The paging file is an area of the computer's hard drive (hidden system file) used to compensate for the lack of RAM. The operating system temporarily places there fragments of programs and services that are used at a particular moment. Data is pushed in and out of the swap file as needed.
Using the paging file affects the speed of the application. Moving data to RAM and back is an order of magnitude faster than the exchange with hard. In addition, frequent use of the paging file can lead to data fragmentation. Therefore, it is more efficient to increase the amount of RAM memory than.
Configuring the swap area
If it is impossible to physically increase the amount of RAM or to disable the paging file, you will need to open its settings. To open the settings, you need to right-click on the "Computer" icon. The menu item "Properties" will appear.
In the "Advanced" tab there will be a block "Performance", here you need to click on the "Parameters" button.
This will open the Performance Options window. Here, on the "Advanced" tab, there will be a "Virtual memory" block with a "Change" button.
After clicking on the "Change" button, a window for configuring the paging file will open. An alternative option for accessing the settings is, in which there will be an item "System". Further actions are exactly the same as after opening "Properties" through the "Computer" icon.
The setting will be done here. During the configuration process, a warning will appear that such parameters can only be changed by specialists. But you don't need to pay attention to them.
There are several important points that this file must comply with:
- its size should be set one and a half to two times larger than the amount of available RAM;
- the smallest and maximum swap sizes must be the same.
- if you have several disks in your system, then you need to place the paging file on the fastest of them;
If there is enough memory in RAM, the paging file can be disabled altogether. To do this, you need to have "on board" at least 6 GB of RAM. In addition, it is possible to automatically determine the size of the paging file. To do this, you just need to select the appropriate item in the paging file settings window.
The changes will be applied after pressing the "OK" and "Apply" buttons. After that, it is recommended that you restart your computer. This is not necessary, but remember that the changes will take effect after a reboot.
In order to make the most efficient use of system resources, you must be able to properly configure paging file size... What is it and how can you use it to speed up Windows?
While working at the computer, we launch various applications. Each of them consumes a certain amount of RAM. If at some point the physical memory starts to run out, the system can use the so-called virtual memory, which is located on the hard disk of the computer in the form of a paging file. It is called, it is hidden and is located in the root folder of the disk. If necessary, the system accesses this file, storing in it data that does not fit into the RAM.
Disk memory is much slower than RAM, so it is best to purchase and install additional physical memory modules to increase the speed of your computer. But if you have an old computer and there is no way to increase the amount of RAM, you can increase the paging file to increase the amount of available memory.
You can set the desired paging file size as follows:
V Windows XP: right-click on “My Computer” - “Properties” - “Advanced” tab - “Performance” - “Options” - “Advanced” - “Virtual Memory” - “Change”.
V Windows 7: right-click on "Computer" - "Properties" - on the left select "Advanced system settings" - "Advanced" tab - "Performance" - "Options" - "Advanced" - "Virtual memory" - "Change".
A similar window will open in front of you: 
By default, Windows itself chooses the size of the paging file and that is located on the system disk. In fact, it is recommended to place this file on any section different from the system one.
Note that the paging file must be located on the system disk for the correct writing of debug information ( memory dump). If we disable it, then in the event of a system failure (the appearance of the so-called blue screen of death), it will not be possible to analyze the memory dump and find the culprit of BSoD. But for those who do not know at all what a memory dump is, this is unlikely to be a problem. Most look for the cause of the BSoD by the blue screen error code. In any case, you will have to choose between performance and the ability to collect data about the problems that have arisen.
So first we remove the swap file from drive C... To do this, select this disk and put a marker in the item "Without paging file" - press the button "Set": To increase the performance of the computer, the original the paging file size must be 1.5-2 times the size of the physical RAM... Those. if I have 768 MB of RAM on my computer, it means that in the field “Initial size” I set 1152 MB.
If you do not know how much RAM you have on your PC, you can do the following: right-click on the “My Computer” - “Properties” icon - on the “General” tab at the bottom, look at the amount of RAM: 
It is better to limit the maximum size to the same number that you specified in the “Initial size” field. This will avoid fragmentation of the paging file.
So, we set the size of the swap file. In my example, I highlight drive D- I put a marker in the "Special size" item (in Windows 7 this item is called "Specify the size") - I enter the number 1152 in the "Original size" box - I also enter it in the "Maximum size" box (by the way, all values entered here must be multiples of 8) - I press the button "Set" - "OK": 
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
Windows allows you to create a paging file on multiple disks at once. But I would not recommend that you do this - you will not be able to increase the performance of your computer in this way.
In conclusion, I would like to say that it makes sense to perform all the steps for setting up the paging file described in the article if you have a weak computer and there is not enough RAM in it. In the event that your PC has 4 GB (or more) of RAM, I don't see much point in setting up the paging file. In such a situation, it will even be better on the contrary - to turn it off (in the “Virtual memory” window, put a marker in the “No paging file” item and press the “Set” button).
