Pagefile.sys - How to remove Pagefile.sys from Windows
Pagefile.sys, a windows system files act as a virtual memory extension of a computer’s real memory RAM. Normally pagefile sys is 1.5 times than your actual physical memory size and might consume a huge disk space of your computer hard drive space.
But the benefit of pagefile sys is allowing your computer’s operating system pretend that you have more RAM than you actually do and run the windows application smoother. However, i would advise you remove pagefile.sys and save up your disk space if you have a huge memory ram to support your windows application which disable paging or remove pagefile sys might not effect your computer.
However, if you have low memory less than 256mb and turning off or remove your pagefiles or virtual memory. Then it will be a disaster for your windows and you might feel latency and struggle for multatasking on your windows.
Here’s how to remove pagefile.sys from Windows :
1. Go to Control Panel and run System.
2. Click on Advanced tab and click the Settings button on Performance.
3. Click on Advanced tab again and click on the Change button.
4. Select “No paging file” and click the Set button if you want to remove pagefile.sys.
It needs a 2nd step to totally remove pagefile.sys
Restart windows, and manually delete the hidden file pagefile.sys
yours.
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
@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.
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