PAGEFILE.SYS question

Frank · External Since: Sep 15, 2009 Posts: 1

My root directory ha a VERY LARGE file called PAGEFILE.SYS. Anyone know
what it does and is it worth backing up???
Frank

Ken Blake MVP · External Since: Feb 19, 2004 Posts: 7325

On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:08:13 -0400, "Frank" <fjmet.DeleteThis@tampabay.rr.com>
wrote:

> My root directory ha a VERY LARGE file called PAGEFILE.SYS. Anyone know
> what it does and is it worth backing up???

It is your paging file. No it doesn't need to be backed up.

If you don't know what a paging file is, read here:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/paging_file.htm

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

JS · External Since: Jun 11, 2006 Posts: 2346

"Frank" <fjmet.RemoveThis@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
news:4aafade0$0$5678$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshosting.com...
> My root directory ha a VERY LARGE file called PAGEFILE.SYS. Anyone know
> what it does and is it worth backing up???
> Frank
>
>

Windows uses this file as "Virtual" memory.

There is no need to back it up as its constantly
changing and when you reboot nothing is saved
(or need to be saved) from the last time the
computer running.

As a side note, most if not all "Image" backup
software utilities do not backup up this file either.

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com

Ken Blake MVP · External Since: Feb 19, 2004 Posts: 7325

On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:25:34 -0400, "JS" <@> wrote:

> "Frank" <fjmet DeleteThis @tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:4aafade0$0$5678$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshosting.com...
> > My root directory ha a VERY LARGE file called PAGEFILE.SYS. Anyone know
> > what it does and is it worth backing up???
> > Frank
> >
> >
>
> Windows uses this file as "Virtual" memory.

It's a very minor point, but a clarification here: that's *not* the
way Microsoft uses the term. The term "Virtual Memory" refers to the
full complement of memory in your computer: it's the sum of physical
memory (RAM) plus the Page File. See
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dngen.../html/m

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

David B. · External Since: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 45

A little effort on your part would have found an answer.

http://www.google.com/search?q=PAGEFILE.SYS&rls=com.microsoft:*&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

--

------
"Frank" <fjmet.TakeThisOut@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
news:4aafade0$0$5678$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshosting.com...
> My root directory ha a VERY LARGE file called PAGEFILE.SYS. Anyone know
> what it does and is it worth backing up???
> Frank
>
>

Don Phillipson · External Since: Jan 09, 2009 Posts: 37

"Frank" <fjmet.DeleteThis@tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
news:4aafade0$0$5678$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshosting.com...

> My root directory ha a VERY LARGE file called PAGEFILE.SYS. Anyone know
> what it does and is it worth backing up???

It is WinXP's swap file, viz. supplementary (paged) memory
(additional to the size of your RAM.) Win / Control Panel /
System / Performance calls it "Virtual Memory" and lets
you put it into any drive or folder you choose (if you want
to free extra space on C: etc.)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Gerry · External Since: May 08, 2007 Posts: 605

Don

You can put it anywhere but don't expect it necessarily to work
efficiently.
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

--

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don Phillipson wrote:
> "Frank" <fjmet RemoveThis @tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:4aafade0$0$5678$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshosting.com...
>
>> My root directory ha a VERY LARGE file called PAGEFILE.SYS. Anyone
>> know what it does and is it worth backing up???
>
> It is WinXP's swap file, viz. supplementary (paged) memory
> (additional to the size of your RAM.) Win / Control Panel /
> System / Performance calls it "Virtual Memory" and lets
> you put it into any drive or folder you choose (if you want
> to free extra space on C: etc.)