PageFile.sys appears to be more of the additional RAM that Windows uses for virtual memory. It is basically known to improve the speed and performance of your system, but this way you wouldn't know what data Windows is saving in the paging file. Windows may save all your private data and passwords in PageFile.sys, but they are not removed on reboot. This makes your sensitive data vulnerable to unauthorized users, as anyone can access your data via the C drive.
For this reason, some users may want to change the way it works. But, instead of deleting PageFile.sys which can be risky for your system, you can follow the steps below as recommended. This will help keep your data safe in PageFile.sys.
Method 1: Delete PageFile.sys from File Explorer
PageFile.sys is known to improve the performance of your system, but if you have decided to remove it completely, you should first back up all your files. This will help you to easily recover all your files if you are experiencing problems due to the deletion of the paging file.
All you need is an external storage device such as a USB stick or DVD and you can follow this method to automatically backup your system in Windows 10.
After creating a backup of your system, you can proceed with the removal.
PageFile.sys is a protected system file and is therefore hidden. Therefore, we should first show it.
Step 1: Right-click on the file Home menu and select Browser on file.
Step 2: A Browser on file window, go to View tab at the top and double-click Choices.
Step 3: A Folder options window, go to View tab and under the Advanced Settingsor Hidden files and folders section.
Then click the radio button next to Show hidden files, folders and drives.
Step 4: Then uncheck the box next to Hide protected operating system files (recommended).
Click on To apply and so ok to save changes and exit.
Now that the PageFile.sys file has been discovered, you can view it in Windows Explorer. Continue with the following steps to delete the paging file.
Step 1: print Win + E keyboard shortcut key to open the file Browser on file.
So go to What PC link on the left and right side of the panel, click Unit C.
Step 2: Now search pageFile.sys file, select it and press To remove.
It doesn't go to the recycle bin, rather it gets completely deleted and so make sure you backup all files as shown above.
Alternatively, you can move PageFile.sys to another drive.
Method 2: Editing the PageFile.sys file to another drive
Step 1: press the Win + X keys together on the keyboard and select settings.
Step 2: A settings window, click System.
Step 3: In the next window, on the left side of the panel, click Di.
Step 4: Then, go to the right side of the panel, scroll down and under Related settings click on System information.
Step 5: Open the system window. Click on Advanced system settings on the left side of the panel.
Step 6: A System properties window that opens, go to Advanced language.
Now go to Performance section and click settings.
Step 7: A Performance options window that opens, go to Advanced tab and under the Virtual memory section, click Modify.
Step 8: So in Virtual memory dialog box, uncheck the box next to Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
Now select C: from the list of units.
Step 9: Then scroll down, click the radio button next to No paging file e premium pulsating Set to button.
Click on Yup to confirm.
Step 10: So go to To drive in the list above and select the drive where you want to save the paging file.
Now, click on the radio button next to Managed system Size and press the button Set to button.
Press Apply and OK to save changes and exit. Now restart your computer and the PageFile.sys will now be completely removed from the main drive. However, it is not recommended to delete the paging file as the system will stop creating crash dumps whenever a system error occurs.
You can also configure the system to delete the paging file every time it shuts down.
Method 2: Configuring the system to delete the paging file on shutdown
While having the paging file is important for the best performance of your system, it can also be a challenge as it is transferred every time the computer is restarted. Therefore, deleting the paging file on every shutdown is a workaround so that every time Windows restarts, it creates a completely new paging file. However, it will also slow down system startup and shutdown times. Let's see how to delete the paging file at each shutdown.
Solution: Change the registry editor
Before making any changes to the registry editor, be sure to create a backup copy of the registry data. This will help you recover all data in case of data loss during the process.
Step 1: press the Win + X keys together on the keyboard and select run.
Step 2: A Run command that opens, write regedit in the search box and press Log in to open the file Registry Editor window.
Step 3: Copy and paste the path below into the file Registry Editor address bar and press Log in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerMemory Management
Now go to the right side of the panel and double click on the named DWORD value ClearPageFileAtShutdown.
Step 4: It will open the file Edit DWORD (32-bit) value window. Leave Valuable data and enter it 1.
print ok to save changes and exit.
* Note - It's his ClearPageFileAtShutdown The DWORD value is missing, so right-click an empty area, select New > Valore DWORD (32 bit). Rename the new DWORD value as ClearPageFileAtShutdown. Then follow the 4 pass to configure the Valuable data to 1. Press ok per salvare I modified it.
Now, restart your computer and the PageFile.sys will be removed at each shutdown and a new paging file will be created at each system restart.
