70-271 Study Tip - What is virtual memory?

Virtual memory is a temporary storage in the hard disk for storing additional data in the RAM. When the physical memory (RAM) is exhausted, operating systems (such as Windows 95/98, NT, and 2000) move the data corresponding to older processes from the RAM to the virtual memory area on the hard disk. Hence, space is created in the RAM for the newer processes. Virtual memory is simulated RAM created by using a portion of the hard disk as a swap file. Although this extends the computer's capabilities to execute the process even when RAM is not sufficient, it slows down the processes and programs that use virtual memory and those that need to read and write to the hard disk.