Run out of Application Memory

[GA HotBox]

still am seeing the 'your system has run out of application memory' message!
*Force Quit* applications that are NOT even open or running! Any suggestions as to how to STOP this annoying message. Every time it comes up - I have to 'Force Quit' the applications then restart the Mac!
Any suggestions or Help????

 

[MacInWin]

I am having the same problem. I have an Imac, running OSX 10.9.5, 8gb memory. I think I know what the problem is, but have not found a solution. If you go to applications > utilities > Activity Monitor, this is where I find a process eating up all the memory. Its called InstallerS (not responding), you can watch it eat up all the memory. I have been quitting that process right after boot up--which allows me to work trouble free. But that's just a work around, not a fix. I will attach the Activity Monitor window for example.

I have read threads about creating a new user account to see if the problem persists, but haven't tried that yet. If anyone has a solution, let me know please.

AdwareMedic may get rid of InstallerS. I think that is an installer of some of the adware/crapware that comes from CNET/Softonic/Download.com and the other "software" sites that load this stuff onto their downloads.

 

[MacInWin]

still am seeing the 'your system has run out of application memory' message!
*Force Quit* applications that are NOT even open or running! Any suggestions as to how to STOP this annoying message. Every time it comes up - I have to 'Force Quit' the applications then restart the Mac!
Any suggestions or Help????

Your last post was almost a week ago. What have you tried since then? Did you upgrade to Yosemite? Didi you ever answer the question in dtravis7's post #11? Did you try any memory cleaners? If so, which? Did you read the articles pm-r linked in post #21? Rod Sprague's in post #23? Have you looked at Activity Monitor to see what's eating your memory, like dbjenney did in post #34?

Bottom Line: We can't help you if you don't communicate what you have done, what happens or happened when you did that and what you've observed. Just saying "It's still happening," is not helpful.

 

[pm-r]

For those having the "your system has run out of application memory" problem, I'd suggest booting into Safe Boot Mode and use the Mac and see if the problem disappears if Activity Monitor hasn't helped.

If it does, then all they need to do is get rid of whatever third-party software may be causing the problem.

Easier said than done I know, but a current backup and a Clean OS X install comes to mind.

Unless they happen to be running Apple's Server software and got the problem like these guys:
How to Fix Mavericks (outdated link removed)
Mavericks: Your System has Run out of Application memory

 

[pjhutch]

I would load up Activity Monitor in Utilities to see what programs are loaded and how much memory is used.
How to use Activity Monitor - Apple Support

 

[sailor#1]

GA Hotbox, You definitely need more RAM but how much depends on your machine...MBP, MP, MBA, etc. Again, look at About this Mac under the apple and let us know. At least go to 8 GB, more if possible.

Also, you have used 3/4 of your HD space. The OS needs to use the remaining space for virtual memory when it runs low on RAM space during operation. Get yourself a new high capacity HD.

In the meantime, do a much as possible to minimize the amount of background used by your apps. Shutdown anything that you absolutely don't need while you are working on your present task. You can also look at your activity monitor to see what's using your RAM.

 

[jweichey]

Running Out of Application Memory

I had that problem and it was an USB external hard drive making the Mac constantly look for it. I wound up disconnecting the external drive and re-configuring the connection.
Try opening Activity Monitor (Located in the Applications folder and then down to the Utilities folder), and click on the Memory tab. Chances are there are several processes with .fsk appended. Double click on them one at a time and, when the window pops up, click "Quit". Say OK. and then see if you have any more application memory problems. Hope this helps!

 

[zwazo]

i've had this problem 2 times, and called tech support. the first one believed the message, even tho i insisted it was bogus. the second one believed me and got in remote control mode and went all over the place. when she called back, she had fixed whatever aliens put this message in, and advised me to upgrade to yosemite, which she then did. now my old imac is working better than ever.

anyway to sum up, that message is a worm or virus or whatever, and must be treated tht way

 

[GA HotBox]

I went to Activity Monitor - checked memory and 'viola'....found that Photostream was using 2.4 GB of my memory! Yikes!!!! Guess I will get a thumb drive and get ALL the photos off my Mac! And here I thought all of them were stored in the Cloud and NOT directly on my MAC! Thanks for all the help everyone! Since I am a newbie to MAC and just a so-so 'computer moron' - I appreciate all the help! Thanks again.....

 

[MacInWin]

anyway to sum up, that message is a worm or virus or whatever, and must be treated tht way

No. There was a reason, and there was a reason for your situation, too. No worm, no virus. Maybe a whatever. Just because YOU don't know what it was doesn't make it a worm or virus.

