Pagefile, can it really be deleted?

[Edge30]

Hello,

I've seen lots of pages which recommend different methods to delete the
pagefile.sys.
The most popular methods, even posted by MS, include enabling in the local
security policies an option to automatically delete the file during shutdown
or running a script in the system32 folder (pagefileconfig.vbs /delete /VO
c
These methods are very popular and everybody uses them... but I haven't seen
anybody saying that they actually work...
The reason is that they are "supposed" to delete pagefile.sys at shutdown,
so, if the PC is off nobody can actually check this is true.
When the PC is started next time the file is re-created so... so again,
nobody can confirm it was really deleted before

In my case due to my work I deal with HDDs all the time and I have taken the
HDDs to other systems, even other OS, and check and... the file is always
still there...
I've been behind this for months, tried tons of different systems and never
saw one single case where these methods work.

Has anybody done the same tests?
Does anybody know a method that, for certain, will delete the pagefile.sys?

The problem is that it is 1.5 times local ram. And current systems have
minimum 4GB ram, with 8 and 16 being typical so when I create a partition
image for further cloning if I don't remove it then the image file is
excessively large (unnecesarily).
I always have to remove the file manually from other OS but I would like to
know if there's a real method to do it from XP (or Vista as both show
exactly same behavior)

Any ideas?
Thanks
e.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Multi-posted.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare Humanum Est

Security Tips for Everyone, from PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2334856,00.asp

 

[Jerry]

If you have a dual-boot, FAT32 system and boot into real-mode DOS then you
delete it from there - in DOS mode.

 

[Asger Joergensen]

Hi Edge30

I dont know how to delete the pagefile, but when I set up a PC
I have an extra partition for storing installation files and at
the same partition i put the pagefile, that way there is no
pagefile on the drives I make images from.

Kind regards
Asger

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Hi Edge30

I dont know how to delete the pagefile, but when I set up a PC
I have an extra partition for storing installation files and at
the same partition i put the pagefile, that way there is no
pagefile on the drives I make images from.

Kind regards
Asger

Your pagefile should either be on the primary boot partition with the OS, or
in a separate partition on another physical drive. You are doing yourself no
performance favors by having it in another partition on the same drive as
the OS..

To delete the page file..

Go to Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced tab > Performance settings >
Virtual memory..

Set it to 0..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[Asger Joergensen]

Hi Mike

Your pagefile should either be on the primary boot partition with the
OS, or in a separate partition on another physical drive.

Says who ?

You are doing yourself no performance favors by having it in another
partition on the same drive as the OS..

I know that, and if You read what I wrote, the issue was not performance,
but the ability to get smaller images of the boot partition.

To delete the page file..

Go to Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced tab > Performance
settings > Virtual memory..

Set it to 0..

Not an option when automaticly creating images.

Kind regards
Asger

 

[Leonard Grey]

"I know that, and if You read what I wrote, the issue was not
performance,but the ability to get smaller images of the boot partition."

Every disk imaging product I have used (Ghost, True Image,
ShadowProtect) automatically excludes the paging file. Unless you're
making an image for forensic reasons (e.g. law enforcement) there's no
reason to include the paging file in an image.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare Humanum Est

Security Tips for Everyone, from PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2334856,00.asp

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Hi Mike


Says who ?


I know that, and if You read what I wrote, the issue was not performance,
but the ability to get smaller images of the boot partition.


Not an option when automaticly creating images.

Kind regards
Asger

If the pagefile is placed in a separate partition on the same drive as the
OS, the hard drive heads have further to travel each time they access the
pagefile.

By placing it in a partition on a second hard drive, the heads accessing the
pagefile are not the same as those accessing the OS, which speeds up
pagefile access and puts less stress on the mechanics of the hard drive..

Re full backups, I understand that Acronis TrueImage version 9 or 10 does
not backup the pagefile. Perhaps you should try it out..

--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx