• You may have 512 megabytes of RAM on your machine, and still have to reboot every so often. Windows runs low on resource and there's just no way to stop this from happening. However, there is a way to minimize the problem, and see if any particular program is hogging resources or not letting them go when it's put away.

• Use the Resource Meter to track system resources. Start this guy by going to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Resource Meter. Here's what the three percentages mean:

User: This is the percentage of system resources available in the User heap. A heap is simply a special memory area Windows uses to store info about menus, toolbars, and fonts.

GDI: This is the percentage of system resources available in the Graphical Device Interface heaps. These heaps hold the data for things like fonts, pens, and brushes.

System: This is the lower value of the GDI and User values. So you can look at just the System part of the Resource Meter, and don’t have to pay too much attention to anything else. In everyday use, System Resources are what you pay attention to anyway. Not the GDI or User resources.

The resource meter runs in the system tray when activated (the area next to the Windows clock in the lower right hand corner of your screen). To turn it on, navigate to the Resource Meter following this path: Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Resource Meter.

Green bars mean plenty of resources are available.

Yellow bars mean resources are down around 30 percent.

Red bars mean 15 percent or less available resources, and it’s time to close some programs to free up some memory (resources). If resources drop below 10 percent, and warning message is displayed. System lockups or even a crash can occur. This may explain why your system crashes without apparent reason.

How do you save resources? By not using them. This isn’t practical, however, so let’s see how we do it.

• Shut down any applications you're not using.

• Programs may use resources while you work. The longer a program is open, the more resources it may use. Exit and restart the application to end the unnecessary resource use.

• Open document windows use resources. Close any documents you aren’t actively using. For example, Microsoft Word will allow multiple documents to be open at the same time. Each open document requires resources. You can close documents without shutting down Word itself.

• Toolbars and status bars require resources. Any graphical display item uses resources. Shut down any features you don't use.

• Some programs are super users of resources, hogging more than their fair share.

• If you let your resources get into the red zone, Windows will never really recover. Shutting down programs only regains a partial amount of resources … a lot like one step forward and two steps backward. Reboot your computer to "clear its brain" and start fresh.

• Turn off the Active Desktop if it's on. It's a resource hog.

• Refrain from using wallpaper, animated cursors, or desktop themes.

• If you launch a program, then shut it down before it opens fully, you won't get back the resources that were allocated for the launch you aborted. Always let a program open completely before shutting it down.

Remember that people make computers, and people aren’t perfect. Windows, for all its flexibility, customizability, and nearly universal popularity, still has a long way to go before it becomes the rock solid, problem free operating system the entire world wants to use. Well, that will never happen, but wouldn't we all be happy if it did?

Following some of these tips may mean you don't get to see pretty pictures and dancing icons. If that's what you use your computer for (pretty pictures and dancing icons), simply ignore this advice. Just monitor your resources and reboot as needed.

1. Dial down your screen brightness. The brighter your screen, the more power it uses.

2. Turn off your system completely at the end of the day, instead of putting it in sleep mode.

3. f you (still) have a CRT, consider upgrading to an LCD. An LCD uses about 1/3 of the power (and causes less eyestrain to boot).

4. Forgo the screen saver. Most monitors no longer are in danger of having images burned into them, and screen savers actually use up monitor power.

5. If you'll be away from your computer or other devices for a long period of time (say, while on vacation), consider unplugging them completely.

6. Look for the Energy Star certification when purchasing new computer systems or elec-tronic devices.

7. Enable any power-saving features on your computers, monitors, and peripherals such as printers.