Win2000 Virtual Memory optimization

When it comes to virtual memory, it involves paging file (Pagefile.sys), the so-called paging file, its function is to set a part of the hard disk space to virtual memory, thereby expanding the available "memory" space, in order to meet the requirements of the operation of the program.

Although due to hard drive reading, transmission rate and so far below the memory rate, it is easy to reduce system productivity and delay system response, but compared to buying hardware to improve system performance, this time and efficiency in exchange for performance is very good: you can not spend a penny of the 1G of virtual memory, How much would you spend if you really went to buy such 1G of RAM? And the key question is: Can your motherboard support 1G of physical memory?

Win9x typically uses the WIN386.SWP Exchange file in the installation directory to create virtual memory. But Win2000 the way of paging file to realize the creation of virtual memory. In general, when you use the system by default to let Windows manage virtual memory, this is easier to do, but in order to be compatible with most of the computer configuration, the default settings are usually more conservative management, so it is sometimes low efficiency. Skilled users can optimize the virtual memory management of Windows (such as the size, location, and so on) to maximize productivity.

Administrative items about the paging file in Win2000 in Control Panel, go to Control Panel, select System, and then choose Change in Advanced/performance options to enter virtual memory settings. The page displays the paging file size, location, disk free space, and recommended settings for Windows that are set by the current system, and can be combined with these properties of the paging file to optimize settings.

One, the size of the paging file

The minimum value of the Windows recommended paging file (that is, the initial size) should be the current system memory capacity plus 12MB, if the computer system has 256MB memory, the paging file should be set to the minimum value of 268MB, This allows the operating system to copy all of the content in memory to the hard disk before it crashes or freezes. For users with a memory capacity of less than 256MB, it is recommended to set the minimum value of the paging file larger, which should be greater than the memory capacity plus 12MB values:

① users with 128MB or less memory should set the current system memory capacity to 1.75 times times the minimum of the paging file;

② users with memory capacity between 128MB and 256MB can set the current system capacity to a minimum of 1.5 times times the paging file.

Of course, setting the minimum size of the paging file to be larger than these theoretical values has no effect on the operation of the system as a whole, and should be better, and the only loss may be that the free space on the hard disk will be reduced accordingly. If your hard disk space is more tense, when you set the paging file, you can make it not less than 3/4 of the system memory, so you can ensure that the system more stable operation. If you need to load and unload large software frequently and do a lot of tasks, you'll still be safe with the defaults, or it will cause the system to crash regularly.

As for the maximum size of the paging file, you can set it as large as possible, and it is usually recommended to set it to 2 to 3 times times the minimum value. You don't have to pay attention to its specific setting value. and Win9x System of paging file management, Win2000 to "smart" much, its paging file can be set up their own dynamic. It automatically expands the size of the page only when the system needs it, so that the paging file takes up too much hard disk space and avoids errors due to insufficient memory in complex operations.

Second, the page file storage location

WIN2000 allows you to improve the performance of your system by distributing the paging file to different physical hard disks (note that they are hard drives rather than partitions). Theoretically it is feasible to do so, but note that due to the various hard drives may exist in the search time, transmission speed and other aspects of the difference between the performance of the system, so should try to choose the fastest hard disk to store the paging file.

Also note that while Win2K supports the creation of paging files on multiple partitions on the same hard disk, this does not improve the performance of the system, but will significantly reduce the efficiency of the entire system, because when the operating system needs to read and write the paging file, If the content that needs to be read is not in the same partition's paging file, the hard disk head will frequently move between the partitions, which will greatly reduce the system's operational efficiency. In terms of actual usage, it's better to just store the paging file in a single partition, so it is recommended that people with multiple hard drives consider the following scenarios:

① the speed difference between the multiple hard disks is not large, you can distribute the paging file to the hard drive up;

② the speed difference between multiple hard disks is relatively large, the paging file should be stored as much as possible to another faster (or more) hard drive. For a single hard drive user, if the hard disk free space is allowed, you should try to set the location of the paging file in the same partition.

Third, the continuity of the page file

The continuity of the paging file is not shown in the relevant settings of the Win2000, but it is necessary to "carry" it out and talk about it alone. The continuous paging file is much more productive than the discontinuity, the reason for this and the above said not to set the page file on the same hard disk partition of the truth is the same, but also because of the hard disk head movement problem, the discontinuous paging file will also cause the system in the use of virtual memory hard disk head frequently in the discontinuous fan range "Jump" move, so you should try to ensure the continuity of the paging file.

You can run Win2000 's own Disk Defragmenter and select the analysis feature to see where the paging file is located on your hard disk, where the "green" area (the System file) is the location of the paging file. There may be some people who doubt that the paging file will appear discontinuous, so try the following:

If you are a dual system, you can first enter the Win9x, the Win2000 page file Pagefile.sys cut to other partitions or hard disk, and then immediately paste back, reboot the system to Win2000, run the "Disk Defragmenter" analysis, The green area will be divided into several different areas, large and small, the paging file is fragmented.

Although the Disk Defragmenter provided by Win2000 is much easier to use than the Win9x, it cannot be sorted for noncontiguous paging files. To defragment a page file, you need a third party tool, such as speed disk. In addition, if you do not have these tools and the paging file partition or hard disk is not NTFS format, you can refer to the test page file is not continuous operation method:

First from the dual system into the Win9x, and then cut the page file to other partitions or hard disk, and then use Win9x disk finishing tools to the corresponding partition or hard disk collation, and so on after finishing the page file pasted back again, you can guarantee the continuity of the page file.