You can stop Windows XP from using the pagefile.sys file for SWAP memory however it is not typically recommended. Most suggestions on the Internet say that you should always make the pagefile 1.5 times the amount of physical memory you have in the Windows PC. It is also mentioned that you should have at least 1GB of memory if you are going to disable the Windows SWAP. Windows should not use SWAP (pagefile.sys) unless it has run out of RAM (memory) to use however I noticed on my PC that it appeared as though SWAP was being used after only 20% or so of my actual physical memory was being used so I decided to try disabling the SWAP and so far it has made most things faster on my PC.
To disable the Windows SWAP memory usage follow the below simple steps which will require a reboot at the end of configuration.
- Open My Computer Properties: Locate your “My Computer” icon and select Properties from the drop down. This will open a configuration window with multiple tabs for various configurations.
- Open Performance Settings: Now click on the Advanced tab and under the Performance sub section click on the Settings button.
- Open Advanced Performance Options: Click on the Advanced tab again followed by the Change button located under the Virtual Memory sub section.
- Modify Virtual Memory Options: With the “Virtual Memory” options window open change the radial button to “No paging file” and then clicking on the Set button. Windows may pop up a warning letting you know this is not the recommended setting but click OK to exit out of the warning. OK out of each window that has been opened.
- Reboot and Verify:Once you have OK’d out of each configuration window reboot your PC and then navigate back to this location to make sure that the setting is still there.
Using the Task Manager you can view what memory is being used easily by clicking on the Performance tab. You may still notice that PF Usage is active and I think this is because Windows now shows some of the physical memory usage as PF Usage.
I would recommend trying different PageFile settings to see what appears to work best for your unique situation.
Very best advice concerning the pagefile:
Unless you have a very specific need and you understand what you are doing, leave all settings on default. Many VERY exprienced users do just that. Unless you know a lot more than is in this article you don’t know nearly enough to make intelligent changes.
In the large majority of cases the default settings will be optimum, or as near as to make no difference. It is highly likely that the pagefile des not work the way you think it does. The internet contains an enormous amount of misinformation and bad advice concerning the pagefile.
Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA
Hello Larry,
Wow! A true MCSA! Thanks for the feedback and your opinion.
hey mcsa larry thanks for you advice, but hov this is the second one i found today from you, y decided to tell that this pagefile helps wearing and tearing harddisks due to excessive use even if enought memoty is available, maybe microsoft has an agreement with hdd industries to make mor profit. Anyway consider that the system is faulty. Servus.
Hello random,
Anything is possible… :)
Thanks for commenting.
Alex