Microsoft KB Archive Search

Notice: This website is an unofficial Microsoft Knowledge Base (hereinafter KB) archive and is intended to provide a reliable access to deleted content from Microsoft KB. All KB articles are owned by Microsoft Corporation. Read full disclaimer for more details.

  1. Home
  2. Error Message: Program Memory Is Very Low

Error Message: Program Memory Is Very Low

Symptoms

When you attempt to perform an action on your Handheld PC (H/PC), you may receive the following message:

Program memory is very low. You must select at least one task to close, or increase the amount of program memory, if available.
If you attempt to close a file with unsaved information, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:


  • Your H/PC stops responding. Although Task Manager may open when you press CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE, your H/PC may not be able to close programs and refresh the screen properly.
  • You are prompted to save your changes. If you attempt to save the file, you receive the following message:

    The application is not responding. It may be busy or waiting for a response from you. Press Wait to give the application time to respond or to get a response from you. Press End Task to close the application immediately. All unsaved data will be lost. Press Choose to select another application or document to close.

↑ Back to the top

Cause

There is not enough available program memory for Windows CE to perform the attempted action, to save the file, or to display the appropriate dialog boxes.

↑ Back to the top

Resolution

To resolve this problem, use one or more of the following methods:


  • When you receive the "Program memory is very low" error message, close a program or a file that does not need to be saved.
  • Tap the "Convert 20K of Storage Memory to Program Memory" check box to select it, and then tap OK. This may free up enough memory to save the changes to your unsaved file.


    NOTE: You may need to perform this step several times, until enough program memory is available.
  • Increase available program memory. To do so, follow these steps:


    1. Tap the Start button, tap Settings, and then double-tap System.
    2. Tap the Memory tab, move the slider to the left, and then tap OK.


      NOTE: Do not move the slider all the way to the left, as this may cause a lack of available storage memory.
  • If you receive an "Application is not responding" error message, tap End Task.


    NOTE: Tapping End Task may result in data loss.
  • Press the reset button on your H/PC. Any unsaved information will be lost.

↑ Back to the top

More Information

If you reset your H/PC, temporary files may remain on your H/PC. Microsoft Pocket Word files usually have a .tmp extension and are saved in the My Documents folder. Microsoft Pocket Excel files are usually saved in the root folder as Temp<x>.pxl, where <x> is the number of the temporary file. For more information about dealing with temporary files on your H/PC, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
158494 Temporary Files Exist After Restarting H/PC

↑ Back to the top

Keywords: kb, kbfaq, kberrmsg, kbenv

↑ Back to the top

Article Info
Article ID : 162475
Revision : 5
Created on : 8/19/2020
Published on : 8/20/2020
Exists online : False
Views : 126