>>Paging File Configuration?<<

[Guest]

Microsoft says, "it is good practice to put the paging file on a different
partition and on a different physical hard disk drive." NOW, I have 512MB of
RAM installed and two 40gig HDs. Each HD is split into 2 partitions. Disk 0
has (C and (D Disk 1 has (E and (F Right now I have my OS partition
(C with Initial and Max set at 750MB.

So if I was to do what MS suggested, how do I go about it? Am I to make the
initial and max for Disk 1's partitions SePaRaTeLy or do settings for only
one of the partitions? Also, do I leave the settings for (C as is, or
change them or.......... Get The Picture?? What would anyone suggest as my

proper setup<?

FYI - I'm running an AMD Athlon 3200 2.2Ghz and only 448 is showing up as
RAM in System Properties, so I would AssUmE that the missing 64megs is going
towards video?. Yes, No, Maybe.

THANX IN ADANCE, The Rookie/Wayne B.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

First: It's a mistake to to set the initial and max point to the same amount. The correct setting is "system managed size".

Second: "How To Move the Paging File in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307886

Third: The typical user can expect to see no noticeable performance improvement from this practice.

Ted Zieglar

 

[Ron Martell]

Microsoft says, "it is good practice to put the paging file on a different
partition and on a different physical hard disk drive." NOW, I have 512MB of
RAM installed and two 40gig HDs. Each HD is split into 2 partitions. Disk 0
has (C and (D Disk 1 has (E and (F Right now I have my OS partition
(C with Initial and Max set at 750MB.

So if I was to do what MS suggested, how do I go about it? Am I to make the
initial and max for Disk 1's partitions SePaRaTeLy or do settings for only
one of the partitions? Also, do I leave the settings for (C as is, or
change them or.......... Get The Picture?? What would anyone suggest as my

FYI - I'm running an AMD Athlon 3200 2.2Ghz and only 448 is showing up as
RAM in System Properties, so I would AssUmE that the missing 64megs is going
towards video?. Yes, No, Maybe.

THANX IN ADANCE, The Rookie/Wayne B.

With more than one physical hard drive your optimal configuration is
to configure a paging file on each drive. That way Windows can use
whichever file is the most convenient for any given paging operation.

What I would do in your situation is:

1. Configure a second paging file on Disk 1 in either the E: or the
F: partitions and set it to a minimum of 200 mb and a maximum of 1 gb
or so.
2. Reconfigure the paging file on drive C: to something much smaller,
such as a minimum of 10 mb and a maximum of 50 mb.

For further information and advice on paging files and other virtual
memory related matters in Windows XP see the article by the late Alex
Nichol MVP at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

And yes the difference between your 512 mb and 448 mb RAM figures
would be accounted for by on-board video (integrated into the
motherboard) using 64 mb 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

 

[Gerry Cornell]

What utility have you used to create the partitions?


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Hope this helps.

Gerry
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[Guest]

Hi Gerry, I don't use anything 3rd party. I always use >Disk Management< in
Windows. I setup the OS partition when I install XP and once I'm up and
running I create my other partitions. I've had (D (E and (F for a while
now. Whenever XP starts acting a fool to the point of not wanting to deal
with it anymore I just wipe it clean and reinstall.
Wayne B.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Unfortunately I have never used Disk Management having opted for
Partition Magic. I am not sure whether Disk Management has the
flexibility to resize partitions and then insert a new partition at the
beginning of the second drive. If it can't you might try Bootit NG,
www.bootitng.com -- 30-days fully functional shareware.

To get it click on the Download Option ( as distinct from Purchase
Option).

You are going for NTFS and not FAT32?

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Hope this helps.

Gerry
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[MS]

First: It's a mistake to to set the initial and max point to the same

amount. The correct setting is "system managed size".

I know that many recommend that you do that, set both min and max amounts to
the same number. That keeps the page file at the same size, reducing the
drain of the system frequently resizing the page file.

Why do you recommend that one not do that, that one go with "system managed
size"?

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately, I have never used Partition magic. Never had the need to do
anything out of the ordinary such as resize my partitions, but I think that
I'm going to >safely< experiment w/it to see what I might be missing. I
believe you're right. I think the only way to resize partitions using Windows
is by converting to Dynamic Disk. Thanx for the info Gerry.
By the way... how did we go from -Paging Files- to -Re-Partitioning-? JUS
WONDERING? THANX AGAIN. The Rookie/Wayne B.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

The advice to keep both parameters the same - misguided even in it's time - was applicable to the 9x versions of Windows, and it's purpose was to limit fragmentation of the page file. It usually caused more harm than good.

