8/6/2019 PAGE FILE

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PAGE FILE

(1) The pagefile acts as virtual RAM, or virtual memory, to improve access time for frequently used programs and data.

(2) All else being equal, the less RAM a system has, the larger the pagefile is likely to be. If enough RAM is present there may be no pagefile.(3) RAM is a quick-storage area designed to improve access time to frequently used

programs, processes, and files.(4) Retrieving data from RAM is faster than retrieving it from standard platter-style

hard disks. As a computer system boots, it stores many routines into RAM so thatthe system can perform better.

(5) As the user opens programs, even more RAM is consumed. Firewalls, antivirus programs and other software that runs in the background also consumes RAM.

(6) When RAM becomes full, the system turns to the hard drive for help.(7) Using contiguous, empty space, the system designates a pagefile of a certain size.

(8) The pagefile must consist of contiguous space, and not just any empty space.(9) The system can access information in contiguous space faster than if it’s spreadout over drive platters.

(10) The least accessed data located in RAM is automatically moved to the pagefile.(11) As the user switches to other programs or files, this seamless process continues,

using the pagefile as a holding cell .(12) Going back to a previous program will cause the system to swap contents in the

pagefile for contents in RAM. In earlier Windows versions the pagefile wasknown as a swapfile .

(13) If the user has so many processes and programs running that they cannot all berun from RAM, the overflow is run from the pagefile itself.

(14) While faster than running it from random locations on the drive, pagefile access isnoticeably slower than RAM access.(15) Ideally a system has so much RAM that a pagefile isn’t required, though some

programs designed to work with a pagefile will create one.(16) When a computer shuts down, all data in RAM is lost.(17) This is not true of the hard disk of course, which maintains information.(18) Pagefile contents, while deleted at shutdown, can be retrieved later using software

recovery tools.(19) For this reason some people configure their computers to wipe the pagefile clean

when they close Windows.(20) Wiping does slow the shutdown process considerably, but is a good security

measure for anyone concerned. In either case a new pagefile is created as neededat the next boot.(21) What is the ideal Page File Size

a. 1.5 times of RAM(22) How to set the page file size

a. (RC) Mycomputer - Properties – (tab) Advanced – (press) Settings under Performance – (tab) Advanced – (press) Change