The Page file

[Frank1]

I would like to give my thoughts about the Page file and would like some thoughts about it from some of the other members. I could be wrong on my assessment but would like some other opinions. My laptop computer is running Windows 7 64 bit. I have 8 gig of ram installed. As far as the Page file is concerned, I had it set so that Windows controls the size which was 8136MB. First of all, it boggles my mind why Windows wants that big of a file simply to use it to write logs. Second, there are two potential problems with the Page file: First it can become corrupt which could cause problems. Second, it could become a security issue. I have therefore edited the registry so that it clears the file on shutdown. The only drawback is that it takes a long time to shut down since it has to clear the file. My computer would take 3 minutes to shutdown. I therefore set the Page file at 50 MB which I think is large enough. Now it takes only 1 1/2 minutes to shutdown. I'm going to leave it like that. I would appreciate it if we could have some discussion on what I have said. Thanks

 

[DeaconFrost]

The discussion is, you are spending too much time and effort worrying about something that isn't really worth it. There are far more worrisome security issues than a pagefile, and corruption isn't really an issue. I can't say I've heard of that in a long long time.

It boils down to this. Your first option is to leave it alone and let Windows manage it. If you are using a small SSD and need more space, set it to a static size of 2 GB. Don't worry about clearing it on shutdown. Then go on using your system for it's intended purposes.

 

[whs]

Deacon is exactly right. That's what I do on all my systems because they all run on small SSDs. 1 or 2GB is enough for the pagefile and clearing it at shutdown is for the birds.

 

[pbcopter]

The page file (virtual memory) is not for writing logs. If you have 8GB of RAM, you probably don't need 8+ GB of a page file but if it is too small, memory dump files, for diagnostics, will not be available in case of asystem crash.

What is virtual memory?

 

[pallesenw]

You can tell Windows to encrypt the paging file.

TThere are far more worrisome security issues than a pagefile,

So if people uses encryption to protect data on their harddrive, you don't find any problems by having it leak to the paging file?

 

[Frank1]

The page file (virtual memory) is not for writing logs. If you have 8GB of RAM, you probably don't need 8+ GB of a page file but if it is too small, memory dump files, for diagnostics, will not be available in case of asystem crash.

Isn't the "memory dump file" a log file?

 

[DeaconFrost]

So if people uses encryption to protect data on their harddrive, you don't find any problems by having it leak to the paging file?

Think about the question you asked me and you'll see very quickly why this is a non-issue.

 

[pbcopter]

@Frank1
Yes it is but it is not stored in the page file (virtual memory). The system uses the page file to create the memory dump and stores it in C:\Windows.

 

[pallesenw]

Think about the question you asked me and you'll see very quickly why this is a non-issue.

I don't see it.

 

[Frank1]

@Frank1
Yes it is but it is not stored in the page file (virtual memory). The system uses the page file to create the memory dump and stores it in C:\Windows.

Thanks, I didn't know that.

 

[karlsnooks]

Frank,
DeaconFrost and WHS have given you excellent advice.

Follow their advice.

This is Windows 7 and not eXPired.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I don't see it.

Hint: Think about where the page file is stored. Second hint: You can take off your tin foil hat now.

 

[karlsnooks]

Frank,

How To Size Page Files on Windows Systems -- Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online

Pushing the Limits of Windows: Virtual Memory - Mark's Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

I'll summarize:
for the normal standalone computer user, just leave it be.
If you don't carry about dump files generated by crashes and bsods, you can reduce.

That material is not simple reading for an intro but is very thorough.

 

[OldMX]

thanks karlsnooks, good reading material!

 

[Frank1]

Frank,

How To Size Page Files on Windows Systems -- Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online

Pushing the Limits of Windows: Virtual Memory - Mark's Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

I'll summarize:
for the normal standalone computer user, just leave it be.
If you don't carry about dump files generated by crashes and bsods, you can reduce.

That material is not simple reading for an intro but is very thorough.

Thanks, Karl--I'm going to read that and see how much I can understand. For right now, I just set it to let Windows handle the pagefile. Microsoft probably know a little bit more about it than I do.

 

[karlsnooks]

Frank,

For right now, I just set it to let Windows handle the pagefile. Microsoft probably know a little bit more about it than I do.

Wise decision.

 

[pallesenw]

I don't see it.

Hint: Think about where the page file is stored. Second hint: You can take off your tin foil hat now.

It is very possible to have encrypted data without having the entire partition with the paging file encrypted.

It is not a tin foil hat. The OP is worried about security. I think the problem is that no matter the scenario, some people can only say "leave it alone".

 

[cyclic]

Oddly enough Win 7 is very good at memory management, real and virtual.
I would leave well alone unless you are critically needing the 8Gb, which on an SSD you shouldn't, there should be a limit of 80% usage of the drive for trim to work effectively.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I think the problem is that no matter the scenario, some people can only say "leave it alone".

Because most often, that's the best advice. You are creating issues where there are none, only serving to cloud the understanding of the OPs further.