Frequently Asked Questions

 

What does MemTurbo do?
MemTurbo manages system memory, the paging file, and the way in which virtual memory is treated in order to maximize performance.  It recovers RAM not currently needed by the operating system and applications, and recovers memory leaked by applications. It can temporarily flush unused DLLs and libraries out to disk to make room for your big applications and games (these come back transparently when needed).

For systems running Windows 95 and 98, it also adjusts the system caching in order to better target the way you use your computer.  This can improve disk performance, gaming performance and can prevent buffer underruns. An example of this is burning CD's.

I'm not a Technical person...  save the geek speech and just tell me how to use it effectively!
Sure! First, make sure that MemTurbo is saved in your Start Up directory by going to Start, then Programs, and then to Start Up. Check to confirm that MemTurbo is listed there. If so, then you can be confident that MemTurbo is running at all times, whenever you turn your computer on.

Recovering RAM
After exiting a program or before launching a new one, press the hotkey (Ctrl-alt-M) to recover and defragment your RAM. In a matter of seconds, your system should have that "just booted" feel to it!

Adjusting your Settings
In general, the mistake people make most often is setting MemTurbo too aggressively. The intent of MemTurbo is to ensure you never run out of RAM when you need it. Recover as much memory as you can.

Open the main window of MemTurbo. You can do this by clicking on your icon. In the main window of the program, find the slider called "Auto Recover" level and move it to about 2M. You can click your mouse on the sliders to adjust your settings. Once you have clicked on the slider, you can also use your up and down arrow keys on your keyboard to make adjustments.

*When you have finished adjusting both settings, remember to click "Apply".

These settings will allow MemTurbo to boost the stability of your system and should give you the performance you are looking for!

Scrubbing RAM
MemTurbo 4 requires a single pass for a RAM scrub. The "Deep Scrub" button is located in the main window of your MemTurbo program. You may click "Stop" at any time to end the recovery process. You may also allow it to run to completion.

What does the MemTurbo engine do?
The MemTurbo engine is a utility to free unutilized memory. It manages allocation of memory to execute programs. It prevents performance from degrading as you swap files and programs in and out of memory. It repairs memory leaks and prevents unnecessary system slow downs to make your system more responsive.

It also defragments memory, thus improving system access time, saving memory and preventing corruption. Achieve faster shutdowns as system cache is also emptied. Although MemTurbo automatically monitors and controls this, even you can do it manually with a single click.
 

How do I stop a RAM recovery in progress?
When a RAM recovery is in progress, as indicated by the screen display, just press escape (ESC key).  If a background recovery (triggered by your timer or a memory alarm level) is running, clicking on the MemTurbo tray icon will abort the recovery.

Sometimes my system seems slower after recovering RAM... why?
If you have your "Target" level of RAM to recover set too high, MemTurbo may you can reclaim memory from the file cache, or flush system DLLs (such as the shell and OLE) out of memory.  When you flip to an application that needs these, they must be paged back in.  Try setting your Target level to a lower level.  Note: For games that do not use much of the operating system, a higher Target level is better, since more memory will be available to the game.  Remember that too much free RAM is as good as RAM in your desk drawer. It's nice to own but it's not being used!  That's why we give you the control to adjust it!


Can MemTurbo make my system unstable?
No.  If anything, because it increases the amount of memory available to applications, your system should become more stable.  It installs no VxDs or drivers and does not modify your system files.

Does MemTurbo compress memory?
Absolutely not; there is no performance-robbing compression at all.  It simply causes what physical RAM you have to be used in a more efficient manner, and allows you to reclaim that memory from applications and the operating system when you need it most.

Why does MemTurbo not always recover up to the Target setting?
If you set the target too high, you may have set an impossible goal!  MemTurbo will recover as much RAM as possible and can usually get up to your target level. Note: The higher the level, the more work MemTurbo must do and the longer it will take.  Using Windows NT, the kernel manages the memory in such a way that as soon as memory is recovered, it's used by waiting applications and the operating system, so the displayed value may never equal the target level. 

Why can "Program X" seemingly recover more RAM than MemTurbo?
MemTurbo tries to be pragmatic about its memory recovery.  It doesn't just arbitrarily toss things out of memory to meet your goal. That means dumping code and data that needs to be keep in memory, like parts of the kernel.  While it's possible to recover more memory at times, it proved to be detrimental to performance. So, we strove to keep the heuristics on how to recover at a more conservative level.

Can MemTurbo really recover memory leaks?
While it cannot recover them from the address space (the application would fault if it did indeed try to use that memory at some point) it can recover the physical RAM leaked, making it available for use by the operating system and other applications.

What is the Memory Load Index?
This is a statistic provided by the system that serves as a general measurement of how much demand for RAM there currently is in your system. For example, 0 being very little and 100 being a lot.  If you find your system pegged to 100% shortly after startup, you should strongly consider adding more physical memory to your system.
 

Can MemTurbo improve gaming performance?
Yes.  Let's say you start a game and half way through it suddenly demands memory for graphics, etc.  Without MemTurbo, your system would visibly pause as other applications and parts of the operating system were page-faulted out to make room.  If you "Defragment and Recover" before starting the game, MemTurbo should make a noticeable improvement.
 

How does MemTurbo prevent buffer underruns while burning CDs?
In the Windows9X registered version only, it adjusts the system file caching to ensure that enough cache is set aside. This is done so that the data you are burning to a CD is available, rather than having to fight with the CD for the next block of data.
 

How can I get additional support for MemTurbo?
Please visit our support website to get additional product information, help, and support.

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