For the operation of Windows operating systems, a paging file is used, which is a kind of virtual memory of a computer, which is an extension of its physical RAM. This paging file allows computer programs to function when its physical RAM memory is insufficient.
Windows by default detect the paging file settings automatically. But sometimes manually modifying the paging file can help the user to optimize the system. In some cases, it is advisable to disable the paging file altogether. In some situations, it is best to do nothing and let the system continue to automatically detect the size of the paging file. Below we will figure out how to configure the paging file according to the peculiarities of using the computer, as well as its characteristics.
How to increase or decrease the paging file in Windows 7/8/10
Before talking about what kind of file size is optimal for different scenarios, we want to explain how you can change this size or disable the use of virtual memory of the operating system.To configure the parameters of the paging file, go to "System Properties" (" My computer"Right-click -" Properties"), And then select" System Protection "from the list that appears.
You can do this faster by pressing " Win + R”And then entering the sysdm.cpl command (suitable for Windows 7/8/10).
Open the " Additionally", Then click on the button" Parameters"Located in the section" Performance"And then select the" Additionally". After that, you should go to the section " Virtual memory"And press there the" Change».
Here you can configure the required virtual memory settings:
- Increase or decrease the paging file;
- Disable virtual memory.
How do I properly configure the swap file?
In some articles devoted to optimizing Windows, there are recommendations for disabling the paging file if the size of the RAM is 8 or 6 gigabytes. It is also recommended to use automatic selection of the paging file size in them. These tips are based on the following. If the paging file is disabled, the computer will not use its hard drive as additional memory. This will provide an increase in the speed of the operating system (the computer's RAM is many times faster). By manually specifying the exact size of the paging file (it is recommended that the initial and maximum sizes be the same), we will free up disk space and save the operating system from having to adjust the size of this file.Note: when using an SSD disk, it is advisable to set the maximum possible amount of RAM, and turn off the paging file completely, which will increase the useful life of the solid-state disk.
We believe that when adjusting the paging file, one should be guided primarily not by the size of the RAM, but by the peculiarities of using the computer, otherwise there is a high probability of a message about the lack of memory.
If your computer device has 8 gigabytes of RAM, and you use your computer mainly to browse various sites and also several games, disabling the paging file is most likely the right solution (although there is a possibility of an out of memory message appearing).
If you use your computer to edit photos using professional programs, work with three-dimensional or vector graphics, design rocket engines and houses, and also use virtual machines, eight gigabytes of RAM will not be enough for you, so you will definitely need a swap file in the process of your work ... Moreover, by disabling the paging file, you risk unexpectedly losing documents that you have not saved, as well as files if there is a lack of memory.
If you cannot determine how much RAM you need and what the optimal paging file size should be, we recommend that you follow these steps: 
On the Internet, you can find recommendations that differ from the option proposed above. You must decide for yourself which of these guidelines you follow.
Hello, friends! Today I want to tell you what a paging file is, why you need it, and how to configure it correctly.
I will configure the paging file on a computer with an installed operating system Windows 7... But all the tips also apply to Windows XP, there is just a slightly different path to the settings.
What is a paging file?
Paging file Is a file (hard disk space) that the operating system uses in case of insufficient RAM.
For example, you run a program or game that needs 2 GB of RAM, and you only have 1.5 GB, and those 512 MB will be taken from the swap file. The paging file is located on your hard drive or USB flash drive.
Of course, it is better to install more RAM so that the paging file is practically not used by the system. Why? Yes, because it significantly slows down the computer. After all, the speed of access to RAM is much higher than to a hard disk or flash drive.
And when a swap file is taken from a hard disk, this creates an additional load on it and on the system as a whole, and besides, this shortens its service life. Like :).
But despite all this, there is a paging file and therefore you just need to configure it correctly, below I will give a few tips on setting up the paging file.
In order to change the paging file settings, or increase the paging file, right-click on the “Computer” icon (on the desktop) and click properties.
In the window that appears, on the left, click on "Additional system parameters" In chapter "Performance" click "Options".
In the window that appears, go to the tab "Additionally" and in the section "Virtual memory" click "Change".
Another window will open, this is such a window.
Actually in this window you can and should configure the paging file.
First of all, you need to remove the paging file from the system partition (usually from the C drive), as you can see, I have the paging file on the D drive. The disk partition with the installed operating system is already loaded, and then there's the swap file :). Ideally, the paging file should be installed on another hard drive altogether, so if you have one installed, then this is very good. Install virtual memory on it.
Do not install the paging file on multiple partitions, this will only put a heavy load on the hard drive.
As for the size, everything is simple here. The less RAM, the larger the paging file. It is recommended to set 2-3 times more than the installed RAM. For example, with 1.5 GB of RAM, I have 2 GB of swap file.
Make the minimum and maximum virtual memory size the same.
You can completely disable the paging file, and by the way, this can significantly increase the work of the computer. But only if you have enough RAM installed, something like this.
