • The clickability of the operating system at startup and during use becomes unbearable due to the “long-playing waiting process”.
  • Once “flying” applications, to put it mildly, take a long time to start.
  • Incomprehensible service messages attack the monitor with their "unobtrusive" presence.

In general, any of the above scenarios (not to mention their complex manifestation) can quickly drive any user crazy. But not every "waiting" understands that all of the above may be the result of our own omissions. And it is unlikely that the average user even knows how to make sure that the physical memory of the computer is loaded?

What to do first if the PC has lost speed?

Of course, first of all, you need to diagnose the system. Moreover, everything necessary for this is provided in advance by Microsoft developers. Well, it's time to move on to the practical part of our story.

  • Click on the taskbar (lowest area of ​​the screen) with the right mouse button.
  • From the drop-down list, select "Dispatcher ...".
  • Once in the workspace of the service window of the same name, use the "Performance" tab.

  • A visually presented graph will allow you to evaluate the RAM. If your PC has Vista or a later version of Windows operating system, then the value of used memory should not exceed 70-75% of the total value of the physical swap. Otherwise, the RAM area must be unloaded.

Memory problems start from the start of the OS

When you see that the computer's physical memory is loaded at 80% or above this value, pay attention to autoload. Most likely, at the time of Windows startup, the mentioned service activates many background applications and various software. Often, it is for this reason that RAM is overloaded, literally “torn” between requests from multiple programs to allocate the amount of memory they need to work. However, fixing such an unpleasant situation can be quite easy.

  • In the search bar of the Windows start menu, write the command "msconfig".
  • After pressing the "Enter" button, you will be taken to the "System Configuration" service menu.
  • Activate the "Startup" tab and edit the priority list of startup software.

You will be surprised how quickly your OS will boot after a system restart. Nothing prevents you from making sure in practice that the problematic situation when the physical memory of the computer is loaded on Windows 7 will be exhausted after you remove everything superfluous from startup.

How to clear RAM: two "fundamental" ways to optimize

Let's start with the main thing - you need to disable unused software. As a rule, in order to see which programs are running in the background, you need to look into a special area of ​​​​the OS - the system tray - and directly from there (hover the marker over the object and right-click) deactivate the selected software. It may well turn out that immediately after you implement the proposed recommendation, the question “The physical memory of the computer is loaded, how to clear it” will be completely resolved. After all, some running applications are incredibly “gluttonous” in terms of using system RAM resources.

Another way to free up memory

So, in order to see which programs or utilities “secretly” consume the kilo- and megabytes of RAM you need so much, do the following:

  • Press the key combination "Alt+Ctrl+Del".
  • After you get to the service window already familiar to you, open the "Processes" tab.
  • Analyze the presented list and use the manual correction method to turn off the background application that you do not need at the moment.

However, do not rush to deactivate "aggressive items", as disabling some critical Windows services can adversely affect the overall stability of your OS.

"Miracle" RAM optimizers

When the computer's physical memory is 90 percent loaded (you learned from the previously presented section of the article that such a value is a deviation from the norm), some of the users are in a hurry to clear the RAM area using various utilities. However, not many of them realize that this type of RAM optimization is a waste of time, since they do not contribute anything specific to the solution of the problem. The “promising functionality” of such optimizers only creates the illusion that memory is being freed up, while introducing some difficulties into the operation of the OS ... Be sure: the manual method is much more efficient and more expedient to carry out than imaginary “help” from third-party developers. By the way, we advise you to just forget about this (second) RAM optimization method ...

Malicious code and methods for its detection

Often the user asks the question: "The physical memory of the computer is loaded: a virus or not?". This problem is especially acute when all the above actions have been implemented in practice. What is the matter and why does RAM continue to lose its working potential? Let's figure it out.

  • Download one of the anti-virus utilities from the Internet: Dr.Web CureIt!, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware or HitmanPro.
  • After the running application finishes scanning the system, infected objects will be cleaned up, and malicious viruses will undergo a removal process.

