Page file usage shows weird results

[Faakhir]

hi,

All of a sudden, my PC started processing really slow. So I checked windows task manager, there I saw the page file usage which normally used to be below 200MB was at 720MB. However, the tasks which i was using were working fine..... But then why does this page file usage shows such weird results ?
any ideas.....

[Lillebror]

By default, Windows sets the page file to an initial size of 1.5 times the amount of RAM you have and a maximum of 3 times the amount of RAM.

However you can change these settings and set as per your preferences. You can do this by performing following steps -
My Computer --- Properties --- Advanced tab --- Performance --- Settings (in the Performance Options dialog box)

Click on the Advanced tab --- under Virtual Memory --- click Change.

Click the Custom Settings radio button to enter your own Initial and Maximum sizes.

[jesse]

1. If you start getting error messages from windows saying.... "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA ",then the problem has spilled into the hardware. This Stop message usually occurs after the installation of faulty hardware or in the event of failure of installed hardware (usually related to defective RAM, either main memory, L2 RAM cache, or video RAM). If hardware has been added to the system recently, remove it to see if the error repeats
   
   
2. Even when you set the page file values properly, some systems don't retain your settings. Here's what you can try :
   - Start regedt32.exe (not regedit.exe)
   - Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro lSession Manager\Memory Management
   - Double-click PagingFiles. The entry will appear as D:\pagefile.sys 700 700(location initialsize maximum size)
   - The first value is the location; the second is the minimum size; and the third is the maximum size.
   - Ensure the values are correct and click OK.
   - Reboot the machine.

[SalVatore]

To resolve this issue, give the System and Administrators accounts full control of the NTFS volume on which the paging file is configured.

To do this:

Note - If you are running Windows XP Home Edition, or you are running Windows XP Professional but you do not log on to a domain, start your computer in Safe mode.For additional information about starting your computer in Safe mode.

1. Click Start, point to Programs (or All Programs), point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
   
2. In the left pane, expand My Computer, and then click a drive that is configured to use a paging file.
   
   To determine if a drive is configured to use a paging file:
   • Click Start, click Run, type control sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
   • On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance.
   • On the Advanced tab, click Change under Virtual Memory.
   • Click a drive in the list, and then note the options that are selected under Paging file size for selected drive. A drive is configured to use a paging file unless No paging file is selected for that drive. If more than one drive is configured to use a paging file, click the first drive in the list the first time that you follow these steps. Click the second drive in the list the second time that you follow these steps, and so on.
   • Click Cancel, and then click Cancel to return to the System Properties dialog box.
   • On the Computer Name tab, note the name before the first period in the Full computer name box. This is your computer name. You will need this information in steps 4 and 5.
3. On the File menu, click Properties. Click the Security tab to view the current permissions.
   
4. Click Add, type computer name\system, and then click OK.
   
5. Click Add, type computer name\Administrators, click OK, and then click OK. Note that you must type Administrators, not Administrator.
   
6. Click System, and then click to select the Full Control check box. This automatically selects the other check boxes.
   
7. Click Administrators, and then click to select the Full Control check box. This automatically selects the other check boxes.
   
8. Click OK.
   
9. If you want to make changes to your paging file options, click Start, click Run, type control sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
   
10. On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance.
    
11. On the Advanced tab, click Change under Virtual Memory, and then set the paging file options that you want.
    
12. Close the System Properties dialog box, quit any running programs, and then restart the computer.