Page File Size

[Lenie]

I am running XP SP2 Home with IE 7, with 1gb Memory, my brother has changed
my page file size to
Initial size: 3072
Maximum size: 3072
can anyone tell me if this is correct?

Thank you
Lenie

 

[Big_Al]

Lenie said this on 1/3/2009 8:54 AM:

I am running XP SP2 Home with IE 7, with 1gb Memory, my brother has changed
my page file size to
Initial size: 3072
Maximum size: 3072
can anyone tell me if this is correct?

Thank you
Lenie

Let windows manage the size. Don't force the issue.

 

[R. McCarty]

The 3072 Megabyte size is too large. Unless you're doing work that
requires extreme amounts of workspace for applications/data. Setting
the Pagefile to system managed is the best approach.

 

[Milt]

Lenie,

If you want the page file set to "Custom", the rule of thumb is set the
minimum to 1.5 times the amount of your existing RAM and the maximum to 3
times your existing RAM. But, at least on my computer, using "Let Computer
Manage" works just as good.

If you have more than one hard drive, you can gain some speed by placing the
Page File on the drive that does not contain your operating system.

If you want to learn more, go to Start/Help and type "Page File". You'll
find an article about "Changing the size of Virtual Memory" there.

Milt

 

[Thip]

I am running XP SP2 Home with IE 7, with 1gb Memory, my brother has changed
my page file size to
Initial size: 3072
Maximum size: 3072
can anyone tell me if this is correct?

Thank you
Lenie

XP does an excellent job of managing the pagefile. Let Windows do it.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am running XP SP2 Home with IE 7, with 1gb Memory, my brother has changed
my page file size to
Initial size: 3072
Maximum size: 3072
can anyone tell me if this is correct?

It's very poor practice. Making the starting size so large is nothing
but a waste of disk space.

For most people, it's best to leave the Windows defaults alone. You
can save some disk space by changing them, but you won't improve
performance (and might hurt it). Since the amount of disk space you
can save is worth only a few pennies in these days of very cheap hard
drives, it usually isn't worth fooling around with. All
recommendations based on some multiple of the amount of RAM you have
are wrong. The page file substitutes for RAM, so the more RAM you
have, the *less* page file you need. If you change anything, you
should make the starting value *smaller*, but as I said above, it's
usually not worth doing.

 

[Lenie]

Ok, I ticked let windows manage it, and now there is nothing in the Initial
or Maximum boxes, is that right, why is there no numbers there at all now?

Lenie

 

[Twayne]

I am running XP SP2 Home with IE 7, with 1gb Memory, my brother has

changed my page file size to
Initial size: 3072
Maximum size: 3072
can anyone tell me if this is correct?

Thank you
Lenie

No, not IMO. Usually people who come up with numbers like that think it
minimizes disk fragmentation, keeping the page file contiguous at all
times. In reality it does very little to cause any noticeable
improvement though.

Much better to use Windows Managed Size. With a Gig of memory, unless
you are running somethign VERY memory intensive (and I doubt you are
since those are also very specialized apps as a rule), you are barely
using the pagefile anyway, so it's sitting there 24/7 hogging 3 Gig of
space for no good reason when all that's needed is the basic couple
hundred Meg or less. In my case, same numbers, Pentium 4, my pagefile
sits pretty steadily at 137Meg.
Also, in the case where you might be running something very memory
intensive, how do you know 3072 is enough?
I think you're the victim of a wife's tale. Some research on the page
file would give you good info in a hurry, esp on setting them both to
the same number.

HTH

 

[Milt]

Lenie,

Yes, you have it set correctly. No numbers should show in the two boxes when
it's set to let Windows manage.

MIlt

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I am running XP SP2 Home with IE 7, with 1gb Memory, my brother has
changed my page file size to:

Initial size: 3072
Maximum size: 3072

can anyone tell me if this is correct?

XP does an excellent job of managing the pagefile. Let Windows do
it.

Ok, I ticked let windows manage it, and now there is nothing in the
Initial or Maximum boxes, is that right, why is there no numbers
there at all now?

Windows XP will allocate based off algorithms and such. You no longer give
it a limit (maximum or minimum) and Windows XP will manage the maximum and
minimum - the maximum will likely be 1.5 times the amount of RAM you have.
However - you do not need to concern yourself with that now. Windows XP
will handle that for you - and I agree - that is likely the best setting for
you and 95% of the world in your position.

Strange thing to fixate on. ;-)

Anyway - some friendly side-advice...

In general - you need to perform some general routine maintenance on your
computer (just like a vehicle or anything else you want to keep running.)
You can do these things yourself or you can pay someone to do them for you
(just like everything else you want to keep runnning.)

