Windows 10: Wondering why is memory usage at 6.7 GB even when no programs are open? Thanks

Hello, I bought a new PC in 2021. Processor: IntelR CoreTM i5-10500 CPU @ 3.10GHz 3.10 GHz Installed RAM: 24.0 GB 23.8 GB usable initially it was 8 GB but I installed an extra 16 GB I upgraded to Windows 11 a few months ago. I think Windows 11 is great but I'm just curious about the RAM usage. It seems to be using around 6.7 GB of RAM even when no programs are open see attached image. Is this normal that it would use so much RAM even when nothing is open? Is this something to do with windows 11 or is it normal for any version of windows I never really checked before on previou

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6 GB memory usage on Windows 10 with no programs open

When I was using Windows 7, my laptop would only use around 1-1.5 GB of RAM with no open programs.

Since updating to Windows 10, it is now using over 6 GB (out of 8 GB total) of memory with nothing open, and when I start opening a few programs, memory usage reaches 90-95% and everything slows down.

Here are some screenshots of Resource Monitor's memory tab with no programs open:
1 2 3

Unlike this question, though, "Paged pool" and "Non-paged pool" memory usage in task manager are both low (252 MB and 304 MB).

What can I do to diagnose this issue?

 

Runaway memory usage

On your suggestion I went to uninstall AVG. It offered to go into an on-demand mode (I can't remember the word it used to describe).
So I tried that instead of uninstalling. Upon reboot everything seemed unchanged. High CPU usage, memory growth, no good.

So I ran the uninstall. This moved along step by step ... until the last step (titled: replacing files) never completed. It left behind a bunch of its stuff in Program Files:
Code:

So I have a bunch of leftover crap ... which I'll probably just delete.

Anyway, after rebooting it seems that all is well. CPU usage is near zero. The fans are quiet. (Computer fans, not football fans!) *chuckle

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

Memory usage is excessively high while no programs are open


I've been dealing with this issue for about a month now... Basically, my memory usage is very high (92% or so) while I have no programs open. I assume this is due to Windows background processes, but I am afraid to end one of them in case I mess something up. I have 6 GB of RAM on my laptop, and didn't have this problem before. Here is a screenshot of the Resource Monitor when I have nothing open (except the resource monitor, of course):




Thanks for any help, my computer is running like a brick..