How to re-allocate memory for Macs

by Erica Schaapveld and Alicia Bartol

f you are like me, the mere idea of "re-allocating memory" makes you cock your head and furrow your brow. Well, let's remedy that, and clear up the whys and hows of re-allocating memory.

What is re-allocating memory?

The computer doles out a default amount of memory for each program. Sometimes though, the allotted memory is not enough. You can change the amount of memory allotted to a program through re-allocation. For example, when the application slows down, the game won't load, or multiple open programs suddenly freeze, the computer perceives a lack of available memory. When this occurs, memory becomes virtual and resides in the hard drive causing an immense slow down. These problems can sometimes be solved through memory re-allocation.

You can re-allocate or assign more memory to the applications that are most valuable to you. For instance, imagine you are working on an article for an education journal. While using Microsoft Word, you decide to simultaneously open Netscape to double check an important fact. All of the sudden your computer crashes. You hadn't saved your article! You have lost the last hour's worth of work. You could have prevented your computer from crashing - and trust me, they all crash - by re-allocating your memory, effectively allowing the computer to use more memory with the most important application, in this case, Microsoft Word. By doing this, you insure your work with a few more kilobytes of safety.

How to find the application

efore beginning the next few steps, it is important to make sure that the application whose memory you want to re-allocate is closed.

• Locate its icon either on the desktop or on the hard drive.
• Make sure you locate the application and not the application's alias. Notice in the picture below that Netscape Communicator is an alias.

• An alias icon may also have a little arrow on the bottom, left hand corner.
• If you are unsure, use the File Find command, using your Finder. Type the name of the application you are searching for and click Find.

The list of items returned by a search for "Netscape," for example, will show its status as an alias or application. Note in the image below that the highlighted Netscape clearly says application program.
• Click the application icon only once so that it is highlighted.

 
How to re-allocate the memory

• Once you have highlighted the application, go to the File menu.
• Select Get Info.
• If there is an arrow, like the one in the image below, for a submenu next to Get Info, select the Memory option.

• If you prefer, you can use the shortcut key which is the Apple key and the i. Notice that if there is not an arrow then the shorcut key is listed next to Get Info.

What to do if problems arise

here are a few problems that may arise the first time you try memory re-allocation. You could wind up with an Info dialogue box, but no listed Memory Requirements. If this is the problem, make sure that in the Info dialogue box, beside Kind, it says Application. Observe the image below, and notice that Alias is listed next to Kind.

If it says Alias, that means you highlighted the wrong icon in the beginning. Try using the File Find while in the Finder, as suggested previously. Once you have located the application, click once so that it is highlighted and follow the directions listed above.

If you are getting an Info dialogue box with the Memory Requirement boxes, but are unable to make any changes, then the application whose memory you're trying to re-allocate is still open. Quit the application and then follow the steps above.

Another problem occurs when you allocate too much memory. This happens when you allocate more memory than is actually available. When you do this, you receive an ID=01 Bus Error message saying there is not enough memory the next time you try to use the application. If this happens follow the steps above, but allocate less memory.

y following these instructions, you can safeguard the applications which are most crucial. You should now feel confident in defining, performing, and trouble shooting the once confusing words "re-allocating memory."