Windows 2000 page file optimization

The memory configuration of mainstream computers has now increased to 128MB, but for the huge Windows operating system and various software with more and more powerful functions and more and more system memory resources, 128MB is still far from satisfactory. Required, this time Windows uses the page file (function is equivalent to what we often call virtual memory) can play its role. It sets part of the hard disk space to virtual memory, which expands the available "memory" space of the computer to meet the program's operational requirements. Although the hard disk read rate, transfer rate, etc. are far lower than the memory rate, it is easy to cause the system to work less efficiently and the system response delay, but compared to the huge purchase of hardware to improve system performance, this time and The efficiency in exchange for performance is still very good.

From Windows 3. X to Windows 9X, the use of virtual memory technology is maturing, usually using Win386 in the Windows installation directory. Swp this swap file to achieve virtual memory creation. Today's Windows 2000 uses page files to create virtual memory. This page file is the Pagefile under the root directory of the installation logical disk. Sys file. It has the same function as the swap file under Windows 9X. It is used to create virtual memory when the main memory space is insufficient when the program is running. Usually, we use the Windows operating system to manage virtual memory according to the default settings of the system. Although it is convenient, Microsoft manages its own management mode to be compatible with the majority of computer configurations. Therefore, it is often efficient. Not satisfactory. Advanced users usually optimize their virtual memory management for Windows (such as the size and location of their own swap files) to get a high level of productivity. Practice has proved that correct virtual memory management optimization can improve the running performance of the system. Windows 9X is like this, Windows 2000 is even more like this. The key to optimization lies in the important "parts" in virtual memory management - page files (swap files). Below, we will discuss in detail some of the optimization measures for Windows 2000 page files.

Management items for page files in Windows 2000 In the Control Panel, enter the "Control Panel" and select the "System" icon, then select "Change" in the "Advanced /Performance Options", you can enter The "Virtual Memory" settings page shown. The page shows the size of the page file set by the current system, its location, disk free space, and Microsoft's recommended settings. We will use the properties of the page file to talk about the specific settings of the optimization.

First, the size of the page file

For the size of the page file settings in the system, Microsoft's recommendation is the minimum value of the page file (that is, the initial size in the above figure), it should be the current system Memory capacity plus 12MB (RAM + 12MB), if the computer system has 256MB of memory, the minimum value of the page file should be set to 268MB, so that the operating system can copy all the contents of the memory to the hard disk before crashing or crashing. . For those users whose system memory capacity is less than 256MB, it is recommended to set the minimum value of the page file to be larger, which should be greater than the memory capacity plus 12MB: 1 those computer users who use 128MB or less of memory should have the current system memory capacity. The 1.75 times setting is the minimum value of the page file; 2 those users whose memory capacity is between 128 MB and 256 MB can set the current system capacity 1.5 times to the minimum value of the page file. Of course, setting the minimum value of the page file to be larger than these theoretical values ​​has no effect on the operation of the entire system, and should be better. The only loss may be the corresponding reduction in the available space on the hard disk. The author's suggestion is that the average user usually does not need to follow Microsoft's recommended values, because after all, the chance of Windows 2000 system crash is much smaller than Windows 9X, and even if the system crashes, the general work is not important to save all. Therefore, when setting the page file, as long as the size is not less than 3/4 of the system memory, the system can be operated stably and quickly. But if the user's hard disk space is really very tight, then the minimum value of the page file should be at least 1/2 of your memory capacity. If it is less than this number, it will likely cause system crash (dead). occur.

As for the maximum value of the page file, it should be set as large as possible. It is usually recommended to set it to 2 to 3 times the minimum value. The user does not have to care about its specific settings. Compared with the page file management of Win9X system, Windows 2000 is much more "smart", and its page files can be dynamically set by itself. It automatically expands the size of the page only when needed by the system, which prevents the page file from taking up too much hard disk space and ensures that errors in memory are not complicated in complex operations.

Second, the location of the page file

Windows 2000 allows users to improve the system by distributing the page file to different physical hard disks (note the hard disk instead of the partition) Performance. In theory, this is indeed feasible, but it is necessary to pay attention to the system performance degradation caused by the difference in seek time and transmission speed between the hard disks. Therefore, you should try to choose the fastest hard disk. As the place where the page file is stored. Another thing to note is that although Windows 2000 also supports the creation of page files on multiple partitions of the same hard disk, this will not improve the performance of the system, but will significantly reduce the efficiency of the entire system. This is because the operating system needs When reading and writing page files, if the content to be read is not in the page file of the same partition, the hard disk head will frequently move between the partitions, which will greatly reduce the operating efficiency of the system. From the actual use effect, it is better to store the page files only in one partition. Therefore, I suggest that users with multiple hard disks should consider the following solutions: 1 speed difference between multiple hard disks Not big, you can distribute the page file to each hard disk; if the speed difference between 2 hard disks is relatively large, you should store the page file as much as possible on another hard disk (or more). For a single hard disk user, if the hard disk free space allows, you should try to set the location of the page file in the same partition.

Third, the continuity of the page file

The continuity of the page file does not show correspondingly in the relevant settings of Windows 2000, but I think it is necessary to separate and talk about it. talk. The efficiency of continuous page files will be much higher than that of discontinuous ones. The reason for this is the same as the above mentioned do not set the page file on multiple partitions of the same hard disk. It is also the problem of the movement of the hard disk head, discontinuous. The page file will also cause the hard disk head to frequently "jump" between the discontinuous sectors when using the virtual memory, so the page file should be kept as continuous as possible. You can run the "Disk Defragmenter" that comes with Windows 2000 and select the "Analysis" function to view the corresponding position of the page file on the hard disk. The "green" area (system file) displayed is the location of the page file. . Maybe some users are suspicious of the discontinuity of the page file, then you can try the following: If the user is a dual operating system, you can first enter Windows 9X, the Windows 2000 page file Pagefile. Sys cut to other partitions or hard disks, and then paste back immediately, restart the system to Windows 2000, run the disk defragmentation program to analyze, the green area will be divided into several areas of different sizes, pages The file is fragmented and discontinuous.

Although the "Disk Defragmenter" provided by Windows 2000 is much more useful than Windows 9X, it can't be sorted out for non-contiguous page files. To defragment the page file, you need third-party tools, such as Perfect Disk 2000 and Norton SystemWorks 2001 (Norton) Speed ​​Disk, etc. In addition, if the user does not have these tools and the partition of the page file or the hard disk is not NTFS format, , you can refer to the test page file in the case of discontinuous operation. First enter the Windows 9X from the dual operating system, and then cut the page file to other partitions or hard disk, and then use the defragmentation tool under Windows 9X for the corresponding partition or Hard disk is sorted, and then the page is finished. Piece re-paste back, we can ensure the continuity of the page file.