In cases where the computer does not have enough RAM, the Windows 7 swap file is used. You will find out where this file is located by reading the article. In addition, following the advice of experienced users, you can determine the optimal size of the swap file necessary for the correct operation of the OS.
In some cases, this file is generally not recommended for use, as this will affect the speed of the computer. Therefore, the page file is sometimes disabled. But first things first.
What is a swap file for?
There are situations when there is not enough operational (physical memory). For example, you wanted to install a game that requires 4 GB of RAM, but you only have 3 GB on your computer. In this case, the OS uses virtual memory, that is, a page file (hereinafter referred to as FP).
It is worth noting that today the cost of RAM is not very high, so it is better to purchase and install several physical memory slots, since the virtual one is on the hard drive and its reading takes longer.
As a result, your computer will “slow down”. In addition, due to such loads , the life of the HDD or SDD will be reduced.
However, if you correctly configure the FP, then it will not increase, "eating" free space on the hard drive, in addition, the fragmentation of the hard drive will be significantly reduced.
By the way, the swap file in Windows XP7 can be transferred from drive C (system) to another drive, although some users do not recommend this.
Where is the swap file located?
It is located in one of the sections of the hard drive and is called pagefile.sys. This is a hidden file, so if you want to see it, you will need to activate the visibility of hidden folders and files.
Click "Start" and open the launcher. Go to the "Folder Options" section, and then to the "View" tab. Scroll down the slider and set the checkbox opposite the "Show hidden files" function. Now click "Apply."
Now you can find the Windows 7 swap file. You already know where it is (section of the system drive). But to directly perform any actions with it will not work. However, there is another way.
Deactivate the swap file
If enough “RAM” is installed on your computer, then most likely you will want to deactivate the page file in Windows 7. To do this, you need to click on the “My Computer” icon on the PCM and select “Properties” in the context menu . There is another way - the “Start” menu, then enter the control panel and open the “System” section.
On the left is a menu where you will need "Advanced system settings." Here you are interested in the tab "Advanced", subsection "Performance". Click on "Options" and select "Advanced" again. Click "Change" and in the window that opens, uncheck the box next to the automatic swap file selection option. Mark the option “No swap file” and confirm the settings by clicking “OK”. Restart the OS.
So, you found out where the page file is located in Windows 7 and how to deactivate it.
Swap file setup
For the laptop or computer to work correctly, you will need to correctly configure the swap file. First of all, you need to know how much space to allocate for the Windows 7 page file. You remember where it is, so you can change its value yourself. Open the section “Virtual memory” again and click “Specify size”.
Note: the maximum amount of VP should be approximately 2 times the amount of "RAM". The initial size is better to set the same as the maximum. Alternatively, specify the value that is indicated next to the item “Recommended”.
Another important point is the transfer of the swap file from the disk on which you have the OS installed to another hard drive, which will increase the speed.
Now that you know what the Windows 7 swap file is for , setting up and optimizing shouldn't be a problem.
Useful Tips
By listening to the recommendations of experienced users, you can correctly configure the swap file. Here are the main tips:
- It has already been said above that it is better when virtual memory does not take up space on the system hard drive, since it is already loaded. The ideal option is a separate hard drive.
- If possible, then install additional RAM slots so as not to use virtual memory. As a result, the speed of the OS will increase. For the "seven" 6 GB of physical memory is quite enough, which will not greatly shake your financial situation.
- Set your swap file size, as the system is constantly increasing it. This is the reason for the fragmentation of the hard drive. It is recommended to set one value for the maximum and initial amount of virtual memory.
By the way, the minimum size of the FP should not be less than 1 GB in order to prevent fragmentation of the HDD.
Conclusion
So, now you understand why you need a Windows 7 swap file, where it is located and how to configure it correctly. Of course, it would be better not to use the swap file at all, especially since physical memory is not so expensive right now. However, if you have an old computer in which there are no additional slots for RAM slots, then the use of a swap file in most cases is a necessity, since modern games and programs use a lot of “RAM”.
As for optimization, you can independently perform all the settings, following the recommendations of experienced people. This is not so difficult, so you will not have difficulties. When communicating with experienced users, ask questions, and you will definitely get answers to them.