Windows won't remove unused page file

Alfred001 said:

I had to move my pagefile around to format a partition, so I created a page file on E: and told Win to remove the one on C:, but it didn't do it. Then I set the pagefile on E: to none and told Win to create one on C: and now there's a lingering pagefile on E: that Windows won't remove.

In "virtual memory" it says that there's no pagefile on E:, but I see one in Explorer and one is listed in Disk Management. I cannot get rid of this page file. One also exists on C:.

I've tried restarting the computer, but the pagefile is still there.

My Windows version is 22H2 19045.3448.

When you "remove" a page file, you have to reboot.
When creating a page file, rebooting is not necessary.


When I do what you are doing... I set the page file on C: to "No paging file", then reboot.
Then I create a page file on some other partition. I choose "Custom Size", and make the Initial and Maximum sizes the same so it doesn't get fragmented.

Like so...

Initial size: 4096MB
Maximum size: 4096MB

Alfred001 said:

I've tried rebooting after removing, but the file is still there.

Have you tried just deleting it? If it's not in use you will be allowed to.

Alfred001 said:

I did, but I got that warning message and it spooked me. What's the worst that could happen?

Nothing bad.

If pagefile.sys in use, then when you click Yes it will tell you you can't delete it because it is open in another program.
If it's not in use you'll delete it successfully.

Run sysdm.cpl

Advanced Tab > Performance (Settings) > Advanced > Virtual Memory > Change

Set "no paging file" on windows partition

Set a page file on another available drive to "System Managed" or else set your own custom size.

Click OK.

Go back to this screen:

Click Startup& Recovery settings and under "Write Debugging Information" click the drop down list and change to "none"

I have to say, something really weird is going on.

Since yesterday, I've been able to delete any page file I've wanted on any of my 3 partitions. I haven't deleted any of them, but when I try, Windows lets me, I just get the "do you want to move it to recycle bin" message, I don't even get the warning message that I used to get. The one from this post: Windows won't remove unused page file

It's as if none of those three paging files are being used, even though under Virtual Memory, it's set up as follows:

C: system managed
D: none
E: none

And, indeed, when I look at Date Modified of the page file on C: it says 24.9., as if it wasn't written to yesterday or today at all, in other words, as if it's not being used.

I really don't get what's going on, it's like whatever I set in Virutal Memory, Windows doesn't listen to me.

Callender said:

Click Startup& Recovery settings and under "Write Debugging Information" click the drop down list and change to "none"

Hmm... what will that do in this context? I understand what it does generally, but what will it do in this page file situation?

It just means that you won't get a dump file to analyse after a BSOD. Windows need a small page file to write memory dumps. If you disable page file on windows partition then you need to disable memory dumps.