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Author
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Topic: Strange file on my HD
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semmern
Pilot
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posted 07-20- 04:53 AM
   
Yesterday, I cleaned up my HD. After the cleaning, I had something like 500mb free. I shut down my PC, then came back a little later to play. Suddenly I had only 300mb free. I checked, and right there in C:\ was a strange file called Win386.swp
I tried deleting it, but it sai that cant delete it because it's read-only mode or the file is in use. WTF is that file there for? It takes up goddarn much HD space, and I can't delete it.IP: Logged |
CrossbowArcher
Pilot
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posted 07-20- 05:48 AM
..it should be the windows swap file...IP: Logged |
semmern
Pilot
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posted 07-20- 06:15 AM
Then it's rather weird that this is the first time it shows up.....IP: Logged |
Spyder
Pilot
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posted 07-20- 09:14 AM
Yeah in mine it's in the windows folder rather than the root. That's a large swap file though, are you low on ram or did you set a permanent swap file that large?
Mine's 58mb currently, after running a game and with Outlook and Internet explorer open.
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 IP: Logged |
Falck
Pilot
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posted 07-20- 09:55 AM
I always was under the impression that its better to manage swap file size yourself rather than letting windows do it, by setting the min and max values to be the same. Mine is currently 250MB.IP: Logged |
Whirlwind
Pilot
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posted 07-20- 01:06 PM
Before you set the swap file size by hand, set it to 0 min and 0 max, reboot, defrag the drive, and then set it by hand to whatever. A good number is a power of 2 (16,32,64,etc).IP: Logged |
Mighty
General
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posted 07-20- 01:48 PM
In Win 3.x it was much, much faster to set a fixed size. Win 9x addressed that problem. As I understand it, it's probably not worth worrying about, anymore.IP: Logged |
semmern
Pilot
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posted 07-20- 02:20 PM
Okey dokey. But why hasn't it showed up before?IP: Logged |
Falck
Pilot
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posted 07-20- 02:25 PM
Perhaps the 'show system and hidden files' was unchecked before. IP: Logged |
Jeeves
Pilot
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posted 07-20- 10:31 PM
Mine is in my Windows folder and it too is huge...how do you open it to change it? I see Whirlwind's info...but I can't even open it to try to change it...------------------
Brought to you by the campaign for a better Dauntless! IP: Logged |
Jerry
Pilot
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posted 07-21- 12:40 AM
Jeeves,
Right click My Computer,then open Properties, open Performance, open Virtual Memory, you're now at the screen to set your swap file size or let Windows do it.IP: Logged |
Jeeves
Pilot
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posted 07-22- 07:59 PM
Thanks Jerry...Well-- I went to try it and a window came up saying I may not be able to restart my computer if I do this...so while I would rather set my own parameters up since the computer seems to have a HUGE batch file...I also don't want to completely screw things up as I would not have a clue how to get it back in order...so should I do it anyways? I mean is the warning just a precaution or could all that happen? ------------------
Brought to you by the campaign for a better Dauntless! IP: Logged |
Jerry
Pilot
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posted 07-22- 08:51 PM
I think it's MS BS. Maybe if you put negative number in or a number larger than available space...I don't know. But I have changed the swap file size several times and never had a problem. I took Mighty's advise and checked the "let Bill Gates do it" box to see if I notice any diference.If you did have problems with it starting, use your boot disk and open in safe mode and change it back. IP: Logged |
Spanky the Mad Dog
Pilot
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posted 07-23- 12:24 PM
Spanky here... I have always set my own size, Never had any problems. Mine is currently set at 150. That warning is nothing. Just ignore it. The reasons you want to set your own rather then let windows manage it? 1. Why give the OS even more chances to waste cycles on deciding if it should change the size at this time, how big it should change it too and then changeing it. It already does enough stuff with out me telling it to. 2. It slows down the whole computer when it changes the size, and it does it alot. Eg, starting a large program like max? Ok well not only is your HD going to grind away to start that but the swap file size might be changed by windows and that will add up to a couple more seconds of grinding, Same thing when you shut a large program down. 3. You never know how much hard drive space you have left, if your like me and your always within a gig of being full then you can't really trust how many megs you have left cause the swap file might be small right now and after you install that game that takes up 950 megs and then try to start it you will run out of HD space for the swap file. If you set it that never happens.
The downsides of setting your own? I can't really think of any.
AH one more bonus of setting it, If you set it and then use a program like nortens scan disk you can set it up so the swap file is right at the beginning of the drive, which is the fastest part of the drive, and we all want our "Virtual Ram" to be as fast as possible right? Man I just noticed one more, How fast is your virtual ram going to be if its changing sizes all the time. Personally I'm almost thinking of disableing mine all together, If you have enough ram it should be possible. IP: Logged |
Mighty
General
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posted 07-23- 01:59 PM
It should be possible, but it's not. Windows really, really wants virtual memory. I don't know exactly what's looking for it, but I know it misbehaves if you don't give it any.IP: Logged |
Mirthain
Pilot
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posted 07-27- 09:26 PM
If you have more than 128 meg of RAM, try disabling it. I have heard that is about where you can start.
Semmern.. it has always been there, perhaps you just didn't notice.
The swap file is normally in the root, always has been.
Setting the swap file is a good idea anymore. 150 works out. It is what I use....
Swap files were lots more important when people with 32 meg of memory were really packing the system with RAM. ;}
Mirthain=FC=IP: Logged |
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