snowman

Hi,

I'm wondering if there is a way I can configure XP Pro (SP2) to use a
1 gig USB 2.0 Flash drive for the swap file instead of the
C:\pagefile.sys? The reason I'm wanting to do this is because I'm
running a unit with only 512k memory, and to upgrade the memory would
not he cost effective, as the type memory is most expensive, close to
$100.00/stick. When I've got several programs running the hard drive
light never goes off.

I know Vista can utilize memory from a certain type of flash drive -
boy I sure wish XP could too...! If I could move my swap file to the
flash drive, that should speed things up significantly though.

Does anyone see any problems with this idea, if it can be done?

If it can be done, can someone tell me how to do it, please?

Many "Thanks."

Snowman

philo

With the card connected to the machine and regognized in windows explorer...
go into your performance options (Virtual memory) and see if the flash drive
is listed.

If that drive is listed...then you can create your pagefile there

rebecca

Windows initializes the Pagefile (Swapfile is Windows 9x talk) before the
USB devices.

zadok

This would not solve your problem of low physical memory even if you
could do it... which you can't. You will still be getting page faults
somewhere. What are your system specs?

-- Zadok
('¿')

youcouldbearedneckif

Snowman,

What you could do is add a second hard drive and switch your page file
to run off of it. These days you can find an old 8-10 Gig hard drive
for next to nothing. This is assuming that you have the ability or
free spot to connect another hard drive. Like the previous posts have
pointed out trying to reach for extra memory with the USB solution
will not work well since the Windows system initializes the page file
long before it gets to the USB drives.

Tech-Weekly
http://www.tech-weekly.com

mad_maxine

It can't be done. Even if it could, you'd see no performance benefit
whatsoever. Vista only offsets some caching to a USB device -- it still
relies heavily upon the standard hard-drive paging file.

Not sure why more RAM wouldn't be cost effective unless you've maxed out
your mobo. The more physical RAM you have, the less reliant you'd be upon
the pagefile. If the HDD light is constant, your drive is taking a severe
hammering -- which will only increase its wear and tear. An additional 500MB
of RAM won't break the bank, and will reduce the strain on your hard-drive.

If additional RAM isn't an option, a second drive -- preferably a separately
controlled one -- would be your best option.

You should also ensure your existing hard-drive is set up correctly. E.g.,
if DMA isn't enabled, hard-drive thrashing is inevitable.

snowman

Hi Zadok,

Sorry this is late getting back to you. I'm running XP Pro ver. 2002,
SP3, 512 mb RAM, 320 gig hd, and a 3.1 GHz Intel chip (with matching
motherboard). I know part of my problem is not keeping enough hd
space clear as it runs best when 100 gigs or more are free. I'm
currently moving things to DVDs just to reach the 100 gig mark.

If this isn't what you were asking for, let me know and I'll find it.

Take care,

Snowman

zadok

Have you priced a 2gb memory kit? It would make a world of difference.

-- Zadok
('¿')

snowman

Hi Rebecca,

Well, what can I say...... I'm as old as my handle, set in my "ways,"
too old of a dog "to learn new tricks," and on top of all that, I live
with dogs -- Labs. <g> I figure they make up for my lack of
intelligence. <g>

Thanks for your reply and info, Rebecca. Have a good day.

Oh BTW, do you know of any program which will allow me to transfer
compressed files from an XP unit to a Vista unit via a USB cable? I
have PCMove by LapLink w/cable and would like to simply move files
back and forth at times. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to
network the Vista unit with the XP unit. Maybe XP and Vista have this
capability builtin, I don't know.

Take care.

Snowman

snowman

Hi Zadok,

Something else. Do you know of any program which will allow me to
transfer compressed files from an XP unit to a Vista unit via a USB
cable? I have PCMove by LapLink w/ cable and would like to simply
move files back and forth at times. Unfortunately, I haven't been
able to network the Vista unit with the XP unit. There may be a
builtin function of both XP and Vista, but I don't know of any, and I
haven't been successful in networking the Vista unit into my XP unit
yet via my cable.

Thanks again.

Take care.

Snowman