Hi. Got a question about the page file in Windows XP. A while back, I ran across this article about optimizing the Windows XP page file. (http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/windowstips/story/0,24330,3371764,00.html) In it, it said that it would be a good idea to create a separate partition to increase the performace of the page file. The reason for my question is I am planning on formating and resintalling my Windows XP. Is it necessary to create a separate partition for the page file or would it be better just to add more RAM to my computer? Thanks. Tech_Wiz02

There are many different opinions on how to manage the swap file. I believe that having the swap file on a different partition (prefereably) on a different physical disk) is the way to go. Having a dedicated partition and setting the minimum and maximum sizes of the partition to the same value keep the pagefile from becoming fragmented. Plus, if you do a regular image of your C drive for backup purposes, which I do, then you will save valuable time and space when you do. Unless you are into doing a lot of video editing, 512MB ofRAM should suffice. More is usually better though. Michael J

Ah one of my pet projects, the page file. I am writing from a multiboot system with ME and XPpro and neither have a pagefile. I have 768meg of ram but did so when I had only 1/2gig. I had a 256meg chip that was flakey and took it back only to upgrade to a 512meg chip. My video [ti 4200 8x agp], games, bootup, everything runs wonderfully without a pagefile. I do everything you would ever want a computer to do. The whole idea of a seperate partition for the pagefile is a leftover from the Unix world not the MS world. Suppossedly if you place the pagefile on its own partition without anything else if won't fragment. This is true but you can accomplish exactly the same thing by following MS's recommendation of setting min and max the same. So if you can accomplish the same thing why dedicate a set space of a partition for it and lose a drive letter? Given the choice of pagefile or more ram my recommendation would be no pagefile and more ram. But quite honestly I would do no pagefile with 512meg and see how your performace is. Add more ram if you desire.

No pagefile just works for small file size only, but better don't try it, particular if you work on very big file size