2.3 GB page file?

[David Griffith]

Have a XP machine with 1GB RAM and a 2.3 GB page file running horribly slow.
Have 2 other XP machines, with page files in the 400 to 600 MB range, so I
feel confident I have found a problem, if not the cause, then at least an
effect. Machine in question is son's desktop, he does online gaming (WoW and
COD4) Do not have SP3 on this machine yet, but all other patches have been
applied. Do have current AV software. Any ideas? Am I being paranoid here
and chasing a non-issue?

 

[Leonard Grey]

The best setting for virtual memory is the 'system managed size'. Reboot
to have it take effect.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

 

[Daave]

Have a XP machine with 1GB RAM and a 2.3 GB page file running horribly
slow.
Have 2 other XP machines, with page files in the 400 to 600 MB range,
so I
feel confident I have found a problem, if not the cause, then at least
an
effect. Machine in question is son's desktop, he does online gaming
(WoW and
COD4) Do not have SP3 on this machine yet, but all other patches have
been
applied. Do have current AV software. Any ideas? Am I being
paranoid here
and chasing a non-issue?

My pagefile's size is close to yours, but my PC is running just fine. If
you haven't done so already, do yourself a favor and let the system
manage the pagefile size:

Right-click My Computer | Properties | Advanced | Performance/Settings |
Advanced | Virtual Memory/Change | System managed size | Set | OK

Saying that your son's PC has "current AV software" is not enough
information to convince me that his PC isn't infected with malware. A
good, updated antivirus program is important, but it's equally important
to run good anti-spyware apps. I would first start with Malwarebytes:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

What AV program is running on your son's PC? Does it have the most
up-to-date definitions? When was the last full scan?

 

[David Griffith]

The 2.3 GB is what task manager is showing as "in use", not total size. I
run Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition, V 8.1.1.314, updated weekly at
least. Last full scan was 3 weeks ago. I also use Symantec Client Firewall,
5.1.1, also updated weekly at least. I run lava soft adaware/malware on
these machines, also. It's an E-Machine. Can't I just shoot it and have a
good reason to give him my machine and upgrade mine? I have physically
disconnected his machine from my home network until I resolve this in case it
is an infection of some sort.

 

[Daave]

Has this PC been sluggish for quite a while? Or is this something new?
If the latter, try to figure out what has changed recently.

Ordinarily, 1 GB of RAM is more than enough for most XP users. However,
some people require more, depending on the type of programs they run. If
Task Manager is showing that PF *usage* is 2.3 GB, then there's your
problem! That means you don't have enough RAM for your needs.

Follow my advice I gave earlier (I see Leonard suggested the same
thing). After you reboot, just let all the programs that are set to
automatically run at startup do their thing. Don't start any new
programs. Wait until all updates and scans are complete. Then open Task
Manager. Click the Performance tab. Then note the three values under
Commit Charge (K): in the lower left-hand corner: Total, Limit, and
Peak.

The Total figure represents the amount of memory you are using at that
very moment. The Peak figure represents the highest amount of memory you
used since last bootup.

If both these figures are below the value of Physical Memory (K) Total,
then you probably have plenty of RAM. However, I suspect the opposite is
true. If so, this means that you are over-relying on the pagefile.

Now start running a number of programs that are usually in use anyway --
Web browser, e-mail client, etc. WoW, of course. Now have a look at the
total, limit, and peak values. Anything significant?

For now, I'll assume you're malware-free. Your problem is most likely
due to the combination of programs running combined with not enough RAM
to handle the workload. One other idea is to run Process Explorer:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

Do you see anything using excessive CPU cycles?

Finally, occasionally a hard drive's transfer mode changes from DMA to
PIO. If so, you will need to change it back. See:

http://www.technize.com/2007/08/02/is-your-hard-disk-cddvd-drives-too-slow-while-copying/

and

http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/

 

[Gerry]

David

How much RAM memory?

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

What anti-spyware programme are you using?

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report . Open Disk
Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and click on Save
As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents Folder and post a
copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it is more
informative.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[David Griffith]

Followed the advice from above. De-fragged, loaded anti malware and ran it
(none found) ran disk cleanup and defragged again. ran chkdsk /r, and am
currently showing 330mb "in use" vice the 2.3 GB before. not sure which
fixed but grateful for the help. Goes to prove once again that nothing
compares to routine upkeep, as I had let it slide on this machine for a
while. Thanks guys

 

[Mick Murphy]

I use 1Gig of RAM. I have Virtual Memory set custom, not System managed

To check that> Click start>Right-click MyComputer>Properties>Advanced Tab at
top>Under Performance>Settings>Then advanced tab across the top

At the bottom, you have virtual memory. Click on Change>

I use Custom size.
I have 1G of RAM, so my initial is 1524MBs; Max is 3048MBs