Re: how to Reduce page file usage
- From: "needlove" <crunch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:35:40 -0700
Why then does Windows only see the initial size of the pagefile? If I set
the initial size to say 180 MBs and the maximum to 300 MBs then when the
initial size is reached (180 MBs) windows gives me a caution sign and says
it is increasing the size of the virtual memory. That doesn't make sense it
should only increase it when the maximum is reached. I use the Bill James
monitor and it shows my pagefile size at the minimum i have set "188MBs".
What is the point of having a minimum and a maximum if only the minimum is
seen as the actual size?
"Ron Martell" <ron.martell@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:5fkun214teed2lv6mh0hh3j54gp69jdk0o@xxxxxxxxxx
| "Dale" <dale.ng6@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
|
| >How do I restrict Windows XP from using the page file?
| >
| >I have 1.5 GB of RAM, and TaskManager tells me there is over 1 GB of
| >Physical Memory Available.
| >All my programs take, at most, 1 GB of memory once loaded (including
shared
| >memory for video card). This info comes summary values in TaskManager;
add
| >memory in use (Installed minus Available) plus PF usage.
| >This means that I would have half a Gig of spare memory, even if XP left
| >everything in RAM.
| >
| >Windows keeps dumping stuff into the page file, even though there is no
need
| >(since there is no shortage of memory). As a result of this behaviour,
when
| >I go to use a previously loaded program that I have not switched to for
an
| >hour, I have to wait half a minute for it to load into RAM from the PF.
(It
| >is a large program.) Sometimes, after waiting for 5 minutes, the
program
| >still is not ready for use. Maybe XP is thrashing, or fighting with
itself;
| >it loads a page, sees there is less than 1 GB of available memory, so it
| >flushes another page that is also needed by the program... ?
| >What is the point of me waiting, when there is a ton of spare memory?
It
| >should not be flushing ANY RAM to PF in the first place. I see no value
in
| >the computer trying to keep 1 GB of Available memory at all times.
| >
| >So I tried using Computer Properties \ Advanced \ Performance \ Settings
\
| >Advanced \ Virtual memory setting to force the page file down to 256 MB.
| >Yes that's small, but it's not like the computer needs the extra memory
| >space. I can confirm that C:\pagefile.sys is 268,435,456 bytes.
| >TaskManager still gives PF Usage at over 500 MB though, and the computer
is
| >still making me wait at least 30 seconds to start using the program
again
| >after an hour delay.
| >
| >Where is Windows dumping the info to disk, since C:\pagefile.sys is the
| >correct size?
| >So, how do I force XP to stop being stupid with the pagefile? I want to
| >force XP to keep ALL programs in physical RAM, since there is no
shortage of
| >it.
| >
| >Windows says MS recommends against eliminating the swap file entirely...
How
| >important is that?
| >
|
| Hi Dale.
|
| Gerry Cornell pointed you in the right direction.
|
| One concept that is hard to appreciate unless it is explained to you
| is that Windows reports a lot of "phantom" page file usage. That is
| why it is better to make your decisions based on the utility that
| Gerry mentioned rather than on what Task Manager reports as PF Usage.
|
| The starting point for all of this has to do with the way memory is
| allocated. Various items, such as application programs, device
| drivers, and Windows components, issue Memory Allocation Requests to
| the operating system. By design, Windows must sufficient memory
| address space to all of these requests. However the reality is that
| almost everything tends to ask for memory allocations that are larger
| than what is actually needed under normal circumstances.
|
| So what Windows does is to allocate RAM only to those portions of the
| requests that are actually used, with the unused portions being mapped
| to locations in the paging file. Note that this mapping of the
| unused portions of memory requests to the paging file does not require
| any actual disk activity - all that is necessary is to make
| appropriate entries in the memory mapping tables maintained by the
| CPU.
|
| Windows Task Manager (and most other Windows reporting functions)
| count this mapping of unused requests as usage of the paging file; and
| technically they are correct because the memory addresses represented
| by that paging file space have been allocated and cannot be used
| elsewhere until released.
|
| MVP Bill James' utility (the one Gerry referred you to) on the other
| hand only counts the actual valid memory content that has been moved
| from RAM to the paging file. This is the true physical usage of the
| paging file, and should be a relatively low figure. There is about
| 50 mb or so of memory content used by Windows and various startup
| items that is seldom or never used again but which must remain in
| memory in order to preserve integrity. Very often some or all of that
| will be moved to the paging file as a routine housekeeping measure.
| But anything more than 50 mb or so of actual valid memory content in
| the paging file is usually an indicator that your system would benefit
| from having more RAM installed.
|
| Just to illustrate the various paging file figures here is the current
| data for my own computer:
| PF Usage (Task Manager) = 524 mb
| Actual usage (Bill James' utility) = 86 mb
| Actual physical size of the paging file (c:\pagefile.sys) = 128 mb
|
| The computer presently has 1 gb of RAM installed.
|
| Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
| --
| Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
| 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."
.
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- From: Dale
- Re: how to Reduce page file usage
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- how to Reduce page file usage
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