Those who are using Windows and with 2 HDD or even a single HDD with multi partition setup, for them, it is always advisable to move the Page File or the virtual memory file to another HDD or to another partition from the default location (which is the Windows installation partition)

What is a Page File ??

In simple words, when your system runs out of RAM by processing large amount of DATA, windows shifts some inactive and background process to a pre-allocated location of the hard drive by making it a part of system RAM (though because of slow read and write speed of the HDDs, a really slow RAM)

Read in details here -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_memory

Why do I need a Page File ??

If you don’t have a page file, your system may and will run of out RAM (no matter how much ram you add) and which will may the system unresponsive, thus, forcing you to restart…

How much Page file do I need ??

As per Microsoft the Page file ammount should be 1.5 times than your physical RAM. So which means if you have 512 MB of RAM then you should set the page file size to 1.5 GB…

How ever, now days, because we can buy really high amount of RAM, for example, 2 GB or more, therefore I would suggest that, if you have 2 GB or more as you physical RAM, then you should set the amount of page file as not more than 3 GB… Do note, a large paging file may slow down the system performance…

Why Should I change the Page File location ??

If you have 2 Hard drive, then this really helps the system performance, because when you set the page file from your OS drive (where all programs would be in) to another drive, then that takes a huge load out of the main system hard disk, as a page file needs continues read and writing…

How do I change the Page file location ??

If you are an Windows XP user, please follow this article given by Microsoft on How to move the page file in windows xp.

If you are a vista user, then follow this bellow process…

Right Click on My computer and click properties.

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At your system information pane, click on the option which says, advance system settings at the left navigation pane….

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One you do that, it should bring up the system properties advance options… Click settings under performance section…

Click setting to reach the next level..

In the performance option, go the Advance TAB… There click change under virtual memory options

Change the page file size at Windows Vista

Click no paging file for Windows System drive, which by default is C: and set your page file to another location apart from your Windows System drive… !!!

Set the page file value and location in Widows Vista

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