Optimal XP Pro Swap File Size?

[Uncle Grumpy]

The proper setting for Virtual Memory in Windows XP - in my opinion - is
"System Managed"...

Then why is the alternative method offered?

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

<snip>

I agree...just let Windows manage it and forget it

Just set it to a humongous min/max size and forget it.

Six on one, half a dozen on the other.

Just this past week I just made a NOTICABLE improvement on a friend's
sluggish notebook (she only has 212m of RAM after video use) by
setting a 1gig page file, rather than let Windows manage it for her.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Can you point to some technical papers at microsoft to back that up?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889654, which includes the sentence
"When no page file exists, or the page file is insufficient, the
system reserves some virtual memory in the physical memory for its
paging needs."

 

[R. McCarty]

Not everybody has technical understanding of computers. The
link was just so anyone interested could get a little background
info. 2nd only to "Registry Cleaners", Pagefile questions usually
startup a long running thread. With the kinds of RAM that PCs
have installed these days it's no longer a major concern.

Here's a better explanation ( MS KB article ):
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555223&SD=tech

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Hi, what is the recommended swap file size for PCs running XP pro,
70GB- 80GB HDD, when one PC has 512MB RAM installed and the other
has 2GB RAM installed? Shoud XP determine the swap file size?

The proper setting for Virtual Memory in Windows XP - in my
opinion - is "System Managed"...

Then why is the alternative method offered?

How is your question relevant to my given answer?

When I stated "in my opinion", that means that is what _I think_ the OP
should do, what _I think_ is the best setting/option. I did not say, "There
should be no other choice." I stated what I believed to be the best answer
for the majority of the people, the OP included given the information we
have at hand.

To answer your question - I think it is there because it was always there
and so that tweakers have something to do and perhaps - just perhaps - in
certain settings/situations one might need to change it.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No, it applies post W2k as well.

I think that only goes for Windows 2000 and earlier

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/257758

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Large data bases come to mind.

Then why is the alternative method offered?

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

How is your question relevant to my given answer?

WHO CARES?

I was trying to get you to expand on your pompous "in my opinion"
reply.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Large data bases come to mind.

Ever hear of the advantages to NOT being a top poster?

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Not everybody has technical understanding of computers. The
link was just so anyone interested could get a little background
info. 2nd only to "Registry Cleaners", Pagefile questions usually
startup a long running thread. With the kinds of RAM that PCs
have installed these days it's no longer a major concern.

Here's a better explanation ( MS KB article ):
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555223&SD=tech

Stop top posting, idjut

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Hi, what is the recommended swap file size for PCs running XP pro,
70GB- 80GB HDD, when one PC has 512MB RAM installed and the other
has 2GB RAM installed? Shoud XP determine the swap file size?

The proper setting for Virtual Memory in Windows XP - in my
opinion - is "System Managed"...

Then why is the alternative method offered?

How is your question relevant to my given answer?

When I stated "in my opinion", that means that is what _I think_
the OP should do, what _I think_ is the best setting/option. I did
not say, "There should be no other choice." I stated what I
believed to be the best answer for the majority of the people, the
OP included given the information we have at hand.

To answer your question - I think it is there because it was always
there and so that tweakers have something to do and perhaps - just
perhaps - in certain settings/situations one might need to change
it.

WHO CARES?

I was trying to get you to expand on your pompous "in my opinion"
reply.

Please - expand on why it was pompous to state my opinion?

Also note - I have included everything you chose to leave out of my reply -
although you claim to have been trying to get me to expand on my reply...
You must have cared - or you were forced to reply... ;-)

 

[jorgen]

No, it applies post W2k as well.

So where is it? I don't have any temppf on my xp, as i can see. The
article also says it "may" be created. I'm guessing it is creating a
temporary one to make sure there is enough memory for the user to go in
and setup a correct configuration

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>
See entire conversation:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...c7479aad54e/952234921ab9b600#952234921ab9b600



R. McCarty wrote:

Even if you turn off the pagefile, XP will create a temporary one
in C:\Windows\System32 as TempPF.Sys

<snipped>

I think that only goes for Windows 2000 and earlier

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/257758

No, it applies post W2k as well.

So where is it? I don't have any temppf on my xp, as i can see. The
article also says it "may" be created. I'm guessing it is creating a
temporary one to make sure there is enough memory for the user to
go in and setup a correct configuration

No reason to 'guess". ;-)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/257758
The article in question - as you began to deduce - states:

"... a temporary paging file (Temppf.sys) may be created, and you may
receive the following error message after you log on:
Limited Virtual Memory
Your system is running without a properly sized paging file. Please use the
virtual memory option of the System applet in the Control Panel to create a
paging file, or to increase the initial size of your paging file."

If you have not seen that message, you won't have a "Temppf.sys" file...

The "More Information" part of the article explains this whole process in
better detail...

"The error message listed earlier in this article can occur when the initial
paging file size is reduced to an amount considerably smaller than the
recommended amount. Windows recognizes that the paging file size is
insufficient and creates a temporary paging file of up to 20 megabytes in
the Winnt\System32 folder. The System dialog box in Control Panel is then
displayed, forcing you to address the paging file problem.

When the free hard disk space on your computer is 30 megabytes or less,
issues can occur when you try to correct the insufficient paging file size.
The combination of the insufficient paging file size and the temporary
paging file size can easily use all of the available free hard disk space.
This does not leave enough free space to create a paging file large enough
to eliminate the need for the temporary paging file.

