TSGL: XP Question

[The Computer Whisperer]

it could be system restore files... ie... the oldest one gets deleted
when a new one is created due to the limit of space it is allowed to
take up.

Remember also, the swap file will shrink to a certain extent if you
run out of room for actual files.

I don't think it's too big a concern.

Justin

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On 13/10/06, Dave <heydave at pacbell.net> wrote:
> 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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> >
> >
>
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