Exaggerating the amount of RAM in a Windows computer

[David cgc]

I've got a friend who needs to instal something on his Windows machine, but he doesn't have enough RAM for the installer to let him. Now, he plans to get more, but we'd like to install this program sooner rather than later. I remember once reading about a program that would lie about the amount of RAM (or maybe it was processor speed) on a computer so installers and other programs with high system requirements would work even if they were coded to refuse to run if the computer couldn't support them. I was wondering if anyone here knew of such a jury-rigged solution.

 

[The Doctor]

I don't know of anything like that, but if you're lucky the system requirements are stored in an .ini file or something similar and could be edited. What's the program?

 

[FordSVT]

If something like a video game requires 512 MB of RAM because Windows takes up to 128 MB and the game takes up 200 MB of RAM and you've only got 256 MB of RAM total, I don't see how any program is going to allow you to get around it.

Now, you might find a program that would allow a small margin of error, but even then I'd expect that the program you're using is going to run like shit. There's a reason they determine minimum specs.

RAM is only $30-80 a GB these days and an idiot could install it, why not just get more instead of looking for a way around it?

 

[Deleted 2]

^ Actually, that's why there's such a thing as virtual memory. Other than the 4 (or 2) GiB addressing limit, there's no real justification for an installation program to decide not to install based on the amount of physical memory.

 

[FordSVT]

And when abused makes your program run much slower. Fine for some programs, not for others. Most applications already use virtual memory techniques, are there any programs you can put on your computer that improve them for all programs?

In any case, RAM is the cheapest and most noticeable upgrade you can make to a computer and practically anyone can do it. Most minimum specs on every day software or games is 256MB-1GB, easily attainable on any motherboard made in the last 8 years.

 

[Deleted 2]

FordSVT said:
And when abused makes your program run much slower. Fine for some programs, not for others.

The number of applications that justifiably need random access to large amounts of data is not very large. For most programs, the slowdown should be manageable--most of the time.

Most applications already use virtual memory techniques, are there any programs you can put on your computer that improve them for all programs?

Virtual memory performance is determined by the operating system.

 

[David cgc]

FordSVT said:
RAM is only $30-80 a GB these days and an idiot could install it, why not just get more instead of looking for a way around it?

Well, the idea was to be able to start using the program now, and not in a week or two when new RAM was installed. In any event, we've figured out another way around, so I don't need this anymore.

 

[TerriO]

Since David's issue has been resolved.....