Does disabling pagefile.sys delete it from the system?

[problemo]

For security reasons, I want to delete the contents stored inside pagefile.sys securely with very slim chance of recovering it. I thought about backing up my files and doing a reformat of my PC and then using Eraser to wipe free space. But this is a time-consuming method. What is the fastest way to securely delete the pagefile.sys? Would disabling pagefile.sys and then using Eraser to wipe free space work? Or is pagefile.sys simply hidden when it is disabled?

 

[gregrocker]

It deletes the page file when you deselect it in Advanced System Options.

You can wipe the space using CCleaner's function that wipes empty disk space after running the Cleaner (to empty Recycle Bin), but to wipe the HD securely with Diskpart Clean All Command really requires removing all the data first.

 

[problemo]

It deletes the page file when you deselect it in Advanced System Options.

You can wipe the space using CCleaner's function that wipes empty disk space after running the Cleaner (to empty Recycle Bin), but to wipe the HD securely with Diskpart Clean All Command really requires removing all the data first.

Thanks for the quick response.

After setting the pagefile to 16mb and restarting my computer, my screen kept flickering every 4 seconds? The original pagefile size was at 8GB. I also have 8GB physical RAM with quad core processor.

I also noticed the free space in C drive changed. This would mean if I wiped the free space with DOD algorithm (~360/685GB free space), the contents previously stored inside pagefile.sys would be unrecoverable? And the same would apply for hiberfil.sys?

 

[gregrocker]

Likely.

I would let the system manage your page file.

 

[problemo]

Likely.

I would let the system manager your page file.

Is there any reason why it might not?

 

[Qdos]

Been running with no pagefile for ages, just letting it operate in RAM, no glitches... but obviously you do need enough memory installed to do that...

 

[JimLewandowski]

Page file needed for system dumps (remote chance). But not a showstopper.

 

[seekermeister]

For some reason, when I had it set to not use the page file, sometimes on boot, the OS would pop an alert, saying that it had a problem creating the page file in the allotted space, and that it made one on it's own, that may be larger than I had set. I never understood that, first because it was disabled, and second because I couldn't find a pagefile.sys, either in the partition I had previously created for that purpose, or on C:. Now that I have enabled it on it's own partition, the OS remains quiet.

 

[gregrocker]

Likely.

I would let the system manage your page file.

Is there any reason why it might not?

If you set a size it will not be system-managed. I'd choose the System-managed option.

click image to enlarge

 

[problemo]

Likely.

I would let the system manage your page file.

Is there any reason why it might not?

If you set a size it will not be system-managed. I'd choose the System-managed option.

View attachment 190716click image to enlarge

I meant to ask if there is any reason the contents inside pagefile.sys/hiberfil.sys (so far) would be recoverable after I disable it, then use free space wipe on C: drive? I am asking this because I have a Truecrypt container that I opened on my OS (without fully encrypting the partition). I don't want the password key or contents inside the container to be inside pagefile.sys or hiberfil.sys.

 

[Qdos]

If you want to encrypt the paging file then, since Vista, Windows has a native utility.

Open an elevated Command Prompt, and to encrypt the page file, enter...

fsutil behavior set encryptpagingfile 1

Rebooting is required for this to take effect; and to turn off the facility change the final 1 to a 0 figure and reboot again...

There is a price to pay in performance terms though, because R/W paging operations take longer.

Just don't ask me how secure the encryption is, but I expect Google will know...

 

[problemo]

If you want to encrypt the paging file then, since Vista, Windows has a native utility.

Open an elevated Command Prompt, and to encrypt the page file, enter...

fsutil behavior set encryptpagingfile 1

Rebooting is required for this to take effect; and to turn off the facility change the final 1 to a 0 figure and reboot again...

There is a price to pay in performance terms though, because R/W paging operations take longer.

Just don't ask me how secure the encryption is, but I expect Google will know...

I just can't seem to trust these options from Windows. A user from another forum mentions the option to delete pagefile at shutdown doesn't in fact delete it:
Wiping page file