need some help with RAM

Oh my! I was reading a magazine about increasing my page file, so I followed the instructions which lead me to the virtual memory page that allows you to change it, i read that i could increase my page file to 150% of my RAM which was 512MB, so i bumped up the page file to 768.

I clicked ok and everything and restarted my computer for it to take effect and when i did a dx diagnostic to check what difference it made and i saw that my page file had gone up to 775 which was damn good, but then i noticed my RAM it had cut in half to 256MB, me thinking that it must be a mistake went in a CSS 32 player match knowing that 512 RAM could handle it smooth and 256 couldnt. And after waiting a good couple of minutes it finally loaded i found my FPS around the pathetic 10 mark, with numerous hitching appoased to the usual above 40.

Even when i tried to change my page file back to its original size nothing changed. Please can someone help me because this is the only computer ive got till Crysis comes out and thats in a damn long time.

BTW the rest of my specs are:

Windows XP service pack 2

Intel Pentium 4 3.00GHZ OC'd to 3.4 processor

ATI RADEON 9200 128mb 

The page file exists on the hard drive and shoulnt effect the size of your ram.

I think youd be best off just letting windows handle it, I dont think changing it will have any positive effect on performance.

I think this is the default setting

initial size - 384
maximum size - 768

system managed size & No paging file --- both = unchecked

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Or if that doesent work try checking off "System managed size" restart the computer

and windows is suppose to find the best setting.

If you set both initial and max settings to 768 it will reduce the thrashing of your hard drive when windows goes to use the pagefile. It also should not affect your physical memory.

 The best way to do this is to into the pagefile setting and set to none,Then reboot and perform a defrag. Then go back to the pagefile and set it to 768 on both settings.

And whats telling you    you have 256 ram?

If you right click my computer/properties does it say 256 there?

Did you change any other settings beside's the page file?Random__Guy

Nope, nothing... 

If you set both initial and max settings to 768 it will reduce the thrashing of your hard drive when windows goes to use the pagefile. It also should not affect your physical memory.

The best way to do this is to into the pagefile setting and set to none,Then reboot and perform a defrag. Then go back to the pagefile and set it to 768 on both settings.

ZeusH8su

I dont know if this would work or not but I would remove the ram and try puting one peice in, see if it works,

then try the other one, see if that one works, then try both again. sorry I cant think of any reason why half your ram would just

dissapear just by changing settings in windows