What is Thrashing?

Thrashing is the operation of dumping memory when the system is used at its maximum capacity, to transfer data between the physical and virtual memory. For example, if the user runs multiple tasks at the same time, the operations of exchanging data between the hard disk and the virtual memory might be demanding for the computer, and in this case, when the computer “cleans” the virtual memory from unneeded data, the process is called trashing. This phenomenon appears only if the virtual memory is overworked; ad the instability of the system is common in those cases.

Trashing might lead to a slow computer. Trashing is also a harmful operation for the hard drive, as it is used at its maximum capacity. If trashing occurs often, it will eventually lead to a hard drive crash.

There are several methods that can be used to avoid trashing:

1 – Increasing the RAM capacity of the computer.
2 – Running a smaller number of programs at the same time.
3 – Increasing the number of power of BUS connections that are responsible for the data exchange process.
4 – Reinstalling the operating system, or installing a performing one. However, if the new OS is too demanding for the computer, the process of trashing might be more severe, and it could bring more problems to the system.