Pagefile Often Disappears when I reboot

[Phil Rabichow]

I've read all the previous pagefile threads. Mine is slightly different. My
settings for the pagefile are: custom 256MB min, with 1532 max. & it exists
directly on the root drive (C:\). Often, when I reboot, I get the message
that the pagefile either doesn't exist or is too small so Windows created a
temporary one. After clicking OK, I check &, sure enough, the pagefile is
gone.

Even if I reset the pagefile, it doesn't hold. I can boot into safe mode &
create the pagefile, but when I reboot normally it's gone. The ONLY way I
can keep the pagefile, when this happens, is to use "chkdsk /f" (or /r,
which also implies /f). When I do that, the pagefile is recreated.

I've downloaded and run a utility from the hard drive manufacturer, Western
Digital, & it shows my hard drive is fine. I do not have any Norton
products on my machine. I'm at a loss as to why this keeps happening & why
chkdsk is the only thing that seems to help. I would appreciate any ideas?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

You are clicking on 'Set' before rebooting?

--


Will Denny

MS MVP Shell/User
Please Reply to the News Groups

 

[Phil Rabichow]

Hi Will:
Thanks for responding. Yes. Also, when I use chkdsk /f, I don't even have to
go into system properties. I can get the pagefile back just by using check disk
(for which I can only do while rebooting) & leaving the system properties dialog
box alone.

 

[Ron Martell]

Hi Will:
Thanks for responding. Yes. Also, when I use chkdsk /f, I don't even have to
go into system properties. I can get the pagefile back just by using check disk
(for which I can only do while rebooting) & leaving the system properties dialog
box alone.

Hi Phil:

CHKDSK would not create a new pagefile on the drive. So what must be
happening is that the existing pagefile is not being found when the
computer boots but running CHKDSK makes the existing file now visible.
That in turn indicates a problem with the drive itself, one that
CHKDSK is fixing, in spite of the factory diagnostic report that you
have.

You can confirm this by looking at the file creation date of
c:\pagefile.sys.

The only suggestion I can think of is to backup the entire drive to
another drive then reformat it and restore the backup. And that may
not work if there is in fact a hardware problem with the drive.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Phil Rabichow]

Hi Ron:
Thanks for this information. I do have 2 external drives to use for backup, so I
will follow your suggestion. I assume that I must:
1. Backup everything (I have True Image) to the external drive.
2. Format the C:\ drive.
3. Reinstall Windows from the CD.
4. Reinstall True Image to the C:\drive (or use the boot disk).
5. Restore the backup from the external drive.

Do I have that right?

 

[Ron Martell]

Hi Ron:
Thanks for this information. I do have 2 external drives to use for backup, so I
will follow your suggestion. I assume that I must:
1. Backup everything (I have True Image) to the external drive.
2. Format the C:\ drive.
3. Reinstall Windows from the CD.
4. Reinstall True Image to the C:\drive (or use the boot disk).
5. Restore the backup from the external drive.

Do I have that right?

Do #1 twice (once to each external drive) if you have the disk space
available.
Skip #3
Use the True Image boot disk in #4.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."