- Keep backup copies of your installation media and the product keys/serial
numbers needed to use them.
- Schedule backups of your stuff (your documents, your pictures, your
bookmarks/favorites, your email, your contacts, EFS certificates, etc)
to external (to the computer - physically) media.
- Keep the list of installed applications down to just what you use.
Uninstall those applications you never use (and no one using the
computer will ever use.)
- Perform the occassional CHKDSK on your hard disk drives.
- Perform the occassional Disk Cleanup on your system.
- Perform the occassional Defragmentation on your hard disk drive.
- Scan with a decent few antispyware applications on occassion - just to
make sure you have not collected any crud.
(SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes are two of the tops right now.)
- Keep Windows patched and updated.
- Keep your applications (office products, etc) updated.
- Keep your antivirus software updated.

Other things you can consider...
- Check for hardware driver updates on occassion. This is one of those
things where if you aren't having trouble - you probably can leave well
enough alone - but there have been hardware driver releases that fixed
problems you didn't even know you had - even security issues.
- Clean up a little more thoroughly than Disk Cleanup allows for using
something like CCleaner. While I cannot say you should use all features of
the product - I do utilize them all with no adverse side-effects so far.

You really are unlikely to need anything in terms of a firewall more than
what is built into Windows - and adding anything just puts another variable
in the mix to cause trouble down the line. I am not telling you *not* to
run a third party firewall - by all means - if you desire to or feel you
need to - go ahead. I'm just mentioning that most home users do not really
benefit from it, IMO. Why add extra overhead and possible sources of
trouble if you gain nothing for it otherwise?

A good antivirus (while not essential) provides a good cushion for mistakes.
The free ones are generally as good as the paid versions. You must make
sure they are properly updating and stay functional, however. I would
personally recommend against any/all products that do more than one thing in
the arena of AntiVirus. Some of them do help somewhat in the antispyware
arena - but none can claim complete coverage. I would avoid the 'suites' -
the ones that come with a firewall, internet protection, email, etc. All
you really need is a basic AntiVirus that checks files as they are accessed
and the likes.

Basically - nothing complicated - just a little time consuming - although
much of it can be easily automated.

I personally use JKDefrag to defragment my hard disk drive when the system
is idle. My AntiVirus software (in whichever form it takes) automatically
updates itself. I have Windows Automatic Updates set to notify me when
updates are available so I can install at a time of my choosing (and thus
reboot at that time.) I have email reminders/calendar entires that remid me
to CHKDSK/Disk Cleanup on occassion (and I usually use CCleaner and
AntiSpyware apps about the same time.) Whenever I get new software - I
usually make ISO images of the CD/DVD and store it on a network drive (I
have a couple - basically just drives that plug directly into my network and
allow all computers on my network to access shares I setup. Inexpensive and
easy.) I have scheduled tasks that copy my important (to me) directories
and such to the same network drive already mentioned.

If you need more specifics (like the how to) on anything above - come back
and ask or...

Now is a great time to point you to one of the easiest ways to find
information on problems you may be having and solutions others have found:

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )

 

[Lil' Dave]

I am running XP SP2 Home with IE 7, with 1gb Memory, my brother has changed
my page file size to
Initial size: 3072
Maximum size: 3072
can anyone tell me if this is correct?

Thank you
Lenie

I don't know, but, I'm reasonably certain about the following...

If you have 2GB of RAM that would be the beginning default size for the
swapfile, and would grow if needed if allowed to be controlled by XP.
(1024MB X 1.5 is default for your conditions) Usually the default windows
swapfile size is adequate unless you're doing something that's unusually
memory intensive, or, unless you have inadequate RAM for your usage, or
both.

Locking in a swapfile size, the only "reasoning" I've seen for that is less
trouble in defragmentation of the entire windows partition if that's where
the swapfile is located. To achieve singular, contiguous swapfile, it must
be in continuous freespace. To administer that, the swapfile must be
entirely removed in one windows session by setting the no swapfile
condition, PC rebooted. Then, the locked size must administered and PC
rebooted subsequently. Externally under a locked size, the swapfile
maintains its singular integrity and will not ever be broken up on the
partition if locked in size. If you have plenty of windows partition space,
you or someone else can do this. However, the default settings swapfile
result would have no problem on such available freespace either.

A compromise method of above is defragment the hard drive. Subsequently,
set the swapfile to none, reboot. Then, set the swapfile to default
settings, reboot. This simply recreates the swapfile entirely in continuous
available freespace.

If you have adequate RAM and windows partition space, there's usually no
reason to mess with anything.

 

[windmap]

I am running XP SP2 Home with IE 7, with 1gb Memory, my brother has changed
my page file size to
Initial size: 3072
Maximum size: 3072
can anyone tell me if this is correct?

Thank you
Lenie

There is no standard for adjusting the pagefile size.Your New paging
file setting shouldn't be an issue.Having larger paging file is off no
use unless you really need lots of Memory to put things On.Larger size
is especially useful when using FAST USER SWITCHING AND while playing
games.