Re: Page File - optimal location

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance

Ted Zieglar wrote:

And while it is technically correct to move your paging file to a
second physical hard disk, don't expect the kind of performance
improvement that you'll actually notice. For most of us it makes no real
difference.


Yes, as I said (quoted below), "However, note that most people these days
have enough RAM so that page file is minimal. If you fall into that category
(for most people, 512MB or more) it hardly makes any difference where the
page file is located."

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup



You need a small page file on the system drive to capture crash dumps.
It's explained pretty well here:

"How to configure paging files for optimization and recovery in
Windows XP" http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314482/en-us

---
Ted Zieglar
"Backup is a computer user's best friend."

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
eblaster wrote:

Where is the optimal location for a page file (Windows XP)?

I have two disk drives in my PC, each on a separate controller.
I always thought it was best to place the page file on a drive other
than the one used for the operating system and user files.



The thing that most slows down use of the page file is moving the
drive heads to and from it. Putting the page file on a second
partition on your only (or main) drive puts it far from the other
frequently-used data on the drive, increases the time it takes to
get to and from it, and negatively impacts performance.

Putting the page file on another *physical* drive, on the other hand,
normally increases performance. A good rule of thumb is that the
page file should be on the most-used partition of the least-used
physical drive.
However,
I recently read somewhere that MS recommends putting at least a
small page file on the boot drive.



That's correct. If you have two physical drives, put most of it on
the second, but a small one on the drive with Windows.



However, note that most people these days have enough RAM so that
page file is minimal. If you fall into that category (for most
people, 512MB or more) it hardly makes any difference where the page
file is located.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Windows NT to XP now low Disk Space
    ... Ted Zieglar wrote: ... Run the Disk Cleanup Wizard. ... We have several PCs that had Windows ... How can I get Windows to use all the drives? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: BSOD on new built PC
    ... "You receive a Stop 0x0000007B error after you move the Windows XP system ... Ted Zieglar ... > drives work fine and there are no viruses on them! ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: CD disc drive and CDRW disc drive
    ... "Ted Zieglar" wrote: ... > your CPU. ... All I will here is a voice telling me ... My device manager says both drives are working, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Loss of slave hard drive
    ... "Backup is a computer user's best friend." ... Richard wrote: ... "Ted Zieglar" wrote in message ... I felt brave enough to check the Bios and found that the detection of the drives are on "Auto". ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: Page File - optimal location
    ... I have 2GB of RAM, it's probably a non-issue for me. ... Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: ... page file should be on the most-used partition of the least-used ... If you have two physical drives, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)