Why did the conversion crash? Run out of RAM?

>I was converting a DVD to a Divx avi file using Total Video Control (trial
> version) (I think that was the name of it); and it successfully converted
> a
> nearly 8 minute file at 88.5 MB, but choked on the next file exactly 40
> minutes
> into the conversion process at 92.0 MB and corrupted the file. At the time
> of
> corruption, my available RAM was down to the last 8 MB; is this a reason
> why
> this type of program would crash? Should I reboot between each project
> conversion? I was using a Dell 4300 1.6 Ghz P4 with 512 MB RAM with Win XP
> SP2
> Home. Should I disconnect from the net and disable my Anti-virus and other
> startup resource hog programs so the machine has more RAM to start with to
> get
> through the conversion process?
>
> I tried another program yesterday and it too crashed and corrupted the
> same file
> from the DVD but I didn't check the RAM, it might have been because of my
> screensaver that booted me out and made me relog in during the conversion
> problem yesterday.
>
>