SwapFile

[coolsights2000]

I don't like the way Windows handles the Virtual Memory So when I added a new hard drive to my system I set up the old hard drive to be the swap file only......Will it stay defragmented running it this way.........

I found out that the sway file was fragmented all over the new hard drive that I set up......I even ran my system with VM disabled and defrag the drive then put it back but it still was getting fragmented.....

I was kind of curious because the file size report that is 112 mb but the System monitor reports 92 Mb avail for use...........


MAC!!!!!!!!!

[RWSchlatter]

copied from Microsofts KB article Q128327:

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The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

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SUMMARY
This article contains information and commonly asked questions about virtual memory in Microsoft Windows.

Windows uses a dynamic virtual memory manager to handle swap file duties. You should use the default virtual memory settings whenever possible. However, if you have limited hard disk space you may want to set some of the virtual memory settings manually.



MORE INFORMATION
In order to provide more memory to applications than is physically present in the computer in the form of RAM, Windows uses hard disk space to simulate RAM. The amount of RAM in the computer plus the size of the paging file (also known as the swap file) equals the total physical memory, or virtual memory, size. Windows uses a dynamic paging file that remains at a size of 0K until it is needed. The paging file can grow to use all the available space on the hard disk if it is necessary. This is the default setting for the paging file. You should use this setting if possible.

If you have limited hard disk space, other applications may reduce the amount of virtual memory below that needed by Windows and its applications. If this occurs, choose the "Let me specify my own virtual memory settings" option button on the Performance tab of the My Computer property sheet. You can use this option to set a minimum and maximum size for the paging file.

You can also choose to use no virtual memory. You should use this option only if there is enough RAM to meet all the needs of Windows and the applications you run.

NOTE: The Disable Virtual Memory option is unavailable on computers with 8 MB of RAM or less.

--- end quote ---

J have never had difficulties to force the swap file to the drive J wanted it to be, after choosing the drive, and not setting the "automatic managed by Win" option, clicked OK and then rebooted.

Note: if you ever review your settings, it is important to leave the dialog with the Cancel button, else you confirm to use the auto-settings !

As far as J am concerned, J don't really mind how my disk gets messed up with the swap file. Either J have little I/O activity from my apps, then paging activity will be relatively fast, and if J happen to have heavy I/O activity from the apps, then paging activity will only be part of what slows my system down. And no - J don't have any measurements and timings.

______________
Regards - Richard

[coolsights2000]

I hope by putting the swap file on the other drive it will increase the speed a little by having the other drive only doing VM... My other users like to listen to MP3 and some of those picture they get in the mail are pretty large I have watched the system monitor while they surf and it does not take to long before virtaul memory kicks in... I have 256 MB of ram on the mother board that is the max for my putter unless you know if they got some thing I can put between the mem cards and the mother board ****The manufacture says 256MB is max*****

MAC!!!!!!!

[RWSchlatter]

"...it will increase the speed a little ..."
In general that is true with your configuration. For both, while writing the large multimedia file to disk initially, as also when reading it, the chances stand good that the R/W head will not be put off next i/o position, and you will get less overhead. But don't forget, this seek times is minimal (15millisec) in overall disk operations (1 to 2 minutes for transfer of a large file).

There is one trick to enhance this, and you have memory to spare: right-click My Computer, open System Properties and go to the Perfomance tab. Click the File System button in Advanced Settings. In the Typcal Role dropdown, choose File Server, and check also that the Read-Ahead slider is at Full.

"...and it does not take to long before virtaul memory kicks in... "
well virtual memory is here to do a job, relieve real memory shortage. Have a look at those MP3 file sizes - do you have free cash available to buy the memory and have such files resident in main storage ? But what influences virtual memory, is how an application is using its allocated memory (or request additional virtual memory), and then the OS will put less used memory pages out to disk. What the OS cannot predict, is how the allocated memory is used by an application. The algorithm is, that most used pages remain in memory and pages that have been unreferenced for a longer time get swapped.

"...have 256 MB of ram on the mother board ..."
that's quite nice (especially considering the amounts we had a couple of decades ago). Large real memories are only required if you actually to multimeadia editing on a machine. For day to day operations you can run the Win9x/Me nicely even with less.

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Regards - Richard