Paging File Location and Size when installing the same OS twice


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64 / UBUNTU 13.10 x64
       #1

    Paging File Location and Size when installing the same OS twice


    Hellow minna....^w^
    I am re-installing windows 7 on my laptop soon, but I have some doubts, and I would like help x.x
    Okay, I know some of those questions might have been asked already, but since I am actuallly "combing" some of those things, I do not know if the answers are still valid, sooo thats why I am here.....

    WHAT I WANT TO DO:
    well, I am going to install windows 7 ULTIMATE
    SP1 x64 on the same hard disk twice (different partitions though!), one installation for my daily uses and another one just for gaming (this way I can keep the games always running at MAX FPS since the installation will always be kinda clean, there wont be lots of software, i can customize the services and also install modded drivers).
    now my question:
    *PLEASE TAKE IN CONSIDERATION I HAVE AN HDD NOT A Solid State Disk (SSD)!
    about the paging file, what works better? to have a partition separed for it, on the 1st areas of the HDD (so i can use HDD SHORT STROKE) and with a fixed paging file size, and on the other partitions leaving it disabled.
    or to put it inside the system partition (C:/) with fixed size? *or maybe both? multiple paging files?
    also, I heard that the bigger the ALLOCATION UNIT SIZE is set up when you format a partition, the faster it works, but of course it uses more space in disk, can someone tell me if thats true or not?
    and to finish, if I actually try the paging file in a separated partition, will I be able to use it as a paging file partition on the OTHER windows 7 installation? (i am guessing no, because of the hibernation file and stuff)

    *also have in mind that the "separeted paging file partition" would have the FILE INDEXING OFF. the GAMING windows 7 would have FILE INDEXING OFF and the DAILY USE only would have the FILE INDEXING ON

    and....one last thing....
    UBUNTU (Linux) has one thing called "
    Swappiness" which is the frequency the system moves the stuff from the RAM to the SWAP partition...and that SWAPPINESS can actually be configured
    *putting it REALLY (LIKE REALLY REALLY!) ROUGH: SWAP = PAGING FILE of linux
    is there an equivalent thing for windows? 7 to be precise? so i can set the frequency of the paging file use?

    SORRY FOR SO MANY QUESTIONS....I AM NEW HERE....TT^TT HOPE YOU ALL FORGIVE THIS NEWBIE....>.<
    THANKS FOR ANY HELP....

      My Computer

  2.    #2

    Do you have 4gb RAM or does x2 mean you have 8gb?

    With 8gb RAM I would not worry about the paging file, just let Windows manage and place it by default. It's doubtful you'll ever be using it and if so it is not necessary to relocate it. Win7 is already a perfectly balanced OS and doesn't really need second-guessing like this.

    However if your gaming needs requires stepped up performance you can ask some of the gamers here for tips on optimizing better. But first I'd see what default Win7 has to offer.

    Here are tips for getting and keeping a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
    which are also the same for retail.

    If this doesn't quite answer your question, just ask back and others will pick up the ball. We'll work with you until you get it like you want.
    Last edited by gregrocker; 22 Nov 2013 at 02:08.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64 / UBUNTU 13.10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Reply to gregrocker


    sorry GregRocker, but that doesnt work for me....
    I have 8GB RAM, but i really want to know what works faster as WRITING DATA, and not as system management features....
    why?
    well....modded drivers...
    also Paging Files does a LOT of impact on Integrated Graphics Cards, which is what i use for gaming (sadly)
    so yeah.....
    also for re-installing win7, i know how to do it >.<
    i am just installing it twice because welll....you cant have 1 windows to have 2 custom drivers and 2 services lists....
    I am really wanting to push my computer to its MAX for gaming you know?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,497
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
       #4

    The pagefile should always be on the same partition as the OS. This minimizes seek time, the most important factor in hard disk performance. All other factors are minor in comparison. There is something to be said for placing the pagefile on a separate physical drive, not a separate partition.

    My standard recommendation regarding the pagefile: Unless you have a specific need and you understand what you are doing, leave the pagefile on system managed, the default condition. Most attempts to optimize the pagefile are wasted effort and may actually be counter productive.

    Edit: There is no swappiness parameter in Windows.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64 / UBUNTU 13.10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    REPLY TO LMiller7


    Thanks for the Help LMiller7 *I REALLY APPRECIATE IT! *+RESPECT +PTS for you! XD
    I have been googling around and yes, indeed the cluster size *aka allocation unit size, the bigger it is, faster the system can read, seek and write files, but it is NOT recommended for default usage to set it up to high values since the space wasted will be really huge...

    About paging file optimization, I know what i am doing LMiller7 (I understand many ppl try to optimize and constantly fail, i did it wrong for 2-3 years, only learned the right way like last year LOL), thanks for the advices though, and I am optimizing it because i have too much RAM (8GB) and windows leaves it just TOO big, which causes some performance loss, and sometimes its BUGGY on my computer idky, it asks for more RAM (yes RAM) when i have over 4.5GB RAM FREE *i keep a "scanner" running.
    Oh also because of a modded driver i am using right now for Intel HD 3000 ^^;

    so what i am going to do is this:
    PARTITION 01 - GAMING WINDOWS -> high cluster size,its own paging file here, no file indexing, fixed paging file size and keeping it always defragged *so the short stroke technique keeps working...
    PARTITION 02 - DAILY USE WINDOWS -> Default cluster size,its own paging file, file indexing active, system managed paging file size.

    Also i have been messing arround, and nope it would be buggy to mix multiple OS paging files, since elements would leak on one to another, because of the hibernation file AND memory dumps...
    I hope microsoft add some kind of "paging-file-ness" setting to windows 9, and improve the management because its way too buggy here in windows 8.1....TT^TT
      My Computer


 

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