how to increase pages in Paging File?

[Krishanu]

I am running the Windows XP in my computer and it was running fine from many months but from about 12 to 15 days, whenever I start my computer then it shows me a message that contains:

“Your system is low on virtual memory. Windows is increasing the size of your virtual memory paging file.”

I know that my computer is of low memory but I don’t know anything about the paging file. Can you tell me that what is paging file exactly and how can I increase the pages so that I should not get this message. Please help me.

[Emiliio]

Paging file have an important role in our computer system. CPU can only access the data that is there in the physical memory that is called RAM. If there is any application that you are running is having the size larger than the memory in your computer then the entire program cannot be loaded into the memory. At this moment the concept of paging works. The data that is not need to the CPU is swapped out from the memory and it is swapped in when that is needed for the CPU. For this, the application is broken into many smaller parts called chunks. The total pool memory that is RAM + Swap must be greater than the memory needed for the operating system and all the running application. I hope this will clear your idea about the paging.

[DanielV]

The paging file is the area on the hard disk that Windows uses as if it were random access memory (RAM) This is sometimes known as "virtual memory." By default, Windows stores this file on the same partition as the Windows system files. You can increase the performance of Windows, and increase free space on the boot partition, by moving this file to a different partition.

1. Log on to the computer as Administrator.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
4. Click the Advanced tab, and then under Performance, click Settings.
5. Click the Advanced tab, and then under Virtual memory, click Change.
6. In the Drive [Volume Label] list, click a drive other than the one on which Windows is installed (Windows is usually installed on the drive C). Under Total paging file size for all drives, note the value that is displayed next to Recommended.
7. Click Custom size, and then type the recommended value in the Initial size (MB) box.
8. Type the maximum size that you want to allow for paging in the Maximum size (MB) box, and then click Set.
9. In the Drive [Volume Label] box, click the drive on which Windows is installed (usually the drive C), and then use one of the following steps:
   
   
   • If you do not want a paging file on the drive, click No paging file, and then click Set. A message similar to the following message appears:
     If the pagefile on volume C: has an initial size of less than 126 megabytes, then the system may not be able to create a debugging information file if a STOP error occurs.Continue anyway?
     Click Yes.
     
   • If you want to keep the minimum size of the paging file on the drive, click Custom size, and then type a value that is equal to or greater than the amount of RAM in the computer in the Initial size (MB) box. Type that same value in the Maximum size (MB) box, and then click Set.
10. The following message appears:
    The changes you have made require you to restart your computer before they can take effect.
    Click OK, click OK, click OK, and then click Yes when you are prompted to restart the computer.

[Deep123]

Paging file is hidden file on your computer's hard disk. It is named as Pagefile.sys. This file is used by the Windows XP for RAM management. The paging file and the physical memory in combination make the virtual memory. This paging file is stored in the boot partition by default. The size for this file is 105 times more than the physical RAM. If you want to enhance the performance of the computer then you have to put this file to different partition and on a different physical hard disk drive. By this way, windows will be able to handle the multiple I/O requests in less time.

[windows_user]

I agree that if you remove the paging file from the boot partition and put that at other place as suggested then this will increase the performance of the computer Windows will not be able to create the dump file which has name Memory.dmp. This is used to write debugging information in the event that a kernel mode Stop Error message occurs. The solution for this is to create the one paging file which should be stored in boot partition and create one paging file on a new partition that is fewer frequently accessed.

[mesterio]

As you told that the you are using the Windows XP on your system and if you are getting any problem regarding the virtual memory then you can try the steps below to solve the issue.

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
3. In the Performance pane, click Settings.
4. In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
5. In the Virtual memory pane, click Change.
6. Change the Initial size value and the Maximum size value to a higher value, click Set, and then click OK.
7. Click OK to close the Performance Options dialog box, and then click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.

But remember that this is only for the Windows XP and if you are using any other operating system then these steps may differ accordingly.