Question:

How can I identify and resolve the cause of excessive pagefile growth on my new PC?

I have a new PC with 32 GB of DDR5 RAM and a problem with my virtual memory. The pagefile size keeps increasing until it reaches its maximum limit (>90 GB) and then I have to reboot to reset it. This happens regardless of whether I let Windows manage the pagefile or set it manually. I suspect there is a memory leak in some program, but I don’t know how to find out which one. What steps can I take to diagnose and fix this issue? Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer:

The pagefile is a file on your hard disk that Windows uses as an extension of your physical memory (RAM). It stores data that is not currently in use by the programs or the system, and frees up RAM for more important tasks. The pagefile size is usually determined by Windows based on your RAM size and system performance, but you can also set it manually if you want to.

However, sometimes the pagefile size can grow excessively and consume a lot of disk space, causing performance issues and errors. This can happen due to a number of reasons, such as:

• A memory leak in a program or a driver that keeps allocating memory without releasing it properly.
• A virus or malware infection that hijacks your system resources and fills up the pagefile.
• A faulty or incompatible hardware component that causes memory errors or conflicts.
• A corrupted or fragmented pagefile that prevents Windows from managing it efficiently.

To identify and resolve the cause of excessive pagefile growth on your new PC, you can follow these steps:

1. Check the pagefile size and usage. You can do this by opening the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and going to the Performance tab. Click on Memory and look at the bottom of the window. You will see the pagefile size and usage in GB. If the pagefile size is much larger than your RAM size, or the usage is very high (above 80%), then you have a problem with your pagefile.

2. Scan your PC for viruses and malware. You can use a reliable antivirus program or a malware removal tool to scan your PC and remove any potential threats that might be causing the pagefile growth. Make sure you update your antivirus program and run a full scan of your system.

3. Update your drivers and software. You can use the Device Manager (Win+X, M) or the Windows Update (Win+I, Update & Security) to check for any available updates for your drivers and software. Updating your drivers and software can fix any bugs or compatibility issues that might be causing memory leaks or errors.

4. Adjust the pagefile settings. You can try to reduce the pagefile size or set it to a fixed value instead of letting Windows manage it. To do this, go to the Control Panel (Win+X, P) and click on System. Then click on Advanced system settings on the left side. Under the Advanced tab, click on Settings under Performance. Then click on the Advanced tab again and click on Change under Virtual memory. Uncheck the box that says Automatically manage paging file size for all drives. Then select the drive where your pagefile is located (usually C:) and click on Custom size. Enter the initial and maximum size you want for your pagefile in MB. A good rule of thumb is to set the initial size to 1.5 times your RAM size, and the maximum size to 3 times your RAM size. For example, if you have 32 GB of RAM, you can set the initial size to 48,000 MB and the maximum size to 96,000 MB. Click on Set and then OK to apply the changes. You may need to restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

5. Defragment and optimize your disk. You can use the Disk Defragmenter (Win+X, O) or the Optimize Drives (Win+X, K) tool to defragment and optimize your disk. This can improve the performance and efficiency of your disk and your pagefile. You can also use a third-party disk cleaner or optimizer program to delete any unnecessary or temporary files that might be taking up space on your disk and pagefile.

6. Monitor your memory usage and pagefile growth. You can use the Task Manager or a third-party system monitor program to keep an eye on your memory usage and pagefile growth. If you notice any unusual or excessive memory consumption by a program or a process, you can try to close it or end it. You can also use the Resource Monitor (Win+X, R) or the Performance Monitor (Win+X, Q) to get more detailed information about your system resources and performance.

By

following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of excessive pagefile growth on your new PC. However, if the problem persists or worsens, you may need to contact a professional technician or the manufacturer of your PC for further assistance. You may also need to replace or upgrade your hardware components if they are faulty or outdated.