But the point is moot. The NT-based Windows manage memory very differently, and very effectively. Youy should let Windows do it.

Ted Zieglar

 

[bxf]

As long as we're on the subject: given that it is advantagious to have
the page file on a drive separate from one's OS, would it be more
efficient to have it on a 7,200RPM USB2 external drive as opposed to
the 7,200RPM IDE drive where the OS is? That is assuming that one can
have the page file on a USB2 drive in the first place.

TIA.

 

[John R Weiss]

As long as we're on the subject: given that it is advantagious to have
the page file on a drive separate from one's OS, would it be more
efficient to have it on a 7,200RPM USB2 external drive as opposed to
the 7,200RPM IDE drive where the OS is? That is assuming that one can
have the page file on a USB2 drive in the first place.

As far as I can tell, the only time you want to put the pagefile on a separate
drive from your OS is if it is a separate PHYSICAL drive (not just a separate
partition), AND that drive is as fast or faster than the drive on which the OS
resides. Otherwise, keep it on the boot partition with the OS.

I wouldn't put the pagefile on a removable drive. I don't even know if Win will
let you do it...

 

[Ron Martell]

As long as we're on the subject: given that it is advantagious to have
the page file on a drive separate from one's OS, would it be more
efficient to have it on a 7,200RPM USB2 external drive as opposed to
the 7,200RPM IDE drive where the OS is? That is assuming that one can
have the page file on a USB2 drive in the first place.

Windows XP does not support the use of a pagefile on a removable
external drive.

Imagine this sequence of events:

1. Windows pages out some memory content from an inactive application
and/or from Windows components that have not been used for some time.

2. The external drive is disconnected.

3. You return to the inactive application, or you do something that
requires the use of the paged out memory content.

Your system would have no choice but to crash, or at least terminate
the application(s) involved.

Also with Windows XP it is not always advantageous to have the page
file on a different physical drive. Windows XP uses the page file on
the boot drive for some specialized purposes, such as the System
Failure Memory Dumps, and if the page file has been changed to a
different drive then these functions will not be available.

With more than one physical drive the optimal configuration is to have
a page file on each drive.

Hope this explains the situation.

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

 

[bxf]

As far as I can tell, the only time you want to put the pagefile on a separate
drive from your OS is if it is a separate PHYSICAL drive (not just a separate
partition),

Which is why I said "on a drive separate from one's OS"

AND that drive is as fast or faster than the drive on which the OS
resides. Otherwise, keep it on the boot partition with the OS.

Which is why I indicated that both candidates are 7,200RPM

I wouldn't put the pagefile on a removable drive. I don't even know if Win will
let you do it...

Which is why I said "That is assuming that one can have the page file
on a USB2 drive in the first place"

Thanks for the input.

B.

 

[bxf]

Windows XP does not support the use of a pagefile on a removable
external drive.

Yes, I wasn't sure about this.

Imagine this sequence of events:

1. Windows pages out some memory content from an inactive application
and/or from Windows components that have not been used for some time.

2. The external drive is disconnected.

There are times when you are not permitted to remove a device because
it is considered to be in use. Having a page file on the device could
simply force the device into this (not-removeable) status.

Thanks for your explanation.

 

[John R Weiss]

Which is why I indicated that both candidates are 7,200RPM

Not all 7200 RPM drives are equal. Physical design, cache, and electronic
interface all affect overall performance.

Which is why I said "That is assuming that one can have the page file
on a USB2 drive in the first place"

Given that assumption, I wouldn't do it. You essentially make the drive
non-removable in practical terms, because the OS will always look for the
pagefile there...

 

[Ron Martell]

There are times when you are not permitted to remove a device because
it is considered to be in use. Having a page file on the device could
simply force the device into this (not-removeable) status.

Thanks for your explanation.

Glad you found my comments of some value.

To continue the discussion a bit, the o/s might flag a drive as
non-removable but that would have absolutely no effect in terms of
preventing the user from simply unplugging the USB cable or turning
off the power to the drive.


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

 

[bxf]

Glad you found my comments of some value.

To continue the discussion a bit, the o/s might flag a drive as
non-removable but that would have absolutely no effect in terms of
preventing the user from simply unplugging the USB cable or turning
off the power to the drive.

Of course, you are correct. However, I would view such an action as
being the equivalent of pulling the plug on your machine, without a
proper shutdown. If you ask for trouble, don't be surprised if you get
it.

Anyway, I suppose there is not much significance to this issue if one
can't use an external drive for paging. I've wondered about this for
some time but never got around to trying it because I don't keep my
external drives powered up full time normally.