Final answer:
The size of virtual storage is limited by the computer's addressing scheme and the amount of physical memory available.
Step-by-step explanation:
The size of virtual storage is limited by the addressing scheme of the computer system and by the amount of physical memory available. The addressing scheme determines the maximum theoretical addressable space, while the physical memory defines how much of this space can effectively be utilized. Virtual storage, or virtual memory, is a method by which a computer can appear to have more memory than is physically installed through the use of disk storage. The two key factors limiting its size are the addressing scheme, which determines the maximum addressable memory space, and the amount of physical memory (i.e., RAM), which can be used to store parts of this virtual space. Systems with a 32-bit addressing scheme are typically limited to 4GB of addressable space (232 addresses), whereas those with a 64-bit scheme can theoretically address 264 locations.
However, the actual amount of virtual storage a system can use effectively is also capped by the physical RAM available, as it is used for the page file or swap space that backs the virtual memory.