Pagefile.sys file in XP

[Ron Martell]

Hi all,

Can this file, if something is wrong with it
slow a system down?? I don't get a message
saying it's corrupted or anything.

BUT it kind of lags, when loading programs most of the time.

There are no viruses, or spyware on this system.

Its a P4 2.4 533 mhz mobo/CPU, and 1GB of ram.

So memory, or speed definitely isn't an issue.

Anyone think of something I can do to fix this prob??

I could disable virtual ram, do u think this would fix it?

The only possible change resulting from doing this would be to make
things worse.

Your description of the problem is highly subjective, and all you have
really said is that "I think my computer should be faster than it is"
without any specific evidence to substantiate this, such as timed
benchmark test results.

Do you have any Norton/Symantec products installed? They are often
comparable to driving your car with both feet on the brake pedal, in
terms of their impact on performance.

A couple of other tuneup tips:
1. Use Start - Run - MSCONFIG and check the items listed on the
Startup tab with the information at
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php to see what can be
safely removed from the startup list, and how best to do this.

2. Use Start - Run - SERVICES.MSC and check the configuration of your
services with the information at
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm to see what can be
safely reconfigured.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Ron Martell]

Hi all,

Can this file, if something is wrong with it
slow a system down?? I don't get a message
saying it's corrupted or anything.

BUT it kind of lags, when loading programs most of the time.

There are no viruses, or spyware on this system.

Its a P4 2.4 533 mhz mobo/CPU, and 1GB of ram.

So memory, or speed definitely isn't an issue.

Anyone think of something I can do to fix this prob??

I could disable virtual ram, do u think this would fix it?

The only possible change resulting from doing this would be to make
things worse.

Your description of the problem is highly subjective, and all you have
really said is that "I think my computer should be faster than it is"
without any specific evidence to substantiate this, such as timed
benchmark test results.

Do you have any Norton/Symantec products installed? They are often
comparable to driving your car with both feet on the brake pedal, in
terms of their impact on performance.

A couple of other tuneup tips:
1. Use Start - Run - MSCONFIG and check the items listed on the
Startup tab with the information at
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php to see what can be
safely removed from the startup list, and how best to do this.

2. Use Start - Run - SERVICES.MSC and check the configuration of your
services with the information at
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm to see what can be
safely reconfigured.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Paul]

Hi all,

Can this file, if something is wrong with it
slow a system down?? I don't get a message
saying it's corrupted or anything.

BUT it kind of lags, when loading programs most of the time.

There are no viruses, or spyware on this system.

Its a P4 2.4 533 mhz mobo/CPU, and 1GB of ram.

So memory, or speed definitely isn't an issue.

Anyone think of something I can do to fix this prob??

I could disable virtual ram, do u think this would fix it?

Any info appreciated

Thanx

 

[S.Sengupta]

The page file is a special file used by windows for holding temporary
data which is swapped in and out of physical memory in order to provide
a larger virtual memory set.The file name is pagefile.sys and it is
created during setup in the Root of the boot drive as a hidden file. In
its default state it should be approximately 1.5 times the system RAM.
check here on how to optimize it:-
http://www.petri.co.il/pagefile_optimization.htm

regards,
ssg MS-MVP

 

[frogspawn]

Here is another thing to try, from a post on this newsgroup:
Start your computer, with minimal programs running.
Reduce your paging file to nothing.
Reboot, and then create a paging file of the appropriate size.
The advice was given for the case of a fragmented paging file that did not
become whole after defrag. Not sure if fragmentation is your problem, but
this is pretty safe and simple.

 

[Ron Martell]

Here is another thing to try, from a post on this newsgroup:
Start your computer, with minimal programs running.
Reduce your paging file to nothing.
Reboot, and then create a paging file of the appropriate size.
The advice was given for the case of a fragmented paging file that did not
become whole after defrag. Not sure if fragmentation is your problem, but
this is pretty safe and simple.

Pagefile fragmentation as a performance issue is right up there with
Santa Claus, Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy - lots of hype but no
substance.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> Ron Martell

Pagefile fragmentation as a performance issue is right up there with
Santa Claus, Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy - lots of hype but no
substance.

Sure, if the file is in a few fragments. If it's fragmented into
hundreds or thousands of pieces evenly across the drive there will be a
significant performance impact when the system is attempting to move
pages out of RAM rapidly.

In other words, it's not usually as bad as it could be, especially since
XP pages preemptively, but in cases where the paging doesn't happen
preemptively there can be a huge performance impact.

 

[Ron Martell]

Sure, if the file is in a few fragments. If it's fragmented into
hundreds or thousands of pieces evenly across the drive there will be a
significant performance impact when the system is attempting to move
pages out of RAM rapidly.

In other words, it's not usually as bad as it could be, especially since
XP pages preemptively, but in cases where the paging doesn't happen
preemptively there can be a huge performance impact.

If the system is paging out that much then the real culprit is lack of
RAM.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> Ron Martell

If the system is paging out that much then the real culprit is lack of
RAM.

Possibly, but not always. If you rarely use more then 256MB of RAM, but
occasionally use a single program that uses significantly more for a
short period of time, it may not be worth the investment to upgrade.