How to Use the System Resource Meter Tool in Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition

Article ID: 300059 - View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q300059
Expand all | Collapse all

On This Page

SUMMARY

This article describes the System Resource Meter (Rsrcmtr.exe) tool that can be used in Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition (Me).
Back to the top | Give Feedback

MORE INFORMATION

Some common symptoms of low computer resources are:
  • The computer has slow performance.
  • Error Messages are displayed.
  • The computer stops responding (hangs).
  • The computer has a slow screen update.
If you restart your computer under these conditions, you may observe that your computer runs without any problems for a short period of time, and then your computer experiences the same problem.

When you start a program, it loads into the memory of the computer. When you use the program, you use computer resources. When you quit some programs, all of the computer resources that had been used are not always released. When this situation occurs, you may receive an error message that warns you that either your computer is "dangerously low" on resources or there is not enough memory to run a program.

To identify the state of your computer resources while you are using your computer, start the System Resource Meter (Rsrcmtr.exe) tool, and then view: user, Graphics Device Interface (GDI), and system resources.

To Install the System Resource Meter Tool

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs, click Windows Setup, and then double-click System Tools.
  3. Click System Resource Meter, click OK, and then click OK.

How to Use the System Resource Meter Tool

You can use the System Resource Meter tool by using either of the following methods:
  • Click Start, click Run, type: rsrcmtr.exe, and then click OK.
  • Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Resource Meter.
When you run the System Resource Meter tool, an icon is placed in the system tray. You can double-click the icon to open a window that displays the percentage of free resources for the system, user, and GDI resources. Record the amount of available system resources that you have before you start a program, and then record the amount of available resources while you are running the program. Then, record the amount of the available resources after you close the program. If you open a program and it consumes system resources that change the color of your system tray icon to yellow or red, the program is consuming a high percentage of your system resources. You can attempt to run your computer in a clean-boot operation, run the System Resource Meter tool, and then run that particular program to determine if it is that program or if it is a combination of programs running on your computer that create this problem.

For additional information about how to clean boot your computer, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
267288
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/267288/EN-US/ )
How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Millennium Edition
192926
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192926/EN-US/ )
How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98

Fixing the Issue

This tool is designed for you to view available resources while you are running various programs. If you identify programs that are not releasing resources when the program is closed, you need to contact the manufacturer of that program to determine if there is a fix.
Back to the top | Give Feedback

Properties

Article ID: 300059 - Last Review: January 31, 2007 - Revision: 1.4
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
Keywords: 
kbhowto KB300059
Back to the top | Give Feedback

Give Feedback

 
Back to the topBack to the top