Buzz
Memory Leak Issue on Windows 10 doesn't occur frequently, but when it does, it's often unnoticed until you experience sluggish performance. Increased memory consumption without clear reasons can significantly impact your computer's performance.
As mentioned, Memory Leak Issue on Windows 10 can be caused by a software consuming RAM excessively, especially those in Startup. Additionally, RAM errors might also contribute to this issue. Whether you're troubleshooting RAM or taking other measures, prioritize consulting our article below to find the most optimized solutions for fixing Memory Leak Issue on Windows 10.
Memory leakage isn't about mistaking empty space; it's about a program utilizing more RAM than necessary. Memory leakage occurs on Windows 10/8/7 when RAM cannot be accessed despite being unused.
Memory leakage (memory leak) on Windows 10
Before tackling the fix, understand that memory leakage is a software issue, such as in Java, JavaScript, C/C++, Windows, etc. Replacing RAM or hard drives is unnecessary.
How does memory leakage (memory leak) impact the system?
Although memory leakage is a system vulnerability, many users are unaware of how precisely it impacts the system:
1. Because memory isn't released even when unused, it leads to memory depletion.
2. Memory depletion results in software degradation.
3. Decreased memory capacity leads to poor system responsiveness and longer response times.
4. Memory Leaks can lead to a series of applications hanging.
Identifying Memory Leaks requires programmers to have access to the program's source code.
Identifying the Location of Memory Leaks
To fix memory leaks, the first step is to identify the leak location. The basic steps to identify memory leaks include:
Step 1: Identify the location of the leak.
Step 2: Find kernel-mode memory leaks: pinpoint the leak location caused by a component in kernel-mode driver.
Step 3: Find User-mode memory leaks: locate the leak caused by user-mode driver or application driver.
Memory Allocation
There are various modes in which applications are allocated RAM. If space is not freed up after usage, memory leaks can occur. Some common memory allocation models include:
1. The HealAlloc function is used to allocate heap memory. The runtime in C/C++ is equivalent to malloc.
2. The VirtualAlloc function is used to allocate directly from the operating system.
3. Kernel32 APIs are used to allocate kernel memory for applications. Examples include CreateFile and CreateThread.
4. User32 and Gdi32 APIs.
Preventing Memory Leaks
Prevention is better than cure, here are some ways to prevent memory leaks.
Monitor programs and applications that use RAM.
Keep an eye on any unusually high RAM-consuming apps or programs in Task Manager. Open Task Manager by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC, then add columns like Handles, User Objects, GDI Objects, ... .
This allows you to easily track programs and applications utilizing system resources.
Microsoft's Memory Leak Diagnostic Tool
Various tools diagnose different allocation modes:
1. Application Verifier diagnoses heap leaks.
2. UMDH (part of Windows Debugging Tools) diagnoses leaks on a per-process basis by monitoring heap memory allocations.
3. Trace Capture meticulously analyzes RAM usage.
4. Xperf tracks heap allocation patterns.
5. The CRT Debug Heap not only monitors heap allocations but also allows encoding to minimize leaks.
6. The JavaScript Memory Leak Detector debugs memory leaks through code.
Tips:
1. Utilize kernel HANDLE and smart pointers for Win32 resource allocation and heap allocation.
2. Load classes for automatic resource management for kernel allocation from the ATL library. The C++ standard has auto_ptr for heap allocation.
4. Monitor .NET code for abnormal memory usage in applications and programs.
5. Avoid leaving functions that allow allocation to be deallocated in variables within most blocks when exiting a function.
6. Only use exception-safe languages after deallocating all allocations within the _finally block. Wrap all heap and handle allocations in smart pointers for use with C++ exception handling.
7. Always call the PropVariantClear function before restarting or removing a PROPVARIANT object.
Guide to Fixing Memory Leak on Windows 10
Method 1: Close Processes and Restart
If you find any unnecessary processes consuming too much RAM, simply terminate that process in Task Manager. Then restart your device to free up space for other processes.
If the memory leak issue persists after restarting your computer, try disabling the Runtime Broker process, which is known to cause sluggish performance.
Method 2: Use the Memory Diagnostic Tool
To access the built-in Memory Diagnostic Tool on Windows operating system:
Step 1: Save all your files and ongoing tasks.
Step 2: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 3: Type mdsched.exe into the Run dialog box.
Step 4: Restart your computer.
Step 5: After restarting your computer, perform a basic scan or access advanced scan options such as Test mix or Pass count.
Step 6: Press F10 to start the test.
This is just a temporary fix.
Step 3: Optimize Performance
Adjusting Windows performance to manage everything including processing and memory usage to prevent memory leaks. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Right-click on This PC, select Advanced on the left panel.