The only way to free the disk space that is used by the temporary paging
file is to create an appropriately-sized paging file. When it is no longer
needed, the temporary paging file is deleted the next time you start your
computer, and the disk space is then freed."

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Please - expand on why it was pompous to state my opinion?

It's "pompous" (and I am guilty of posting pompous IMO replies) when
you don't tell folks WHY you hold such an opinion.

It's as if you expect them to come back and query the "oracle".

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Hi, what is the recommended swap file size for PCs running XP pro,
70GB- 80GB HDD, when one PC has 512MB RAM installed and the other
has 2GB RAM installed? Shoud XP determine the swap file size?

The proper setting for Virtual Memory in Windows XP - in my
opinion - is "System Managed"...

Then why is the alternative method offered?

How is your question relevant to my given answer?

When I stated "in my opinion", that means that is what _I think_
the OP should do, what _I think_ is the best setting/option. I did
not say, "There should be no other choice." I stated what I
believed to be the best answer for the majority of the people, the
OP included given the information we have at hand.

To answer your question - I think it is there because it was always
there and so that tweakers have something to do and perhaps - just
perhaps - in certain settings/situations one might need to change
it.

WHO CARES?

I was trying to get you to expand on your pompous "in my opinion"
reply.

Please - expand on why it was pompous to state my opinion?

Also note - I have included everything you chose to leave out of my
reply - although you claim to have been trying to get me to expand

It's "pompous" (and I am guilty of posting pompous IMO replies) when
you don't tell folks WHY you hold such an opinion.

It's as if you expect them to come back and query the "oracle".

If I had stated, "The best setting is, without a doubt, System Managed." <-
that would be pompous. I stated that what I was saying was merely my
opinion. I didn't expect a return answer, I was just stating *my opinion*
on the matter at hand which has been discussed extensively in the thread
already. I saw no need to heighten the discussion which pretty well covered
the different possibilities...

See entire conversation:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...c7479aad54e/952234921ab9b600#952234921ab9b600

The OP asked, "Should XP determine the swap file size?" and I answered by
giving my opinion. If the OP had asked, "Should XP determine the swap file
size and why?", I would have given more.

If you consider my answer pompous - well - I guess that is *your opinion*.
;-)

 

[Tom]

This is *not* the same for everyone with the same amount of RAM. The
most significant criteria for determining the page file size needed
are what apps you run, and how much you run simultaneously. The more
you have running, the more total virtual memory (RAM plus page file)
you need to accommodate it.
Windows default accomplishes nothing but saving a small amount of disk
space. Although that used to be a valuable thing to do, in these days
of very inexpensive large disk drives, the value of doing that is
insignificant, and most people should just accept the Windows default.

I typically keep thirty IE6 windows open, excel w/at least one 500k
spreadsheet, Outlook, maybe Word, maybe SmarTerm.

Tom

 

[Tom]

This is *not* the same for everyone with the same amount of RAM. The
most significant criteria for determining the page file size needed
are what apps you run, and how much you run simultaneously. The more
you have running, the more total virtual memory (RAM plus page file)
you need to accommodate it.

Beware of advice to make it some factor of the amount of RAM you have;
that's only significant with respect to dumps, and most people have no
need of dumps.

At least temporarily I need to open a 5GB file occasionally until we can get
the file sixe reduced.

 

[olfart]

At least temporarily I need to open a 5GB file occasionally until we can
get the file sixe reduced.

5 GB is ALOT of porn. Trying breaking it down into folders like:
18-30
31-50
50-75
over 75
etc

 

[Karl Snooks]

Gumpy,
I write this because I too was once and for many years truly just as much a
smart alec as you. I made others angry, brought dislike and disdain upon
myself needlessly. In my case, a traumatic and dramatic event helped me to
rejoin and become a friend rather than a fighting foe of the human race. By
sticking to the facts and avoiding expressing opinions (as I'm now doing),
you will make your glide through life and the life of others much more
pleasant. This is my one and only message addressed to you on this matter.
I will not become involved in a diatribe.

Sincerely written from a once "Grumpy Uncle",
karl snooks

 

[Tom]

This is *not* the same for everyone with the same amount of RAM. The
most significant criteria for determining the page file size needed
are what apps you run, and how much you run simultaneously. The more
you have running, the more total virtual memory (RAM plus page file)
you need to accommodate it.

Beware of advice to make it some factor of the amount of RAM you have;
that's only significant with respect to dumps, and most people have no
need of dumps.

Contrary to the usual advice, the more RAM you have, the *less* page
file you need (since the page file substitutes for RAM when you don't
have enough).




Despite everything I said above, making the page file smaller than the
Windows default accomplishes nothing but saving a small amount of disk
space. Although that used to be a valuable thing to do, in these days
of very inexpensive large disk drives, the value of doing that is
insignificant, and most people should just accept the Windows default.

I keep a lot open eg, 40+ web pages, excel spreadsheet(s), SmarTerm session,
word doc(s) and even need to open, at times, a 5GB file which I'm reducing
in size. I do remeber from WFWGRPS that making the swap too large wasn't a
good idea because it'll cause the HDD drive spend a lot of time searching,
but that was the era of slow HDDs.