Windows 7: Moving Paging File to another Partition

In an attempt to move my paging file from my C: Partition , due to my unfamiliararity with the process , I've now got this file on both my C: drive and the new desired Partiton.

Is it OK now to simply delete this file from the C: Partition , thus leaving me with only one paging file on this other Partition ?

My reason for using this process is an attempt to reduce the size of an Image File of my C: Partition .

I guess you have simply copied C:\Pagefile.sys from one drive to another but that doesnt solve the purpose. It is supposed to be in the directory where windows is installed.

I dont think you will be able to delete pagefile.sys without taking ownership of the file. Still, I feel your PC will be in problems if you delete this file.

Good Luck with your experiment, let us know how it went incase you try...

no... allow me to elaborate....

I would not do this if I were you. But feel free to elaborate.

Your pagefile is a system file and can be placed on other partitions/drives or more often other disks to increase preformance, under certian cercumstances. That purpose is not what you are doing this for so another partition on the same drive will be fine, if it is moved correctly. I would really suggest you remove other junk files with a program like ccleaner if you havn't already to free up some space, then uninstall a few unused programs. also, If you havent already done so, you can check to see if you have a hybernate option in the (start)>>Shutdown>dropdown menu. if so then you can remove the hyberfil file in the same dir (root drive by default) as the one you moved. this file can be enormous, and can be removed, and later reestablished.

If you MUST move the pagefile (as you've already done, although I believe you merely copied it) then it can almost definately be deleted from the second drive ONLY.

To move your pagefile to another drive you need to follow a set of steps so windows knows where it is once WINDOWS moves it.

I'm trying to find a clear tutorial,for you, but how about my previous suggestions to free up the space? just dont mess with the pagefile on the system drive until you are certian there isn't an easier way, and I find you that link.

mike

OPTION 15
Move or Shrink the Page File

For better performance, it is always recommend to have the virtual memory page file managed by the system and to not turn it off. By default, the page file is stored on your system drive (Windows 7 drive).

If your system drive is low on free space, then you could move the page file to be stored and managed on another internal hard disk instead to free the allocated space used by the page file on the system drive, or shrink the page file to reduce the amount of allocated space used.

1. For how, see: How to Change the Virtual Memory Paging File in Vista and Windows 7

Courtesy of: sir Brink


BUT I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO TRY OTHER METHODS - I'll include a link to the first dozen options which will probibly save more space than the pagefile when combined....

Mike

Yes, but make sure you have a working page file first! See the tutorial below before doing anything first to get a better understanding.

See this tutorial on correctly moving your page file - Virtual Memory Paging File - Change - Vista Forums.

This is your best shot:

READ IT (please): Hard Disk Space - Free Up and Recover

mike

to be honest, I am surprised it even allowed you to copy the file as it is a system/protected file open by a some v. memory management process with continuous I/O. I would have guessed it would reply "this file is in use" or similar message, even to just manually copy it not only offers unnecessary risk to the file itself and, since the contents are being altered constantly throughout the copy-process you'd end up with lets say 10% of the original contnent, another 10% of the content as it would appear seconds later, and so on. A useless, corrupt file, so I recommend you do not mix up the files if you try to remove the copied one.

As there have been several replies to my original post on this subject please accept this as a reply to all who have kindly given their advice.

In reply to the suggestion that I may have merely copied the page file thus arriving at the existence of the original one on my C: DRIVE and a second one on a second partition I should have explained initially that in changing this file I followed the process of navigating through the Computer icon's Properties>Advanced System Settings>Advanced>Settings>Change ...etc as advised by MS. The first time I did this I mistakenly picked the C: DRIVE !! This of course didn't change anything!

I then repeated the procedure this time ending it by clicking on the other drive. This seems to have resulted in having the file on both the C drive AND on the other drive - hence my question as to whether it would now be OK to delete the file from the C: drive. Perhaps , to be sure here , I should delete the file from the second drive first and then repeat the process correctly ?

Thanks also to the others who gave help on other methods of reducing the size of the C: I am aware of these methods and got advice of an identical nature from the organisation which produces the Image File software I use "Terabyteunlimited.com"

I now have an Image File of my C: completed which I will be retaining so that ,if any deletion of the page file which exists on my C produces a problem , I'll be able to return to the "status quo ante" .

Will reply with a description of any resuls.

Thanks to all for the prompt and helpful advice .