Free System Resources Do Not Return to Previous Value

Last reviewed: February 16, 1996
Article ID: Q146418
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you start a program and then quit it, the Free System Resources value may not return to the same value as before you started the program.

CAUSE

There are two possible explanations for this behavior:

  • System Initialization

    Windows 95 defers much of system initialization until the first time a program asks for a particular service. For example, each font is initialized when a program first asks for it, rather than initializing all fonts at system startup (as in Windows 3.1).

    If a program requests a service that uses deferred initialization, the service remains initialized after the program has exited. The system resources associated with that service are not freed. The system keeps the service initialized so that the next program that requests the service does not have to wait for the service to be initialized.

    This behavior is by design.

  • Compatibility

    For compatibility reasons, Windows 95 does not free system resources abandoned by Windows 3.1-based programs until all Windows 3.1-based programs have been closed. Only when there are no Windows 3.1-based programs running can Windows 95 safely release abandoned system resources.

RESOLUTION

  • System Initialization

    The system is operating normally.

  • Compatibility

    Quit all Windows 3.1-based programs to allow Windows 95 to perform maximum system resource reclamation.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about system resources, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q117744
   TITLE     : Explanation of System Resources in Windows 95


KBCategory: kbenv
KBSubcategory: win95
Additional reference words: 95


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Last reviewed: February 16, 1996
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