delete pagefile.sys?

[esromneb]

I have 3 partions on my system, and I only want pagefiles on 2 and 3 (that is not c drive.) I've told windows to unallocate that file but no matter which option I choose (nothing, cutom, or system managed) pagefile.sys on c: is still ~900mb. Anybody know of a way I can delete this? Safe mode / dos doesn't work, and I don't have a floppy I could boot from.
-ben
P.S: this is xp home

 

[Marcs41]

make the pagefile Custom and fill in 2MB, in min and max fileds.
Reboot and check

Marc
[sub]If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
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[linney]

314482 - How to configure paging files for optimization and recovery in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314482&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

307886 - HOW TO: Move the Paging File in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=307886

 

[bcastner]

I believe if you have error reporting active, or if you have DrWatson active, that a pagefile will be created on the boot drive no matter what.

 

[bcastner]

I should note that this is acceptable behavior on XP's part. For routine use of the paging system, it will use the page file(s) that are/is larger and/or on the least active partition.

 

[esromneb]

I have tried all of the above and still it is fixed at ~900 megs. bcaster: why must I have a paging file on the root filesystem. Why can't I have a combined pageing file size of ~200 on other drives and then use my 640 megs of ram. Isn't that enough? Could I make a seperate partition that was only swap. That way nothing could get too big. Keep windows in check?
-ben

 

[Marcs41]

There is a need for a swapfile on C, for Windows to write a dump file on crash.
If you don't do that, there is no dump.
Now, that is not really a major thing, just keep that in mind.
After creating a fixed swap of 2 MB, and a reboot, can you still not delete the 900MB one?
Check the date and time of that file, if it is not recent, it is not used.

Marc
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[esromneb]

That's a good diea: check the date. To answer your question no: after I set the size to 2 megs, the file is still 900, and I can't delete it. And am I missing something????

After creating a fixed swap of 2 MB, and a reboot, can you still not delete the 900MB one?

Isn't swap always in the same file? When I set the size to 2 mb, the same file that was 900MB SHOULD size down to 2mb, but it doesn't. Thanks
-ben

 

[Marcs41]

It should yes, but I was wondering is for soem bizar reason there would be a duplicate.

All in all, it is weird, but, just to make sure, you do click the Set button, not just OK, right?

Marc
[sub]If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC![/sub]
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[bcastner]

I respect gpalmer711, but where he came up with 2mb for a swap file is baffling. (Note, the suggestion was from a related thread, but not this thread).

. For the error "dump" file, see:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314482

http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

Give yourself on the Boot volume at least 1.5 times the amount of physical RAM, or 500 mb, whichever is lowest.

. XP will use the larger and fastest hard disk drive or pratiton it finds. Let it do so. Set on the second hard drive a Minimum and let XP handle the Maximum.


Final note: I suspect your system problems are not related to the pagefile.

 

[esromneb]

I have been click the "set" button. Xp is telling me that I have 2 megs (or whatever I set it to) allocated on C: but then the total allocated is 900 megs. And the pagefile is 900 megs as well. So why is it lying to me?
-ben

 

[Marcs41]

As we are not in front of your PC, it becomes difficult to see what is happening.
Surely, as bcastner mentioned, something else must be wrong, .. but what.

If you have the means, I would hook up the harddisk to another PC, and delete the pagefile there.
I don't know if that is an option for you, but that the closest I can get right now.

Marc
[sub]If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC![/sub]
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[bcastner]

It is not lying to you.

I wish I could find a direct link, but as I guessed above:

. if you have error reporting enabled, there should be a reservatation made with pagefile for the boot volume;
. if you have any debugger active (DrWatson or other) a reservation should be made in the boot volume.

To delete absolutely the pagefile from the boot volume:

Use the Recovery console.

 

[esromneb]

I have tried to delete the file using the reovery console and I can't. I read that the file isn't there, so you must first copy a file over it. And then delete that file (I guess removing it from the file allocation tables). So I'm still stuck with this huge file 933 megs. I have no idea what to do. hehehe any more ideas? lol.
-ben

P.S: maybe boot using knoppix and delete it?