Your Windows XP running slow?

If you are like me, when the computer starts running slow, you just want to "send it out the Window!"  Well, thanks to my friends at TechRepublic.com I just might be able to assist on this issue.

Lets start with the pagefile.  The pagefile is, for all pratical purposes, more memory.  Ok, not MORE, just additional.  Trust me there is a difference!  RAM, or memory, is/should be REALLY fast, the pagefile is a space on the hard drive where Windows will put stuff when you aren't accessing it as much. 
Like all programs, the pagefile can befome fragmented.  And like all programs, this leads to SLOWNESS! 

For those of you who know me, I defrag my hard drives at the least every two days.  A messy drive leads to a messy mind! On most XP (Windows in general) machines, the pagefile is set to a system managed size.  This allows the operating system to expand the pagefile as needed.  This can cause the pagefile to fragment and we know what that means!  Windows comes with a built in defragmentor, dfrg.msc.  You can run it from the command line (Start / Run / dfrg.msc) or you can right click My Computer, Left click Manage, select Storage and there it IS! 
Click on Analyze and XP will check out the drive.  When it is done, you get a results popup.  Click on View Report and you will get: 
1)  A little about your drive.
2)  A list of those files that are fragmented.
Scroll down the Volume Information window and you will find the Pagefile Fragmentation.  This morning, mine is PERFECT!  2.00GB  - only 1 fragment.  You can not defrag the pagefile while it is in use so, you have a couple of options here, DiskKeeper or temporarily move the page file to another location.

To remove and recreate the page file, follow these steps:

1. Right click My Computer
2. Left click Properties
3. Click the Advanced tab
4. Click the Settings Button in the Performance box
5. In the Performace Options window, click Advanced
6. Click Change
7. In the Virtual Memory window, click on the C drive
8. Make sure the Custom size is selected
9. Set both Initial Size (MB) and Maximum Size (MB) to zero (0)
10. Press SET
11. Ok (three times) back to the windows desktop

You will be prompted to reboot your machine.  Reboot it!

Now you have NO page file.  Before you re-create the pagefile, I recommend that you defragment the C drive.  You can use the built in defragmenter (dfrg.msc) or use any one of a dozen or more aftermarket defragmenters.  Now, unless you want to slow the process, leave the computer to it's defragmentation.  Yeah, LEAVE!  If you are opening programs, saving documents, etc, you will slow down the process.  Once you get the drive defragmented, running it once a week will keep you in tip-top shape and up to speed! 

Windows isn't the only defragmentor out there.  There are the paid ones like Disk Keeper.  Great program if you are in charge of an office.  Home users, might want to use Disk Keeper Lite or Disk Keeper Home Edition.  As for me?  I use Defraggler from Piriform.  It is FREE, easy to use and you can schedule your defrags. 

Now, we need to put the pagefile back.  Go back to the above list and when you get to #9, you have a couple options.  You can select a Minimum and Maximum size (I recommend the following:  Minimum = Physical Memory Size, Maximum = 2.5 * Physical Memory) or the System managed size.  I suggest the System managed size option for most users.  Select it, press SET, and be ready for a reboot! 

Ah, your XP is up and running at full speed!  Run the defrag analystic tool once a month, keeping an eye on the pagefile (and disk) fragmentation.  Defrag your hard drive(s) as needed and when your pagefile gets a "messy", following the above steps will clean it right back up!
Happy Computing!