Page File!

General Topics
1

Hi there,

Is it possible that for the page file to get deleted when the system is shut down & recreated on start up?

Thanks.

2

This image is from a Help and Support search on pagefile.

3

Thanks DavidR,

Is this “Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options” a Registry key…if correct where in HKEY?

Regards,

Yezinki.

4

I don’t know, I don’t use it, I just found the reference for you, you can repeat the search and click on the more information link on that page.

Or you can search the registry.

5

Thanks again.

Run> GPEDIT.MSC> Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options> Shutdown: Clear virtual memory page file : Disabled to Enabled.

6

GPEDIT.MSC is not available on XP Home but I don’t know about Vista as I don’t have it yet.

Please see:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314834

7

Really but it runs on XP MCE on this Sony Vaio VGC-LS1… :-\

8

Found this and kept it some time ago.
The KB number is included. Takes an extra 2min~ to shut down.

9

That’s why I don’t bother but then I’m not paranoid nor OCD.

10

And why exactly are you asking? (the question in the first post, I mean) :wink:

11

It’s not the question of just being paranoid, since its recreated each time on start up & deleted on shut down, lesser chances of fragmentation plus I feel after Enabling the option this desktop is running even smother.

Just my thoughts…

Yezinki.

12

Once the pagefile is created it does not change nor does it become fragmented unless you add more RAM.

13

You must be correct but my machine’s page file gets fragmented despite that no changes in RAM are made… ???

14

Have you run PageDefrag?
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

15

Generally fragmentation comes of having a flexible pagefile size, mine is set to Custom size, with a minimum size, equal to my RAM (2048MB) and a maximum (3072MB) and it is extremely rare that I see a fragment in it.

16

Thanks DavidR & YoKenny.

2 queries:

  1. Why is custom size different…some suggest both min. & max. should be the same?

  2. Rule for setting page file size…1.5 X RAM?

Yezinki.

17

If you set them to be the same than you have to have it larger, like the 1.5 X RAM rule of thumb which some recommend.

I have had my setup like this for some time and my page file has never grown larger than the 2GB minimum so I would effectively be wasting HDD space if it isn’t regularly being used.

18

I agree with DavidR’s feedback. Here’s some additional info and experience you might find helpful.

  1. They don’t need to be the same. The min should be high enough that nothing more than that is used – except for extraordinary circumstances like a malfunctioning process. In that case the “Insufficient virtual memory. xp is expanding the page file” message is a useful indicator that something has gone wrong. My system works perfectly with 1GB min and 2GB max.

  2. That rule of thumb is virtually useless. On most xp systems a 1GB page file should be about right, regardless of the amount of installed memory.

I find the following tool for monitoring actual page file usage to be useful. The task manager or even the Process Explorer utility don’t give you this information.
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_pagefilemon.htm

More interesting info available at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

Win XP Pro, 1GB RAM, dual 600 MHz PIII processors
(1 to go)

19

Really guys, it depends on what applications you use. For example i found some games on my system use over 5gb of virtual memory so i have mine set pretty large(6gb).

EDIT: Typo … ;D

20

Thanks DavidR, Alan Baxter, darth_mikey,

To summarize, their is NO rule to set the total & min & max size of page file…am I correct?

What variables can determine & affect the total size…pros & cons to have the min & max set at different & same sizes?

Yezinki.