It is worth noting that the traditional antivirus installed on your PC is far from being able to fully protect your system from the penetration and subsequent negative impact of this or that “digital infection”. Therefore, it makes sense to check your OS using the above utilities.

When the amount of RAM corresponds to the concept of "NOT TOO"

If you are working in Word and listening to music at the same time using an Internet browser, and you see that the physical memory of your computer is 77% loaded, there is no reason to worry. But if things are different, it makes sense to consider the problem from a technical point of view and ask some questions: how many RAM modules are installed on your PC in general and what are their nominal “capabilities”? It is worth noting an important fact: depending on the version of the Windows system used, the requirements for the amount of RAM can vary from 256 MB to 2 GB (only for the “needs” of the operating system itself). Well, if you still decide to use a resource-intensive program on a computer with limited RAM, then it’s time to think about expanding

Summing up

So, with some certainty, we can say that the once difficult situation for you “the physical memory of the computer is loaded, what to do” is now resolved. Nevertheless, one important “operational” moment is still worth mentioning.

  • If you are using Windows Vista, the seventh OS, or later versions of a Microsoft product, then if there is not enough RAM, you can try disabling the Superfetch service.

And the last thing: do not miss the opportunity to upgrade your PC - adding an additional RAM module will significantly expand the functionality and "combat capability" of your computing equipment. Don't let your computer go crazy!


Determining whether the RAM is overloaded or not is very simple. Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager from the context menu. Click the Performance tab and you will see a window similar to the one shown below. This window shows a general graph of CPU and RAM usage. When you are not doing anything on the system, the CPU usage should be close to zero. If it remains at a high level, it means that something is happening in the computer and you need to look for possible causes. A large coefficient of RAM indicates the need to clean it.

Disabling background programs

Sometimes a program running in the background tries to take up 100% of system resources while you are idle. An example is the United Devices peer-to-peer network that runs in the background and performs tasks when the system is idle. If you find such an application, try putting it to sleep in order to take proper measurements. If this does not work, then close the software, take measurements and start the application again (before doing this, make sure that closing does not lead to accidental consequences).

Below the CPU and RAM usage graphs are statistical data: the number of running processes (software) and program threads (application tasks). Take a look at the Physical Memory (Kb) statistic: it is a good indicator of OS health. In fact, the displayed value does not indicate the amount of memory used by Windows, but the amount of memory used. Windows creates a paging file on the hard drive to support virtual memory.

However, to determine the health of the system, it is necessary that at least 25% of the amount of physical memory be free. A smaller percentage of free space means that Windows is having difficulty pushing data from RAM to the hard drive. When free memory becomes zero, the system crashes. In the example shown, the amount of available memory is 297,076 KB, or 56%.

How to clear memory

This guide introduces you to the topic of cleaning up Windows to keep the operating system running efficiently. Optimization is not necessarily about speeding up; sometimes it improves the reliability or availability of Windows. All users need some level of support to keep them productive. It is important to create a plan that helps to maintain balance in the process of optimizing the OS. In addition, a good plan helps to avoid unhelpful outcomes.

If you've read this guide, you already know at least one optimization tactic (maybe more). Try disabling the Themes service and see if you're better or worse without it. Many users consider desktop themes to be superfluous - they are quite happy with the standard interface. For example, you can continue to use the wallpaper, but you don't have to access all of the different options and scale them. The main thing is to find the components that have the least impact on your work, but the maximum impact on system performance.

After reading other articles on our site, for the first time you will seriously touch upon the issues of speeding up work. You will start cleaning the hard drive - it may require much more effort than you expected. A variety of useless information, temporary files and outdated information that should have been archived long ago are “hiding” from you on the hard drive. An important aspect of cleaning up a hard drive is freeing up space for items such as the swap file, fresh data, and new information downloaded from the Internet.