Step 2: On the Advanced tab, navigate to Performance, then select Settings.
Step 3: Check the box for Adjust for best performance and then click OK.
Step 4: Restart your computer and check if the issue persists.
If this method doesn't resolve the issue, try applying the methods below.
Method 4: Disable startup programs
Disabling startup programs is the only solution to escape from memory leaks. Access Task Manager and disable the programs causing the issue. If you don't know which program is causing the problem, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the Task Manager.
Step 2: In the Task Manager window, go to the Startup tab.
Step 3: Disable unnecessary startup programs that you don't need to run by default.
Method 5: Defragment your hard drive
While Windows 10 automatically defragments the hard drive, sometimes you may need to manually defragment to optimize system performance:
Step 1: Access This PC or My Computer.
Step 2: Right-click on the system hard drive (usually C:).
Step 3: In the next window, go to Tools under the Properties section, and select Optimize.
Step 4: Select the drive to defragment and then choose Analyze.
Step 5: Restart your computer after defragmentation.
Method 6: Delete Page File upon shutdown
Follow the steps below to delete the Page File each time you shut down your computer:
Step 1: Type regedit in the Search box to open Registry Editor.
Step 2: In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerMemory Management
Step 3: Change the value of ClearPageFileAtShutDown to 1.
Step 4: Save the changes and restart your computer.
Method 7: Disable Superfetch
This Windows service optimizes system performance by reducing boot times. Superfetch allows Windows to manage RAM usage. It's worth noting that disabling Superfetch may decrease system performance. However, to fix memory leaks, you can try disabling Superfetch.
Step 1: Type services.msc in the Search box to open Services Manager.
Step 2: In the Services Manager window, find and right-click on Superfetch, then select Properties.
Step 3: Choose Stop.
Step 4: Alternatively, you can select Disable to deactivate the service from the menu.
Step 5: Restart your computer and check if the system performance has improved.
Step 6: If the issue persists, re-enable Enable Superfetch.
Method 8: Check for Malicious Software
Use third-party antivirus software or Windows Defender on Windows 10 to scan and remove malware on your computer. Ensure that your antivirus programs are updated to support your operating system, as outdated software may be the culprit causing memory leaks.
Method 9: Disable Startup Programs
Disabling startup programs will help you check if your computer still suffers from memory leaks. The process is straightforward, and you just need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager from the Menu. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Del to quickly perform this action.
Step 2: Once the Task Manager window appears, navigate to the Startup tab, where programs running with Windows are listed. Here, you'll find two columns: Status and Startup impact.
Disable all applications with Enabled status and a High startup impact. These are typically background programs on your computer allowed to run, some of which are update utilities or perform certain processes, so consider carefully before disabling.
Step 3: To disable a running program, simply right-click and choose Disable, and the program will no longer be allowed to run with the system.
Method 10. Perform Driver Updates
One of the potential causes and contributors to memory leak issues on Windows 10 is outdated or incompatible drivers. However, checking and updating each driver manually can be time-consuming. Mytour offers a solution by using automatic driver update software, such as Driver Booster. With over 400,000 drivers in its database, Driver Booster is one of the largest automatic driver update software available. To use it, download Driver Booster here.
Method 11. Check RAM
It's possible that your RAM is experiencing issues, causing improper or unstable RAM management on Windows 10. Performing a RAM check to determine the appropriate next steps is better than tackling memory leak issues on Windows 10 blindly.
Step 1: First, open the Start Menu and type 'memory' to access Windows Memory Diagnostic.
Step 2: Immediately, a Windows Memory Diagnostic prompt will appear, asking you to restart your computer. Choose the first option to restart your computer immediately, or the second option to restart your computer later.
Step 3: Your computer will automatically restart and enter Windows Memory Diagnostic mode. You can press F1 to choose from 3 different modes.
Step 4: There are 3 modes: Basic, Standard, and Extended, with Extended offering the most thorough scan. If you have time, choose Extended for the most comprehensive check.
Then, go back to Windows to see if there are any RAM errors detected during the RAM check. From there, you'll know whether the RAM is causing the memory leak issue on Windows 10 and proceed with repairs or RAM replacement. If you feel that the current RAM capacity is insufficient, consider upgrading your RAM. However, RAM upgrades need to be done carefully as not all RAM types are compatible with every device.
Above are the instructions to help you address memory leak issues on Windows 10, restoring your computer to its original speed without lagging or the need for further acceleration. In case your computer shows a Your computer is low on memory error, refer to how to fix Your computer is low on memory here.
Although Windows 10 has been around for quite some time, you still need to be cautious about its usage to avoid common errors like this one. Additionally, refrain from overusing software claiming to boost computer speed as they may not always be effective and could potentially slow down your computer even more.
