I have a space problem in my primary drive. One file, pagefile.sys, contains
1.12 GB and seems to grow each day. I have not been able to open it to view
its content.
My question is: Is it possible to reduce/limit/ the size of this system
file. And if so, how might I accomplish this? ....Thanks...CinciDave

On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 07:45:07 -0800, CinciDave wrote:

> I have a space problem in my primary drive. One file, pagefile.sys, contains
> 1.12 GB and seems to grow each day. I have not been able to open it to view
> its content.
> My question is: Is it possible to reduce/limit/ the size of this system
> file. And if so, how might I accomplish this? ....Thanks...CinciDave

Apparently you have about 768 MB of RAM installed. Windows, using the
default settings, will set the pagefile to 1.5 x that amount, roughly 1.12
GB. This file is part of the virtual memory mechanisms - no need to open it
and view the content.

You could use System Properties> Advanced> Performance> Settings> Virtual
Memory to change from Windows-managed to Custom and limit the pagefile size
BUT that it is growing now indicates that you recently performed some task
that needed a large pagefile. The auto-manage settings are simply doing
their job. The file should shrink to 1.2 GB in a day or two if that extra
allotment is not needed again.

To learn more about virtual memory in WinXP, see this article:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User

I suggest that you leave pagefile.sys alone and consider archiving seldom
used files, especially picture and music files. The system needs around 15%
of the system drive to be available for temp files and free space for disk
defragging, so it sounds like some sort of hardware upgrade is in order.
--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
"CinciDave" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:74B891B1-473D-423E-B016-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a space problem in my primary drive. One file, pagefile.sys,
>contains
> 1.12 GB and seems to grow each day. I have not been able to open it to
> view
> its content.
> My question is: Is it possible to reduce/limit/ the size of this system
> file. And if so, how might I accomplish this? ....Thanks...CinciDave

I followup by suggesting that you install a second, fast HD, with a 2.1 GB
primary partition at its head and assign the page file to it exclusively, in
the manner Sharon F has posted. This will free space on C: and increase
system performance.
--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
------
"Sharon F" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:elaJdyk$(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 07:45:07 -0800, CinciDave wrote:
>
> > I have a space problem in my primary drive. One file, pagefile.sys,
contains
> > 1.12 GB and seems to grow each day. I have not been able to open it to
view
> > its content.
> > My question is: Is it possible to reduce/limit/ the size of this system
> > file. And if so, how might I accomplish this? ....Thanks...CinciDave
>
> Apparently you have about 768 MB of RAM installed. Windows, using the
> default settings, will set the pagefile to 1.5 x that amount, roughly 1.12
> GB. This file is part of the virtual memory mechanisms - no need to open
it
> and view the content.
>
> You could use System Properties> Advanced> Performance> Settings> Virtual
> Memory to change from Windows-managed to Custom and limit the pagefile
size
> BUT that it is growing now indicates that you recently performed some task
> that needed a large pagefile. The auto-manage settings are simply doing
> their job. The file should shrink to 1.2 GB in a day or two if that extra
> allotment is not needed again.
>
> To learn more about virtual memory in WinXP, see this article:
> http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm
>
> --
> Sharon F
> MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 09:30:35 -0500, Jack E Martinelli wrote:

> I followup by suggesting that you install a second, fast HD, with a 2.1 GB
> primary partition at its head and assign the page file to it exclusively, in
> the manner Sharon F has posted. This will free space on C: and increase
> system performance.

Thanks, Jack. I was so worried about his pagefile that I forgot about his
problem with space on his primary drive.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User