What are System Resources?
The system resources area is a special area of memory that Windows sets aside for graphics objects. No matter how much RAM you have installed, however, the system resources area is limited to only four 64K memory heaps in Windows 3.1. Even though there are four separate heaps in Windows 3.1, the memory allocated to one cannot be used by another if one runs out of available space. This means that if you do a lot of graphic-intensive work, you will use up the system resources very quickly, even if you have a lot of memory free. System resources include icons, window size and location, window attributes, menu and window text, line types, graphical fill patterns, brush shapes, and other reusable objects common to Windows applications.
How to find out how much you have free:
You can find out how much free memory and free System Resources you have from the Program Manager or File Manager. From either program, select "About Program Manager" or "About File Manager" from the Help menu. The heap with the lowest percentage free is reported as the amount of Free System Resources you have.
How do you free System Resources?
If you get an error message that you're low on memory or resources, the best way to free space is to exit Windows and start again. You can, however, do the following to reduce the amount of resources being used by Windows 3.1.
* Limit the number of open applications and files. Quitting from open applications frees most USER.EXEÊobjects that the application was using. However, GDI.EXE objects, such as pens and brushes, may not be freed until you exit from Windows and start again.
* Reduce the number of program groups and icons in the Program Manager or Norton Desktop. Each group takes up a fixed amount of memory, regardless of how many items are contained within a group. You may also want to consider using the File Manager as your shell instead of the Program Manager.
* Displayed icons in groups in the Program Manager use some of the System Resources. System resources are not released when the group is minimized, or if the icon is deleted during a Windows session. However, if you minimize the group or delete unnecessary icons, this memory will be freed next time you restart.
* If you have an accelerated video card, make sure that you're using the most recent video driver for your video card. Accelerated video cards virtualize system resources and vary in their ability to release system resources. Using Microsoft's VGA driver ensures the best use of the system resources.
* Disable Pointer.exe from MS Mouse v8.20a and/or screen savers such as AfterDark.
* Simplify complicated layouts in FileMaker Pro. Each object on the layout uses system resources; even the small black handles that appear in the corners of an object when you select it use system resources.
Much of this information has been obtained from articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. For further information about System Resources, see article Q90762, Windows: Information on System Resources in Windows 3.0 & 3.1, in the Knowledge Base, or call Microsoft Technical Support for Windows at 206/637-7098.