Move and Optimize Windows Vista’s Paging File

Posted on: 07.17.07 by Brent Trahan

This guide shows you how to optimize Windows Vista’s paging file by moving it to a separate hard drive or by using 2 page files for maximum performance.

Introduction

Windows Vista has what is called a Paging File that is located on the hard drive. The paging file acts like additional RAM. If your computer runs out of RAM Windows Vista uses it’s paging file as an alternative to the RAM.

Since a computer’s hard drive controller can read and write from more than one hard drive at one time moving the paging file to a separate hard drive than Windows Vista is installed on improves your computers performance.

Instead of reading and writing system, program files, and your paging file on one hard drive you can move your paging file to a separate hard drive. With your paging file on a second hard drive the load is split between reading and writing system and program files and reading and writing the paging file.

This guide shows you how to optimize the paging file for maximum performance.

Want to speedup Windows Vista? Check out my guide on how to Speedup Windows Vista without Losing Functionality for more tips on speeding up Windows Vista.

Things to Know

Before you start messing with your computer’s paging file there are things you need to understand so you don’t break your computer.

  • Your computer must have a paging file. Windows Vista and most software rely on the paging file even though your computer has plenty or memory.
  • The recommended size of the paging file is 1.5 to 3 times the amount of RAM you have.
  • If you move the paging file, it should always be moved to a different physical hard drive. Never use a separate partition on the same hard drive as the C: drive. This will slow your computer down.
  • You can have 2 paging files. Each paging file must be on different physical hard drives though. An example would be a paging file on your C: and E: drives.

Move Windows Vista’s Paging File

In this example I’m going to move the paging file from its original location on the C: drive to a separate hard drive called the E: drive.

  1. Right-click Computer in the Start Menu.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. Click Advanced system settings on the left side of the System window.
  4. Click the Settings button in the Performance section of the Advanced tab.
  5. Select the Advanced tab in the Performance Options window.
  6. Click the Change button in the Virtual memory section.
  7. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.

    move-paging-file1.PNG

  8. Highlight the C drive, select No paging file, and then click the Set button. Ignore any warnings you receive.
  9. Select the drive you want to move the paging file to, select system managed size, and then click the Set button.
  10. Click OK and then restart your computer to apply the changes.

Use 2 Paging Files for Maximum Performance

Since the hard drive controller on your computer can read and write to more than one hard drive at a time it’s possible to have 2 paging files. It’s very important that the two paging files are on separate hard drives and not different partitions on the same hard drive.

In this example I’m going to setup a paging file on both the C: and E: drives for maximum page file performance.

  1. Right-click Computer in the Start Menu.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. Click Advanced system settings on the left side of the System window.
  4. Click the Settings button in the Performance section of the Advanced tab.
  5. Select the Advanced tab in the Performance Options window.
  6. Click the Change button in the Virtual memory section.
  7. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.

    move-paging-file1.PNG

  8. Highlight the C drive, select system managed size, and then click the Set button.
  9. Highlight the second drive, select system managed size, and then click the Set button.
  10. Click OK and then restart your computer to apply the changes.

Want to speedup Windows Vista? Check out my guide on how to Speedup Windows Vista without Losing Functionality for more tips on speeding up Windows Vista.

Still need help? Ask Your Computer Question Now.

9 Responses to “Move and Optimize Windows Vista’s Paging File”

  1. ava Says:
    April 12th, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    Doesn’t it speed up performance to move the paging file to a different partition, even if that partition is on the same physical drive?

  2. Ste Says:
    April 15th, 2008 at 6:19 am

    ava - have you read this page? Well the answer is no, it will slow things down as the read/write head has to move all over the place on the drive.

  3. Mike Says:
    April 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    If your page file is system managed and on the same partition (C:\), then the swap file may become fragmented, decreasing performance. It’s not all black and white.

  4. Andrew Says:
    May 1st, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    I have two partitions on the same hard drive. I use the D: drive for storing games and the C: drive for other things. I have a user managed paging file on both drives. How can I remedy this only giving high performance to the D: drive?

  5. Jon Says:
    June 5th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    What about 3 paging files? I have 2 10k RPM 150Gb WD Raptors in a hardware raid 0 for my OS and installed applications, as well as 2 500Gb 7200.10 Seagate Barracuda’s. As I don’t have Vista Ultimate, no striping the 2 500Gb drives. My mobo uses a SiliconImage Sil4723 chip with a jumper for the hardware SATA raid, but NVRAID supports up to 7 drives in RAID mode (5 additional SATA and 2 IDE). I may look into using that for striping my 2nd two drives, but… in the meantime would it be more beneficial to have 2 paging files on the barracudas, or 3 total paging files?

    I also have 4Gb of memory and 4Gb ReadyBoost, so the swap isn’t really that needed I guess.

    Also, the Raptors are not SATA II, so they only run a 1.5GBs, but they are much faster in terms of RPM. Would it still be better to keep then swap files off the main OS/apps drive? Or am I just pondering minor improvements.

    Sorry this belongs in the forum, but I started it here, was not meant to be this long.

  6. Brent Trahan Says:
    June 6th, 2008 at 6:35 am

    Wow, that’s one hell of a setup Jon. 3 paging files wouldn’t hurt but I think you won’t notice a difference with all of the horsepower you already have.

  7. Jon Says:
    June 6th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    Yeah, I like tweaking things though. The more performance I can get with my hardware, the better.

  8. Aakash Says:
    July 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 pm

    Is it still recommended to set the paging file to a static number? Back in XP era, to avoid fragmentation issues, it was recommended that the paging file’s min and max limits were set to be the same to avoid having the paging file constantly shrink and grow. Is it still recommended to keep the paging file’s size static in Vista also?

    Thanks.

  9. Brent Trahan Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 6:35 am

    It’s best to leave the page file size up to Windows. It’s been programmed to configure the page file at its optimal settings based on your computer.

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