TSGL: XP Question

[Dave]

Hi Ray,
   Yes, most likely it is the Windows swap file that is causing the wild 
fluctuations, but it could
possibly also be other temp or tmp files, depending on what programs you 
run and how they
handle their temporary files.  Relocating the paging file should help.

Anyway, courtesy of Annoyances.org,  here's the skinny on handling the 
paging file:

    Part One: /Virtual Memory/

        * Right click on *My Computer*, and select *Properties*.
        * Click the *Performance* tab, and then click *Virtual Memory*
        * Choose *Let me specify my own virtual memory settings*.
        * If you want to choose a different drive for your swapfile
          <http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/glossary#swapfile>, run
          *Disk Defragmenter* first.
        * Specify the same value for the *Minimum* size and the
          *Maximum* size, so windows won't spend so much time resizing
          the file. A good size is roughly *2 1/2* times the amount of
          installed RAM (i.e. create a 40MB swapfile if you have 16MB of
          RAM).
        * Press OK, and then OK again, and confirm that you want to
          restart your computer.


    Part Two: /Defragmenting the Swapfile/

        * Once you've set the swapfile size to be constant (see Part
          One), you won't have to worry about a fragmented (broken up)
          swapfile again.
        * However, you'll need to defragment it at least once for it to
          remain that way in the future.
        * If you have Norton Utilities, you'll be able to optimize the
          swapfile with Speedisk.
        * Otherwise, if you want to take the time, you can defragment it
          manually:

        * If you have more than one partition
          <http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/glossary#partition> or
          hard disk in your system, defragment all drives first. Then,
          move the swapfile (using the configuration procedure in Part
          One above) to another drive, defragment the first one, and
          then move it back.
        * Although it's also possible to disable the swapfile entirely
          while you defragment the drive (and then re-enable it so it
          will be recreated whole), it isn't advisable because windows
          may not start without a Swapfile.


    Part Three: /Virtual Cache/ (only if you have 16 megabytes of RAM or
    more)

        * Open *SYSTEM.INI* for editing.
        * Add the following two lines to the *[/vcache/]* section (add
          the section if it's not there):

              MinFileCache=4096 
              MaxFileCache=4096 

        * These values, in kilobytes, regulate the size of the VCache,
          so you can stop it from filling up all available RAM and
          paging all loaded apps to disk. If you have more than 16 MB of
          RAM, then set the above values (both of them) to about 25% of
          the amount of installed RAM.


    Part Four: /RAM/

        * You may've thought we overlooked the obvious - add more RAM!
          The more memory you have, the less frequently windows will use
          your hard disk, and the better your system performance will be.
        * Since windows isn't very efficient or compact (by any stretch
          of the imagination), you'll need to feed it as much memory as
          you can afford. 16 megabytes is the absolute minimum, but 32
          is better. If you have the money, 64 or even 128 megabytes
          will litterally make windows fly.

    dave r

> Hey all...
> I have a "dumb" question..
>
> Currently running XP Pro  1.5 G Ram 130 G HD Partitioned into 3 drives
> When you Go "Window E " to see the contents and directories, I notice 
> that my C drive which contains XP starts out at say for example 10 G 
> free space... over the course of the next 7-10 days it slowly goes 
> down to around 8.5 G Free (not adding any new programs or anything) 
> and then suddenly the next day it shows approximately 10 G free 
> again.   I am sure XP is holding a page memory or something and then 
> later releasing it.
> Is there any way that I can "force" XP not to do this or have the 
> ability to do it if "I" feel I may need the taken space (for when my 
> C drive is getting down to less than 30 % free)
>
> Ray
>
>
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