Windows XP Home cannot create page file

[htyei]

Windows XP Home starts up really slowly and tells you it cannot create a Page file. The settings under System/Advanced/... are correct.
I've tried both letting system manage page file and setting a custom size page file. None of this affects the fact that it cant create a page file in the C(only ) drive


Theres 25 gigs left, so space is not an issue. THe drive is writeable, as the machine still works, and I can create files in the root directory.

Also, when you try to shut down, it blue screens after awhile. Im guessing it has something to do with the page file.


Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

 

[Lord Evermore]

Isn't that what Microsoft Support is there for?

Check the C drive's root and see if there's a pagefile.sys there. Really weird problem.

Searching on Google finds several newsgroup posts about this. One possibility if you have a newer Intel system: http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/iaa/tti001.htm

Did you upgrade the system from another version of Windows?

Another option: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&threadm=O5POrMysBHA.2080%40tkmsftngp03&rnum=2&prev=/groups%3Fq%3Dwindows%2Bxp%2Bcannot%2Bcreate%2B%2522page%2Bfile%2522%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26selm%3DO5POrMysBHA.2080%2540tkmsftngp03%26rnum%3D2

Another person discovered that the "Glassbook Reader" software, an early version of Adobe's eBook Reader, was causing this issue.

 

[htyei]

Nope no pagefile.sys. I agree, I've been messing around with WIndows XP and its ilk for a long time, never seen this symptom before.
ITs not my machine, I'm trying to help someone else out.

It is a fairly new Dell P4 2ghz machine.

More info:
System Restore a week back did not fix the problem. I think Safe Mode also can't create a swap file
I was told nothing new has been installed for awhile

Possibility of random corruption, but its a pretty specific symptom for random corruption....

 

[htyei]

No, it was Windows XP Home preinstalled

 

[Lord Evermore]

Well if it's a new Dell, call Dell. That's what you pay the overblown prices for, technical support.

 

[htyei]

Have you ever called technical support?
Most places are outsourced and don't know jack beyond what their little knowledge base tells them.
system down = braindead

 

[Lord Evermore]

Eh, I figured Dell's was at least good enough to help with this. They're not exactly one of the computer companies you see an advertisement for in the back of Big Game Hunter magazine.

 

[htyei]

Not to flame the dell techs, but I'm pretty sure if no one roaming this particular forum knows the answer, neither do they. phone techs do not get paid enough to attract people with extensive hands on experience.

Btw, thanks for those links, I've tagged them for future reference, unfortunately the symptoms are similar but the fixes do not apply.

 

[WarCon]

Maybe this page from Microsoft Support will help.

Did you remove the everyone account? Seems like this can be caused by doing that. (Read the more info at the bottom of page.)

If this isn't the problem then I would suggest using Dell's reloading software after backing up important info.

 

[htyei]

Will try and report back, thanks.

Funny thing. With her dell system, Dell actually included a fully copy of Windows XP Home. Its not the image of a preloaded system I thought it would be, thus I would have to reload from scratch.

 

[htyei]

Well, that didnt work, though I had high hopes. Reinstalltion can't be avoided I guess.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Does the "System" user have rights to the C: drive?

 

[htyei]

The system,
adminstrators
everyone


they all have full access.

And it stillis problems creating the page file. I'm gonna just chalk it up RANDOM CORRUPTION.
The computer's owner thinks AOL did it ???? (supposedly AOL froze, and a reboot started the symptoms