In fact, the paging file is a "continuation" of the computer's RAM. All programs running on a computer take up some amount of RAM: some require very little memory, and some require a substantial amount of it.
If you run applications that need a lot of memory at the same time, it may not be enough. In such cases, virtual memory is used: Windows "transfers" inactive applications from RAM to the paging file.
Many of you will be outraged that working with a hard disk is slower than with RAM, they will say that you cannot do this, but everything is in order, nothing criminal has happened: when using a previously inactive program, data about it will first move back to RAM , and only then the program will be executed further. This operation is essential for all operating systems.
You can also find the paging file on the disk itself: it is the win386.swp file in the Windows directory for Windows 9x / ME series systems and the pagefile.sys file, which is located in the root of the disk where the system is installed, for WinNT / 2000 / XP.
Note: before looking for this file, you must set the option in the system - display hidden files and folders. Another attribute of this file is the system one. Typically, this attribute is assigned to files that are necessary for the correct operation of the system. This attribute is most commonly received by boot files, drivers, and configuration files.
So, where the paging file is located and what it is for, we know. Now you need to understand the optimal size of this file and how to configure it.
Initially, the size of the paging file depends on the tasks that the computer is performing, but this is not the only parameter that affects its size. Also, the amount depends on the installed RAM in the computer.
Now RAM has become cheaper, and many can boast of at least four or eight gigabytes of RAM. Today, the role of the paging file is not as significant as it used to be, when the computer had 512 megabytes of memory, but we still talk about it - after all, not everyone has a large amount of RAM on their computers.
The size of the paging file should not be set too large, since there is a threshold after which the paging file simply takes up extra space on the hard disk, and does not increase the speed of the computer.
For example, if you are still using applications written under DOS, then it is advisable to make the paging file larger, since DOS applications often have to use a large amount of RAM.
It is best to place the swap file on a fast hard disk (solid-state media is ideal for this task). If the hard disk is divided into several partitions, but the paging file is best placed on the first.
Historically, the Win9x / ME family made extensive use of the paging file, thus unloading RAM (which was expensive in those days). Also, computer hard drives were expensive and small.
In this regard, Microsoft made the paging file dynamic (the file size increases as Windows itself needs, and does not occupy a large volume all the time), but you can make the file take up a static volume - in this case, the system will work with it faster due to the fact that you do not have to constantly change the size of this file, and there will be no fragmentation on the disk.
Many people recommend that the paging file size is equal to the amount of RAM. Nobody can tell you the exact size. Everyone acts at their own discretion. If the system has 512 megabytes of RAM, then the swap file must be at least the size of a gigabyte. This will provide the best performance for everyday tasks.
If the amount of memory is more than a gigabyte, the paging size should be set equal to 1.5-2 times the size of the RAM. But there is an option when the paging file may not be used so much: for example, a computer with eight gigabytes of RAM. The paging file size is usually gigabytes, maximum two.
So let's measure the size of our swap file and add swap memory as needed. In order to change the paging file, you need to enter "Computer", right-click on an empty space and select "Properties".
The "System" window will appear, where in the upper left corner you need to find the link "Additional system parameters". System Properties appears. In this window, go to the "Advanced" tab and find the "Performance" section there.
Opening "Performance" the user's gaze will be presented with "Performance Options". In the window, go to the "Advanced" tab. In this tab there are two parameters: "Processor time allocation" and "Virtual memory" - it is what we need now. Click on the "Change" button and, for a start, examine the parameters that are available to us.
To manually adjust the paging file size, uncheck the "Automatically select paging file size" checkbox. Then the user will need to select the disk partition on which the swap file will be located, and below move the switches to manually select this size (by default, it is "Size as selected by the system").
And at the very end, specify the minimum (Initial size) and maximum size that the paging file will occupy on disk. For the system, at the very bottom of the window, the minimum file size, the recommended and current size is displayed.
Many, after configuring, will think: "How can you configure the paging file correctly and optimally?" There are a few tricks that power users use:
- Let's imagine that you have several hard drives (not partitions) on your computer. In this case, it is best to install the paging file on a different drive than the one on which the system is located. In this case, the performance will accelerate.
- Important note: the minimum size of the paging file must be limited to at least one gigabyte. In this case, it will be possible to avoid fragmentation on the hard disk and, as a consequence, slow down the operation of the entire system.
- After making any paging file settings, you must restart your computer to apply the changes and to start the defragmenter.
An interesting side note: the swap file contains a lot of information. When the computer is turned off, it can remain on the hard disk of the computer - this is no secret to anyone. But did you know that this file contains different passwords, logins and confidential information that should not be shared? In the days when MS-DOS was more cost-effective, hackers could boot from under this very DOS and, digging through the remnants of the paging file, they could find a lot of important (for you) information.
Thus, following simple instructions, you can correctly configure not only the paging file, but also speed up the computer, save your nerves and make the system work more stable.
