Can I have my NT4 paging file on a different partition?

[Fun Guy]

I tried this before but NT seems to not like it. For example, what I would try to do is, with 256MB of RAM, create a separate partition (i.e. D: rather the C: where the OS resides), say 600MB, specifically for the paging file. I tried making it 512MB, 275MB, no matter what, it comes up with this "running low on virtual memory' or whatever message.

Isn't there a way to make NT4 see this as it's paging file place?

 

[owensdj]

Fun Guy, NT 4.0 can use a paging file on a partition other than C:. Did you remember to set the paging file size on the other partition using the System icon in Control Panel?

 

[bigfootmd]

Yes you can. In the control panel click on the SYSTEM ICON,then click on PERFORMANCE, virtual memory. You must set a minimum page file of 2 MEGS on the primary (C partition. This is necessary so if your nT workstation blue screens a log can be kept. So, change the number for the page file on C: to 2 megs Min and max. Next choose the D: and set the page file there. By default NT sets the page file to the amount of physical ram + 11. In your example this would be 256 + 11. Unless you are using large database that require massive mergings or are in the habit of opening many apps at once, 600 megs may be too much. Also, it very important that a page file be contiguous. This is to say that there be only one segment. To check the status of your page file you need a utilitly such as pagedefrag 2.01. This shareware utility will not only defragment page files but also will defragement the registry file. You can download this utility at
www.sysinternals.com, NT utils. If a page file is in multiple segments it causes a process called thrashing. The zip file is about 20K. You unzip it
and run pagedfrg. The program will check you page files and registry. I normally choose Defragment pagefiles and registry at next boot. Choose that and choose Shutdown and restart. At the next boot pagedfrag will defragment the page file and then the registry file. After this process is finished, NT will load. However, you must not login. In order for the new page file to take effect you must shutdowna and restart.

Good luck

 

[Fun Guy]

Yes, that's exactly what I did - and that's when I got that pesky message. It seemed that NT4 looks for the paging file on the volume it is serving, and when it doesn't find it, it balks. Does anyone else have a different experience?

EDIT: Looks like bigfootmd beat me to updating. I will try what you suggest. I think what I tried is not having 2MB on C:, havin 0MB, which probably caused the problem.