Expert: Ed Dyer - 11/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Expert, I do not know much about computers and thus the reason for me being here, I got a... "Sorry, there is not enough memory to spool the file. Free more space on your disk." I went to the upper right icon and cleared all the files present except Quark which I need to print the file. I still get this message. What can I do to be able to spool this file to print? Thank-you for your time. It is very much appreciated!

ANSWER: Robin,
In this context, "memory" means RAM, or perhaps virtual RAM (the Mac or some programs use hard drive space as memory).  I'll pull a Simon Baker (The Mentalist TV Show) and say you're running a PowerMac G3, G4 or iMac, have less than 1GB of RAM and are running Mac OS 9.  You're probably using Quark XPress 5?

In any case, you may indeed need more disk space, but I need to know some of the details of your system to know what to tell you.
- Go to the apple menu and choose "about this mac".  What info do you see regarding model of powermac, Mac OS version, memory, etc?
- choose Macintosh HD and choose "file" and "show info" or "get info".  How large is it and how much free space?
- has this happened before?

Good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank-you so much for your response. I went to the Apple file and I have a Mac0S9. My built-in memory is 64MB. My Virtual Memory: 129MB used on hard drive. Largest Unused Block: 111.5 MB. The bottom line reads: Mac OS
16.9 MB with a long full blue bar beside it. In answer to your question, "Has this happened before?" No, this has not happened before. It was out of the blue yesterday! The mouse arrow on the screen would freeze after I pressed "PRINT". I would turn the computer off and restart and the screen arrow would once again freeze after pressing "PRINT". Thanks again for your assistance.

ANSWER: Robin,
Close enough.  Quark can be temperamental.  You might be able to get away with what you are attempting by a restart and then only launching Quark.  If, however, it is still not working, you may not be able to load such a large document without a RAM upgrade.

What model Mac do you have? A PowerMac 8500, 8600 or something similar?  We need to know this in order to recommend memory type.

Also, what is the long term plan here?  I don't want to recommend a purchase without a plan.

Good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I attempted the restart path on a number of occasions with no luck. My MAC is called a PowerMacintosh G3. I purchased it Paris, France in 1996 so, it is a dinosaur. I am using Quark 3.32. I am an unpublished illustrator and writer and attempting to print quite a few colored cartoons with font writing on each page. This computor has been glorious and I know it is old but I kind of love it! It is like family to me and if there is anything I can do to get it to print my toons, it would be GREAT! I'm not really sure about what number you are looking for but the tower just has PowerMacintosh G3 on it. Is that good enough? I will attempt to get you what you need to help me and my baby, if you tell me where the info is. When you offer me suggestions to solve my problem could you tell me straight up if it is worth keeping this computer? Would a RAM upgrade solve this problem and what would I have to do and what would the cost be to arrange that? Thank-you so much for your help... it is gratefully appreciated!
Robin J. Brown  

Answer
Robin,
Crucial, a memory reseller tells us this:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Power%20Mac%20G3%20Tower%20Rev

Maximum Memory:   384MB
Slots:   3 (3 banks of 1)
Standard Memory:   32MB removable
To determine which revision logic board you have, you must look at the ROM version. Revision 1 has ROM $77D.40F2, Revision 2 has ROM $77D.45F1, and Revision 3 has ROM $77D.45F2.In order to support 768MB of memory, the logic board must be revision 3.

Even though they tell us all this, they also tell us that they do not have any memory for sale that matches your computer :(

Straight-up, it is NOT worth keeping your computer.  Even if a RAM upgrade might solve it, you're talking the difficulty in finding it.  Try http://www.lowendmac.com.

For upgrading your system, if you're still tied to Quark, there is a hefty upgrade price, but they may take into account your  license of 3.3.2.
Get a used or refurbished Mac.  Try Apple's own refurb site (blue tag on store.apple.com), craig's list and perhaps eBay.  
Your old Apple Display will probably not work with a newer system; I would just get an iMac or notebook.

Try looking at http://www.apple.com/getamac/whichmac/
Good luck!