How to Enable or Disable Page File Encryption in Vista and Windows 7
InformationThis will show you how to enable or disable encrypting the virtual memory page file in Vista and Windows 7.
Encrypting the page file prevents malicious users from reading data that has been paged to a NTFS disk, but will also add processing overhead for file system operations.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.
OPTION ONEUsing a REG File Download
1. To Enable Page File Encryption
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Page_File_Encryption.regB) Go to step 3.2. To Disable Page File Encryption
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.
Disable_Page_File_Encryption.reg
4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.
5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and OK when prompted.
6. Restart the computer to apply.
7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION TWOThrough the Local Group Policy Editor
NOTE: This option is only available in Windows 7, and is not in Vista.
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.2. In the left pane, click on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, Filesytem, and NTFS. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, right click on Enable NTFS pagefile encryption and click on Edit. (see screenshot above)
4. To Disable Page File Encryption
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)B) Go to step 6.5. To Enable Page File Encryption
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)6. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
8. Restart the computer to apply.
OPTION THREEUsing a Elevated Command Prompt
1. Open a elevated command prompt (Run as administrator).That's it,
2. To Enable Page File Encryption
A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter.3. To Disable Page File Encryption
fsutil behavior set encryptpagingfile 1B) Go to step 4.
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter.4. Close regedit, and restart the computer to apply.
fsutil behavior set encryptpagingfile 0
5. To Verify the Page File Encryption Setting
A) Open a elevated command prompt.
B) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter.
NOTE: 0 = disabled and 1 = enabled
fsutil behavior query encryptpagingfile
Shawn