First, everyone needs to make sure we are talking apples to apples. For instance, what version exactly and what SQL Server you are on. The default now should be SQL Server Express 2012. I think some may also be getting the Server RAM confused with the SQL RAM. SQL RAM can only use what the OS has to give it. That is key with Standard and Enterprise editions as they have a much higher capacity for RAM. But, Express is limited to 1 GB of RAM and 10 GB of database space per SQL Engine. Express is free. So they put limitations on it. What you need for the amount of SQL RAM is dependent on many things. Not only the number of users but also how many queries those users are making. But, in general, the more people, the more queries.
SQL Server Express 2012 is usually sufficient for small practices, because most of the RAM is used for its buffer pool. This will contain "pages" of past queries which are saved in the buffer pool (think RAM). Pages are key because SQL remembers your latest queries given that they are most likely to be used again soon. You can set these manually, but you are better off leaving it dynamic. SQL Server Express will allocate RAM taking and dumping as needed. Once the pages reach their maximum, the oldest one will be deleted making room for new pages. When you restart SQL, you lose all this RAM back to the OS and you will also lose the pages. While you do get a clean slate, you also lose all of the pages.
While having a dedicated "main computer" or "server" doesn't always change the equation and may not here, it is considered best practices to not have anyone use the "main computer" for a variety of reasons. Plus, you can purchase a very fast computer with a lot of RAM and an SSD that specifically only runs billing and AC. BTW, AC itself can crash all it wants on the main computer and not affect the other clients. In fact, it shouldn't. Only by turning off the computer would you run into that. Or if it froze, hence not using it. The database has nothing to do with the program. Think of the program on the main computer as just one more application. I wouldn't use AC on the main computer. You can also use System Properties --> Advance to change the settings to run most efficiently and to use background services over programs. Then you can leave it alone except for updates, but we all know what can happen here.
The adoPDF.dll error may be significant as Indy stated. It is interesting that people have talked about Updox. DOES EVERYONE POSTING HERE USE UPDOX. I do remember issues in the past with Adobe or PDF programs. You could delete it temporarily or you could try doing some troubleshooting steps that could be helpful.
You can go to Search or Run and type in "msconfig" without the quotes. You will see the Services tab and the Startup tab. You can run only AC with all the other programs turned off that aren't essential or just turn off Adobe and then run AC. If it doesn't crash, then add three or four programs at a time and continue. Then with Services, Hide all Microsoft services, then turn off all services that have nothing to do with AC and try it then. If it runs fine, then add some services back until it crashes again. These changes aren't permanent. You can change it back easily.
Mike, did you really have to wait three weeks for an appointment. That is unacceptable. Or was your schedule just not working with their schedule.
