out of memory / cannot log off

I've been running Vista Ultimate on a Dell Precision laptop for months now,
dutifully downloading and installing Windows updates.

Sometime in the last week, the machine has acquired an annoying habit of
devouring all its memory on its own, then crashing.
It also won't log off anymore anytime.

When I first boot the computer, everything is normal, using about 48% of my
2GB RAM. (I run Task Manager)

However, even if I don't run anything, after awhile (an hour or so...) the
system starts gobbling up available RAM until I get an "Out of Memory" error
popping up and the system is hosed.

The odd thing is that the memory usage in the task manager stays stable -
adding up all the usage of all the processes does not come close to the 2GB
physical RAM that Windows claims it is using. This leads me to believe the
bug is in the kernel or one of the drivers, perhaps?

The other new symptom is that I cannot log off and shut down, even if I
shutdown immediately after booting up (before the out of memory problem). It
just hangs at "Logging off..." and the disk light flashes occasionally - for
hours - until I hold down the power button.

I'm not sure what caused this to start happening, but I think there has been
a Windows update downloaded and installed recently.

I suppose this could be a virus - but I'm running McAfee and have the
Windows Firewall on.

Has there been a recent Vista update with a fatal flaw recently?

BTW, I never had this problem Logging off before this week and the computer
*does* boot and log off fine in Safe mode with Networking.

How can I determine who is gobbling memory when it doesn't show in the Task
Manager's processes list?

Help!

Did you ever find a resolution to your issue? I have a Dell Inspiron
6400 and I have been experiencing the EXACT same issues for the last few
weeks. 2GB of memory, when I first boot up my programs use about 45% of
resources.. after an hour or so I get Out of memory errors and have to
reboot. Only when I reboot my system hangs on Logging Off and I have to
shut the system down manually. Very frustrating... Runnign Vista
Ultimate 32bit


--
avocon

This is John, a support analyst at Dell headquarters.

Have you downloaded and installed Service Pack 1 from Microsoft's
download center? I've read that many of the reported stability issues in
Windows Vista are patched with this service pack, and this may be one of
them.

John
Dell Customer Advocate


--
DellCA

On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:51:45 -0500, DellCA
<> wrote:

>
>This is John, a support analyst at Dell headquarters.
>
>Have you downloaded and installed Service Pack 1 from Microsoft's
>download center? I've read that many of the reported stability issues in
>Windows Vista are patched with this service pack, and this may be one of
>them.
>
>John
>Dell Customer Advocate


I just received a Dell 1525 and wonder if you have heard of any
install issues with it? I hesitate to install SP1 until I am sure I
can handle it.



$$$$$$$$$$$
Yours truly, Johnny Dollar!

All patches are current and up to date for me on Vista Ultimate and on
the Dell.


--
avocon

Service pack 1 hasn't been pushed through Windows Update yet, so if you
haven't gone to the Download Center and downloaded it manually, you
don't have it installed.


--
DellCA

I have a Dell Inspiron 6400. I have the SAME EXACT issues. Vist
Ultimate 32 Bit - after a Windows Update that was ran I am having al
the the same issues. Starts off about 52% of memory utililization (2G
installed).. after an hour or two I get the pop up, " OUT OF MEMORY" an
I have to shut down. Only when I try to REBOOT OR SHUT DOWN the syste
just hangs at "LOGGIN OFF". I once left it on waiting for it to shu
down at 9pm and when I got up the next day 7am.. it was still "Loggi
off". I have to manually shut the system down all the time. I was tol
by Dell to DL the SP1 direct from MS which I did. Nothing changed -
am still experiencing the same problems. Its plain to see there is a
issue here. I am seriously looking at getting an HP and going back t
XP as this has been going on for months now and none of the forums ar
able to help

--
avocon

make sure your virtual memory is set to system managed size.

"avocon" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I have a Dell Inspiron 6400. I have the SAME EXACT issues. Vista
> Ultimate 32 Bit - after a Windows Update that was ran I am having all
> the the same issues. Starts off about 52% of memory utililization (2GB
> installed).. after an hour or two I get the pop up, " OUT OF MEMORY" and
> I have to shut down. Only when I try to REBOOT OR SHUT DOWN the system
> just hangs at "LOGGIN OFF". I once left it on waiting for it to shut
> down at 9pm and when I got up the next day 7am.. it was still "Loggin
> off". I have to manually shut the system down all the time. I was told
> by Dell to DL the SP1 direct from MS which I did. Nothing changed - I
> am still experiencing the same problems. Its plain to see there is an
> issue here. I am seriously looking at getting an HP and going back to
> XP as this has been going on for months now and none of the forums are
> able to help.
>
>
> --
> avocon

It is.. never changed that

--
avocon

Any other suggestions?


--
avocon