Not using paging file

vslewis · 26 Oct 2020

I bought an external SSD HD (1 TB) and connected it to my WIN-10 machine (Ver 2004, OS build 19041.572).
I set up the following:
c:\paging.sys ---- Min size: 1GB; Max size: 2GB
F:\paging.sys --- System managed size

At first, I tried to just have a paging file in F: but OS would not create a paging file in the F: drive and would default
to create it in C: as automatically managed. After several tries and permutations, I wound up with the above (initially larger file size for C:\paging.sys - max 5GB).

Right now the paging file is configured as stated above.

My problem is that even though the OS sees the F:\paging.sys file, all tools tell me that nothing writes to this file (task-manager, performance-monitor).

My goal was to improve performance by increasing the IO speed to the paging file.

I be grateful for any suggestions.

Ghot · 26 Oct 2020

If the F: drive is an internal drive it should work.
You probably just need to disable the paging file on the C:\ drive

I have none on my C:\ drive and a 3072MB page file on my E:\ drive. Seems to work fine.

I don't think that running two page files, works, or is a good idea.

Ztruker · 26 Oct 2020

How to fill out System Specs for tenforums.

See here: System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums

Fill out as much as you can, look at mine for an example of what can be included. The more information the better.

steve108 · 26 Oct 2020

You may want to see what this says about paging files on multiple drives:
windows 8.1 - Optimal location of pagefile on a system with two SSDs, with system drive faster than secondary drive - Super User
"However, if pagefiles are placed on both disks, the system will try to use both concurrently, producing a RAID 0-like effect which can increase performance."

Another thing is if you disable the paging file completely on your boot drive, Windows cannot create a crash dump.

I would recommend leaving the paging files on both drives to be system managed.

AddRAM · 26 Oct 2020

Let the system manage the page file, if you ever get to 16GB, you really don`t need a page file anymore, but you could still let the system manage it.

The thing is, that a page file is usually half the amount of memory you have installed.

I haven`t used a page file in over 10 years, never used one with W7 either

steve108 · 27 Oct 2020

Find me a reputable source echoing that foolishness

Anyone who doesn't use a paging file will get app crashes when the RAM is full - been there done that with 16 GB a few months ago.

AddRAM · 27 Oct 2020

If you`re having app crashes with 16GB, I would find out what`s causing it.

zbook · 27 Oct 2020

Msinfo32 displays the current paging.

Code:

Installed Physical Memory (RAM)	32.0 GB
Total Physical Memory	31.9 GB
Available Physical Memory	9.78 GB
Total Virtual Memory	61.5 GB
Available Virtual Memory	16.4 GB
Page File Space	29.6 GB
Page File	C:\pagefile.sys

Code:

Event[4617]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Resource-Exhaustion-Detector
  Date: 2020-10-22T23:33:15.141
  Event ID: 2004
  Task: Resource Exhaustion Diagnosis Events
  Level: Warning
  Opcode: Contains the results of the diagnosis.
  Keyword: Events related to exhaustion of system commit limit (virtual memory).
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: DESKTOP-9HEBUKS
  Description: 
Windows successfully diagnosed a low virtual memory condition. The following programs consumed the most virtual memory: msedge.exe (2321044) consumed 5190017024 bytes, msedge.exe (25460) consumed 2218135552 bytes, and msedge.exe (2804888) consumed 2015592448 bytes.

Code:

Event[2]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Application Popup
  Date: 2020-09-27T02:52:43.162
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: DESKTOP-9HEBUKS
  Description: 
Application popup: Windows - Out of Virtual Memory : Your system is low on virtual memory. To ensure that Windows runs properly, increase the size of your virtual memory paging file. For more information, see Help.

steve108 · 27 Oct 2020

AddRAM said:

If you`re having app crashes with 16GB, I would find out what`s causing it.

No problems as long as paging file is enabled. I'm all set.

memory - Windows pagefile size with large RAM and SSD - Super User

boombastik · 27 Oct 2020

vslewis said:

I bought an external SSD HD (1 TB) and connected it to my WIN-10 machine (Ver 2004, OS build 19041.572).
I set up the following:
c:\paging.sys ---- Min size: 1GB; Max size: 2GB
F:\paging.sys --- System managed size

At first, I tried to just have a paging file in F: but OS would not create a paging file in the F: drive and would default
to create it in C: as automatically managed. After several tries and permutations, I wound up with the above (initially larger file size for C:\paging.sys - max 5GB).

Right now the paging file is configured as stated above.

My problem is that even though the OS sees the F:\paging.sys file, all tools tell me that nothing writes to this file (task-manager, performance-monitor).

My goal was to improve performance by increasing the IO speed to the paging file.

I be grateful for any suggestions.

It does not use it because it is slow and external and even if it was internal , firstly would use the quicker one.

Also even if you have a lot of ram you need to have page file enabled.

And if you want an answer is here:
-https://www.howtogeek.com/199990/should-i-disable-the-page-file-if-my-computer-has-a-lot-of-ram/