Pagefile.sys - How to remove Pagefile.sys from Windows

Flash Says

29. Sep, 2008

It needs a 2nd step to totally remove pagefile.sys

Restart windows, and manually delete the hidden file pagefile.sys

yours.

Larry Miller Says

28. Oct, 2008

NOT RECOMMENDED

Disabling the pagefile as suggested will cause severe performance problems with less than 512MB of RAM. The pagefile was designed to improve performance, not simply to compensate for a shortage of RAM. Based on this article I get the strong impression that the author has only a very limited understanding of virtual memory or the pagefile.

Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA

km Says

29. Oct, 2008

@Larry,

I agreed with you for those having less memory… should not try out this method which might cause latency over their computer processing.

However, If your computer or laptop having 2G memory ram and sufficient to supply all windows application. So, why wasting so much space ? Let say i got 2GB ram… then i will getting a pagefile.sys around 3G file size just for stored on computer for pagefile.sys purpose.

Larry Miller Says

27. Nov, 2008

Many people believe that with no pagefile there will be no paging and everything will remain in RAM. They could not be more wrong. Disabling the pagefile will not prevent paging, it will probably increase it. Paging of executable files, DLL’s, etc does not involve the pagefile and will continue as usual. This is inherent in all virtual memory systems and cannot be prevented. The pagefile is designed to store modified data that has not been recently accessed. This makes more RAM available for more important purposes, such as for active applications and file caching.

Disabling the pagefile unbalances the entire virtual memory system. Modified data must then remain in RAM no matter how infrequently it is accessed. Uninformed users may believe that with 2GB of RAM they have more than enough to accomodate this. In many cases this will not be the case. Even with 4GB of RAM paging may still be necessary with memory intensive applications. With no pagefile this will be limited to paging of executable files, etc., that do not use the pagefile. With fewer options available Windows will be forced to make poorer choices about what should be paged.

Disable the pagefile if you must, but be warned you will probably impair performance.

Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA

ana Says

26. Feb, 2009

Oi, eu gostaria de saber se é possível desativar apenas temporariamente o pagefiles.sys
grata,
ana

Jigs Says

13. Mar, 2009

Using santa rosa platform laptop iquipped with 2GB of RAM i have noticed quite difference in the performance with pagefile deleted. before deleting IE and firefox and other routine tasks like copy-pasting, playback were slow and jerky. atleast in this first hour after deleting the pagefile it has improved quite a bit.

T Says

08. May, 2009

So is there a way to replace/recover the pagefile if it has been deleted?

Chris Says

13. May, 2009

@T

To replace/recover the pagefile just do the steps listed above and set the page file back to 1.5X system memory (or let Windows Manage it). It will recreate itself automatically (might require reboot).

Matthias Dailey Says

15. Jul, 2009

If you have Windows XP Pro, you can set your system to delete both pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys on shutdown. Use the Group Policy Editor: http://www.theeldergeek.com/group_policy_editor.htm and find this entry:
Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> “Shutdown: clear virtual memory pagefile” and set it to “enabled.”

Manos Geek Says

31. Jul, 2009

I have been testing all about pagefile. I ve come with a solution on how to delete it.
First you need a bootable cd with the tools… acronis true image and explorer or total commander.
Put the cd into drive and boot it.
Run the explorer or total commander.
Delete the pagefile.
Run acronis tru image and make a backup of the disk, you will need another disk to save the backup. I prefer to use maximum compression because it makes restore quicker.
After you have a backup of the drive without the pagefile, format the drive, then restore the image you saved with acronis to the formated disk. Also include the mbr sector.
After that eject the bootable cd .
Start windows in safe mode, reboot, start windows in normal mode, reboot. Thats it, you have deleted the pagefile.
I have made several tests, but believe me this is the only way of deleting that file.
I done this with an installation of 63GB, acronis compresed it to 35GB in 9 files of 4.5GB each. I burned the to dvds and deleted the image. The last dvd has the bootable cd plus the last file of the image.

A Says

06. Sep, 2009

Doesn’t work for me. Any changes I make on that tab are simply ignored, in the classical MS manner. I have an EEE Pc with very tight space on the boot partition, and I wanted to move that fracking file to the bigger partition (and make it smaller since I really think 1GB RAM is enough); but the OS team is smarter and doesn’t let its’s stupid users make decisions for themselves bc they know better what users need than the users themselves.

hulz Says

07. Sep, 2009

Thanks Larry Miller MVP!
If you have a pagefile you want to get rid of then do it! Your computer will not explode and if you have over 1Gb it will run fine. Be aware that if you open may applications you may possibly get an error.
What “experts” forget is that a person struggling with a small disk that really NEEDS the extra space does not care that they may not be able to open 30 applications simutaneously.

Anon Says

08. Oct, 2009

Removing it is easy and safe with the prescribed method. There is no real downside since you can always add it again.