Cannot change location of swap file 1

[BarryMurphy]

I have a PC with one hard disc, and I have done a reformat and clean install of Windows 98 SE. I wanted three partitions, with my swap file on its own partition at the beginning of the disc, so I created three primary partitions and hid the first one, which has a size of 50MB. I then installed Windows on the second partition and unhid the first. The problem is that when I tried to relocate the swap file to the first partition (D:\), I couldn't do it. After selecting "Let me specify my own virtual memory settings" in the Virtual Memory dialog, the amount of free space on D:\ is shown as 0MB, even though there is actually no data on that drive. When I select D:\ its Minimum is shown as 0 and its Maximum is a ten digit number, neither of which I can change.
We must become the change we want to see. (Mahatma Ghandi)

 

[cdogg]

So, the E:\ drive (which is the 3rd partition) is available too, correct? If you select E:\, does it let you configure the min and max?

I think you've discovered one of Win9x's lovely limitations. It likes to be the first partition on the hard drive. With that said, I've never tried it the way you're doing it, but you might need a third party boot-manager utility to allow Win98 to see the 50MB partition correctly...
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[BarryMurphy]

Yes, I can configure the min and max on both C:\ and E:\.

Not that it makes any difference to the situation, but I've just been playing around with it again, and I found that when I set the min and max of C:\ and E:\ to 0, then the max of D:\ also goes to 0. I can then change D:\'s min setting, but can't get it's max off 0.

I'm not sure how to fix this problem with a boot manager utility. As I understand it, a boot manager enables you to boot multiple OS's, which I don't want to do. We must become the change we want to see. (Mahatma Ghandi)

 

[Snickle]

Could it be that the first partition of 50MB is too small?

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cook/Clustsize.htm

 

[BarryMurphy]

I wouldn't want to make the swap any bigger than 50MB. It's only a 2GB HDD. 50MB should be sufficient. We must become the change we want to see. (Mahatma Ghandi)

 

[jmatt]

Few more things to consider , including 2 swap file alternatives .

The best way to improve swap file ( Virtual Memory ) usage on systems ( W9x/ME ) with more than
64Meg RAM is this:

DON'T set any min/max parameters . Let Windows handle it!
Put this entry in the system.ini file under [386enh] .
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1
Check on your swap file occasionally; if you haven't been playing
games or running intensive apps, the swap file often will be 0 (zero).

---------------------------

To set a Minimum swap file & let Windows handle the Max .
Start > Run > System.ini
In the [386Enh] section add a line like

MinPagingFileSize=130000

Save, exit, reboot

(The above sets the min to 130MBs)

--------------------------------

VoptME will move the swap file , 30 day trial .

http://www.cleandisk.com/download.htm

 

[BarryMurphy]

Thanks for the configuration tips but the PC I'm working on is a P166 with 32MB RAM.

I downloaded VoptXP (the current version), and I'm now trying to work out whether it will help me change the location of my swap file; on first glance I can't see it. We must become the change we want to see. (Mahatma Ghandi)

 

[BarryMurphy]

Thanks jmatt, VoptXP did the trick! We must become the change we want to see. (Mahatma Ghandi)

 

[jmatt]

Thanks for letting me know .

 

[cdogg]

jmatt,

Just curious why you continue to suggest that the swapfile be dynamic? Or in other words, leaving it up to Windows to control the size?

I understand that with small amounts of RAM and small hard drives, this is preferred. BUT, let's say I have a 40GB hard drive with 2 partitions running on 128MB of RAM for example. What would you suggest then? Wouldn't it be better to place the swap file on the empty partition and set the min = max? That way, the swap file doesn't grow and shrink, becoming fragmented over time?
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein