setting page file size - windows xp
 

Have a strange problem - every time windows starts its reporting the page file (virtual memory) is either missing or too small.

I goto control panel > system > advanced > performance settings > advanced

Setting either to a custom size (1.5 x my ram size = 384MB)

or

Setting it to "system managed"

...I keep getting the same error message when WinXP desktop starts

Any ideas ?

I'd recommend setting it to zero, then defragging your hard drive then recreating it at a fixed size (both min and max settings the same)

If you do this, make your you don't have loads of programs firing up when you start XP as you do have no swap file to use (obvious I know, but worth mentioning)

The problem is likely to be caused by a heavily fragmented disk not allowing you enough contiguous space to create a swap file. (as you have 256Mb of RAM I would recommend a minimum 512Mb fixed swap file size)

cheers

is it possible to delete a corrupted swap file ?

Like you say it may be cos it can't created the swap file due to defragmentation, but its a windows install thats been moved from a 4GB hard disk to a blank 40GB hard disk, so I doubt it IS that problem.

I thought I'd set the PC to use NO SWAP FILE, then reboot
then set it to use a CUSTOM SWAP FILE in the hope it may create a new one

but this error dialogue still appears when windows loads into the desktop