Once you kill the pagefile...

BloodAngel · Post by **BloodAngel** » 2006-05-25 12:43am

...is it alright to delete it? It's taking up a good gig or so, and I could use that space for...other things.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-05-25 12:45am

Windows XP fairly needs the pagefile to exist.

BloodAngel · Post by **BloodAngel** » 2006-05-25 01:41am

Ace Pace wrote:Windows XP fairly needs the pagefile to exist.

What I don't understand though, is why that's true, since under Virtual Memory Settings I just set Windows to completely disregard the file. What's strange is that even with virtual memory disabled, the Task Manager still reports it to have a size. Is it possible to just "enable" it and set the file size to zero?

Netko · Post by **Netko** » 2006-05-25 02:05am

I'd recommend against that. Windows expect it to exist, and unless you have absolute gobs of memory, which on the other hand you aren't using to its full potential (think at least 2gb+ and not using any apps that potentialy need that much memory, ie photoshop, 3d modeling etc.), you will get Strange Things (TM). Your system will certanly be less stable then if you left it alone.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-05-25 02:10am

Leave the pagefile along. There is are many good reasons why to leave the fucking thing alone.

If 1gb is so much disk space, get a bigger fucking harddrive.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-05-25 10:24am

Xon has it right - Windows (especially NT) must have a pagefile for proper operation. You could be running XP64 with 16GB of RAM and you'd still need it.

BloodAngel · Post by **BloodAngel** » 2006-05-25 01:19pm

Alright, after reading up I'll take your advice. A friend suggested that disabling the pagefile while having 1GB of memory would speed things up because the computer would spend more time deciding on whether "to use the pagefile or use the hardware memory".

Thanks all.

Post by **Edi** » 2006-05-25 01:25pm

What you could do is set Windows to clear the pagefile on shutdown. That way it exists, but it won't have random crap stored in it when you finish.

Edi

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-05-25 01:28pm

BloodAngel, your friend has no idea what he is talking about. Saddly too many people

Edi wrote:What you could do is set Windows to clear the pagefile on shutdown. That way it exists, but it won't have random crap stored in it when you finish.

That will make sure down take much longer. And is really only useful for security nuts. Even then, this isnt going to help if the computer unexpectadly powers off.

Vista's full-drive encryption is a much better idea. But rememeber it is 100% effective, so dont lose the keys

Archaic` · Post by **Archaic`** » 2006-05-25 01:55pm

Edi wrote:What you could do is set Windows to clear the pagefile on shutdown. That way it exists, but it won't have random crap stored in it when you finish.

And how does one do this?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-05-25 01:59pm

Archaic` wrote:And how does one do this?

Google for it - the setting is a registry key.