The paging file is a portion of virtual memory that works in conjunction with the computer's random access memory. If the RAM becomes small, then the data from the RAM begins to be placed exactly in the paging file.
What is a paging file?
Perhaps, many users of personal computers know that the more RAM is installed on a personal computer, the better and faster it will work. This theory is completely correct, but when the RAM becomes too small to perform certain procedures, the data from it begins to move into a special space, namely the paging file.
By default, this paging file is located on the system C: drive, namely in its boot partition, where the installed operating system is stored. Using the example of the Windows 7 operating system, we can say that the minimum paging file size set by default by the system itself is equal to the actual amount of RAM plus 300 megabytes. The maximum size of the paging file can be three times the size of the RAM.
How do I change the swap file?
To configure and change the paging file, you need to open the "Start" menu and go to the "Control Panel". In this panel you need to find the item "System". If it is not displayed immediately, then you need to change the viewing method in the corresponding item ("View") to "Small icons". After the user selects the "System" item, a window will open displaying its properties. Here you need to go to the "Advanced" tab, and then find the "Performance" section and select the "Options" item. After the options open, you need to select the "Advanced" section and find "Virtual memory" there. Using the "Change" button, the user will be able to change the default (automatic) value of the paging file.
A new window will open, at the very top of which you need to uncheck the box "Automatically select the size of the paging file". After that, the user will be able to change the size of this file for each specific disk. In general, you only need to change the value of the system drive, which in most cases is the C: drive. The user needs to select this disk, set the checkbox to the "Specify size" value, and specify the optimal values in the "Initial size (MB)" and "Maximum size (MB)" items. All changes are saved using the buttons "Set" and "Ok". It is worth noting that if the user shrinks the paging file, then restarting the computer is imperative for the changes to take effect. If the paging file has been increased, then this is not necessary.