 

[NateS]

I went to Activity Monitor - checked memory and 'viola'....found that Photostream was using 2.4 GB of my memory! Yikes!!!! Guess I will get a thumb drive and get ALL the photos off my Mac! And here I thought all of them were stored in the Cloud and NOT directly on my MAC! Thanks for all the help everyone! Since I am a newbie to MAC and just a so-so 'computer moron' - I appreciate all the help! Thanks again.....

I find this statement very confusing. Activity Monitor doesn't tell you what's on your hard disk - it tells you what part of your Mac's ram is being used by what process at any given moment in time. What Activity Monitor displays is constantly changing from moment to moment. It's not reading your hard disk. It's reading the contents of your ram.

Regards, Nate

 

[pm-r]

I find this statement very confusing. Activity Monitor doesn't tell you what's on your hard disk - it tells you what part of your Mac's ram is being used by what process at any given moment in time. What Activity Monitor displays is constantly changing from moment to moment. It's not reading your hard disk. It's reading the contents of your ram.

Regards, Nate

Just maybe, the poster will figure out what you posted and save themselves from making unnecessary extra work rather than finding and fixing the actual problem.

 

[MacInWin]

The problem wasn't that the images in Photostream were in memory, but that Photostream was chewing up memory for some reason. Could be a memory leak, could be a stuck transaction, we don't know. But killing Photostream freed up the memory so the problem was solved. Photostream does make copies all over the place of the photos it streams, so I can imagine a situation where an image stream got "stuck" and didn't get the task completed, kept trying and ate up memory in the retries. No matter, it's gone and he has his memory back.

 

[NateS]

The problem wasn't that the images in Photostream were in memory, but that Photostream was chewing up memory for some reason. Could be a memory leak, could be a stuck transaction, we don't know. But killing Photostream freed up the memory so the problem was solved. Photostream does make copies all over the place of the photos it streams, so I can imagine a situation where an image stream got "stuck" and didn't get the task completed, kept trying and ate up memory in the retries. No matter, it's gone and he has his memory back.

Right. Problem solved in one click. No need or point in removing his photos from his Mac!

Regards, Nate

 

[MacInWin]

Not sure what you mean, Nate. His hard drive has room for his photos, he has them in the Cloud, so are you being sarcastic, unbelieving, or what? He killed a PROCESS, not his photos. That got his RAM freed up so he can run applications he wants without that message popping up.

Maybe I misread your post?

 

[NateS]

Not sure what you mean, Nate. His hard drive has room for his photos, he has them in the Cloud, so are you being sarcastic, unbelieving, or what? He killed a PROCESS, not his photos. That got his RAM freed up so he can run applications he wants without that message popping up.

Maybe I misread your post?

No, I was not being sarcastic or unbelieving. I was agreeing with you that killing the process was all that was needed. Not his idea that he needed to run out and get a USB stick, copy his photos to the stick and delete them from his hard drive! I was trying to help him untangle his confusion between storage memory vs ram.

Regards, Nate

 

[MacInWin]

Cool, I misread it a bit then, sorry for the reaction.

 

[NateS]

Cool, I misread it a bit then, sorry for the reaction.

No problem!

Nate

 

[Slydude]

still am seeing the 'your system has run out of application memory' message!
*Force Quit* applications that are NOT even open or running! Any suggestions as to how to STOP this annoying message. Every time it comes up - I have to 'Force Quit' the applications then restart the Mac!
Any suggestions or Help????

You've probably figured this out by know but if you are seeing applications listed in the Force Quit box they are still running..Using the red dot in the window to close a program does not quit most Mac programs it merely closes the window.

The most reliable way to close a program is to select it and choose command Q. You can also quit it from the Dock.

 

[teddybearhug]

InstallerS (not responding)

I am having the same problem. I have an Imac, running OSX 10.9.5, 8gb memory. I think I know what the problem is, but have not found a solution. If you go to applications > utilities > Activity Monitor, this is where I find a process eating up all the memory. Its called InstallerS (not responding), you can watch it eat up all the memory. I have been quitting that process right after boot up--which allows me to work trouble free. But that's just a work around, not a fix. I will attach the Activity Monitor window for example.

I have read threads about creating a new user account to see if the problem persists, but haven't tried that yet. If anyone has a solution, let me know please.

I have the exact same "InstallerS (not responding) problem. Did you find a fix? How do you "quit that process right after boot up." As you see, I am not very tech savy, so details will be appreciated.