RAM overload on my computer

Hiya, my laptop's been using an abnormal amount of RAM lately and the fan's always running now; usually around 3-4GB/8GB are in use when my computer's idle (5GB being used right now with mainly just Chrome open). My processes running don't add up to nearly that much - from what I found online, I may have a memory leak due to a driver, so if someone could help me out, I'd be really thankful. The laptop's always hot now and the battery burns through very quickly as a result

Adding up the memory usage columns in Task Manager rarely provides useful results. This will never add up to total memory usage. It was never intended that it would.

There is no relationship between memory usage and temperature.

We really need to see a screenshot of Task Manager - Performance tab. Looking at processes now would be premature.

Trying to avoid resetting my laptop if possible - loooots of documents, pictures, and software installed by my university that would take very much effort to get back.

Here's a screenshot of the performance tab, if this is what you were asking for:

Nothing really unusual about the screenshot but with 127 processes it appears that there is a lot running.
There is nothing that would indicate a driver problem.
Post a screenshot of Resource Monitor - Memory tab, sorted by Working set. Do you possibly have a virtual machine (such as Virtual Box, or Virtual PC) running?

If you have important files on your computer you NEED a backup, 2 or more backup copies if the files are of particular importance. On a computer with unknown problems this is doubly important. This is the only way to safeguard your files.

I'll get to work on that backup - here's a screenshot of the Resource Monitor.

I don't see anything that would indicate a problem. You just have a lot running. One big user of memory that neither Task Manager or Performance Monitor will show is the file cache. With a 32 bit OS this is severely constrained but on a 64 bit OS it can grow quite large. This is just for information. I am NOT suggesting this is a problem.

Thanks for all the advice, everybody. I'll try out the startups / browser thing soon and post results.