Red Decibel Zone would be a great name for a band.
Greg

Windows doesn't ALWAYS need 256M, that's more of a MAX. sometimes it needs less. when it needs less, other programs can use that memory. also if you have ANYTHING else running (and unless you've stripped the computer down to a bare minimum, you DO), those things use memory also. like I said, you're on the boarder line and something recently put you over the border. whether that be windows or another program - who knows. your friend is in danger of having the same problem.