Schewanick Computer Services

If you have been having memory errors and you look in your root directory and see a pagefile.sys that is by far the biggest file in there, and if you can follow me, I have the solution to make your computer go back to normal functioning.

Grab my coattails and let's rock!

If the problem is an application filling up the pagefile.sys with crap, identify that application using the instructions here: http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_can_i_fix_too_little_virtual_mem ory_in_windows.html, then reinstall that application.

For those comfortable with using the Registry and Regedit, use these instructions: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314834 to clear the pagefile.sys on shutdown and reboot. If you do this and find that Windows did not recreate a new pagefile.sys, do the following.

Use MSCONFIG to turn off all startup programs and restart. Go into My Computer, Properties, Advanced, Performance Settings, Advanced, Change. Select Custom and put double your RAM in initial size and max size, hit Set and OK. Then go back into the registry and take out the change to clear the pagefile.sys.

This happened to me the first time I set my XP box up to clear teh page file but oddly enough not this time, while doing it again to write this blog (?!).

About the author:

David Geer writes for national and international publications like Computerworld, certain IEEE Computer Society publications, The Enterprise Open Source Journal and dozens more. E-mail him at D avid@GeerCom.com, call him at 440-964-9832 or visit his Web site at www.GeerCom.com.