The swap file is one of the favorite topics for a versatile discussion among computer users of all ranks. Indeed, in the recent past, the disk space “devoured” by the system for nothing was a pain in the hearts of owners of low-volume hard drives. Why do we need pagefile.sys, what kind of "beast" is it in general, and why is this file very popular? Let's take a few minutes of our precious time and finally understand some of the intricacies of the Windows system.
Free disk space has let us down ...
Contrary to the forecasts of experts from the relatively recent past, storage media are still subject to the process of “oversaturation”. In other words, even 3 TB of disk space after a period of time capitulates to an endless stream of user-stored data. Sometimes the solution is to remove pagefile.sys. That this is the right way out, you can bet. Indeed, often the information on the computer has an unorganized structure. An incredible number of identical photo and video files are scattered across different sections of the hard drive. Dynamic DLLs are duplicated several times, but other "excesses" are also hidden from the eyes of the average user of the OS itself. Sooner or later, all the chaos described above makes itself felt - there is no free space left. Therefore, before moving on to undesirable extremes, try to restore order on the disk partitions, especially since there are enough software tools for such tasks today.
Pagefile.sys - what is it and why?
Everything is pretty simple. The operating system creates a special swap file, so to speak, a virtual addition to the RAM installed on the computer. At a time when the physical RAM can not cope with the task assigned to it, the OS refers to the pegefile saving pool. Typically, the system by default allocates 1 GB of disk space for emergency RAM support. In the absence of a swap file, the OS starts to slow down, and then just freezes.
It is in the virtual area that Windows dumps irrelevant online data, thereby freeing up critical megabytes of physical RAM. However, even the reserve sometimes does not save. Modern toys, titanic video editors and resource-intensive programs are simply insatiable. The only thing left for the system is to turn to pagefile.sys for help.
What is it and how to deal with it?
There is an opinion that increasing the physical volume of operational “cans” will cast doubt on the feasibility of using a page file. However, as already mentioned, there is never a lot of memory, and even 8 GB of installed RAM will at some point become powerless against the simultaneous operation of the “insatiable software squad”. In our age of speeds and incredibly complex algorithms that are involved in new programs and super-resource-intensive games, this is a completely predictable pattern.
Of course, the swap file, by definition, uses some part of the hard drive, but is it really critical for the HDD's performance and totally reduces the operational resources of the hard drive? Many adhere to the pessimistic arguments that virtual memory simply “kills” the hard drive. Opinions differ, and the user has to make his own decision in one way or another. However, practice shows that c pagefile.sys system works more correctly and is much more stable than in the absence of an auxiliary component. So, what kind of pagefile.sys file we figured out. Let's go further.
When physical memory resources are enough: destruction of virtual RAM
If you are convinced that your RAM strips will withstand any digital onslaught, and consider that the hard disk space should be spent on the principle of "nothing more", delete the swap file.
- Go to the control panel and open the "System" menu.
- On the left, in a new window, click on the item "Advanced options ...".
- In the "Performance" field, activate the "Settings" tab.
- In the window that opens, click on the "Advanced" tab, then - "Change."
- Now you will see the "Virtual memory" menu, it is in it that you can delete pagefile.sys.
- Select the partition where the backup RAM is located. Then mark the “No swap file” marker and click the “Set” button.
- Confirm the performed operations - “OK”.
After rebooting the system, your Windows will start working without virtual memory support. Remember that the OS will be left without an auxiliary RAM resource, and its operation will completely depend on the installed amount of RAM. It is likely that some programs without a “save” file are simply doomed to freeze or even crash. It should be noted that the presence of such functionality in the OS is provided for a reason ...
Cleaning the page file
In order to dump all the accumulated information from virtual memory (and sometimes this is extremely important), given the observance of security measures, you must go to the Start menu and enter the regedit command.
- Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ System \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ SessionManagerMamoryManagement \
- Change the value: ClearPageFileAtShatdown - from zero to one.
- Reboot the system.
This cleaning method is relevant for the seventh and eighth versions of the OS.
Moving pagefile.sys: Windows 7
Delete the paging file always succeeds. If the system disk really has a stalemate situation with free space on the HDD, transfer the backup component to any partition on the disk.
- In the "Virtual memory" menu, select an acceptable area of the hard drive (the literal value of one of the hard drive directories).
- Opposite the item “Specify size”, enter the numerical value of the required amount of virtual reserve.
- Next, activate the "Set" button.
- Confirm the changes - “OK”.
After rebooting the system, your swap file will be ready for work and fruitful support for Windows.
Size that can be changed
The default volume of virtual RAM sometimes needs to be expanded or the reverse action. It all depends on the user needs and the "appetite" of your electronic machine. In the case when the physical RAM has significant potential, for example, equal to 8 GB, the swap file can be reduced to a minimum. The above instructions will help you in deciding how to reduce pagefile.sys.
ReadyBoost Technology: A Flawless Alternative
The speed of the system can be “raised” using a high-speed flash drive or memory card made using technology of the 10th class. This method is especially relevant for computer equipment, the warranty period of which has not yet expired. For this reason alone, the user is deprived of the opportunity to upgrade his “iron friend”, since the seals on the case must remain intact, and it is not possible to upgrade the computer without opening the protective covers. However, for machines running on the DDR2 memory type , this method of increasing performance is also acceptable, since RAM is relatively inferior in speed to modern Flash drives in relation to the old standard. Unfortunately, ReadyBoost technology is implemented in later versions of Windows operating systems. However, Vista was the first OS of the Microsoft family to provide an illuminated opportunity to get an additional performance boost.
We connect the "flash reactor"
It should be noted that instead of the pagefile.sys file, this method does not work and does not replace it in any way. ReadyBoost is a kind of intermediary between physical RAM and virtual RAM, so to speak, a link in a single performance system.
- When inserting the Flash-drive into the USB port, activate the "Speed up work ..." position in the context menu .
- In the event that autorun is disabled, you need to go to "My Computer", then right-click on the shortcut of the connected USB flash drive to call the context menu.
- Next, go to “Properties” and activate the ReadyBoost tab. If you don’t find one (which often happens to be), return to the “My Computer” item and use the same context menu to select the option “Open autorun ...”.
- Return to the ReadyBoost tab and check the box "Provide this device for technology ...".
- Move the slider to the position recommended by the system (the information visually displayed below).
- Click "Apply" and wait until the cache configuration process is complete.
- The OK button will confirm the changes.
Finally
So, you find out what the pagefile.sys file is responsible for. How to remove and what actions can be performed with the "virtual assistant", you also became aware. Now the only thing left is to precede the theory, so to speak, in life. And how effective the material presented to your attention is, you will definitely appreciate it in the process of using all the recommendations described. Attention: when working in the registry editor, be extremely careful, as incorrect or mistakenly made changes can have critical consequences for the operating system. Stability to you and performance!