shank

XP SP2, Paragon partition manager 7.

I have 45gb of unallocated space, out of which I want to make a
partition of 2gb for swap file.

Windows management doesn't give me any options to format the unallocated
space.

When I highlight the unallocated space in PPM , the only choice of
actions I have is to view sectors.

How do I create a new partition?

cheers

--
Rob

It's so nice to be insane, no one asks you to explain.

dave patrick

What does Disk Management have to say about it?

Start|Run|diskmgmt.msc

BTW since the partitions will be sharing the same drive controller and disk
head there really isn't an advantage to doing this.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

|
| I have 45gb of unallocated space, out of which I want to make a
| partition of 2gb for swap file.
|
| Windows management doesn't give me any options to format the unallocated
| space.
|
| When I highlight the unallocated space in PPM , the only choice of
| actions I have is to view sectors.
|
| How do I create a new partition?
|
| cheers
|
| --
| Rob
|
| It's so nice to be insane, no one asks you to explain.

ken blake, mvp

Putting the Page File on a second partition is not a good idea, and can hurt
your performance. What it does is move the page file to a location on the
hard drive distant from the other frequently-used data on the drive. The
result is that every time Windows needs to use the page file, the time to
get to it and back from it is increased.

Putting the page file on a second *physical* drive is a good idea, since it
decreases head movement, but not to a second partition on a single drive. A
good rule of thumb is that the page file should be on the most-used
partition of the least-used physical drive. For almost everyone with a
single drive, that's C:.

If you have enough RAM, the penalty for moving the page file to a second
partition may be slight, since you won't use the page file much, but it
won't help you.

Also, the other problem with a separate partition like this is that you run
the risk of making it too small, in which case programs will fail for lack
of virtual memory, or too large, which is wasteful of disk space. If you
leave it on C:, it can expand or contract as needed.


You need to do this through Disk Management.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

ron martell

Use Disk Management.

Start - Run - DISKMGMT.MSC

Note a separate swap file partition for any sort of performance
reasons is basically foolish.

There are two possible situations:
1. Your computer is actually writing to and reading from the swap
file to a significant extent (note that there is no readily available
tool in Windows XP that will give you this information). In this case
the separate swap file partition will result in increased travel
distance for the disk head mechanism as shuttles back and forth
between the system partition and the swap file partition. Disk head
travel time is the slowest aspect of hard drive performance, and
increasing the distance travelled will increase this time, thereby
slowing performance. The best fix for heavy actual usage of the swap
file is to install more RAM.

2. Your computer is not actually using the swap file very much at
all. In that case the separate partition will provide no advantage.


Also some sources cite "swap file fragmentation" as a justification
for the separate partition. Swap file fragmentation as a performance
issue is right up there with Santa Claus, Easter Bunny and the Tooth
Fairy - lots of hype and very little substance.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

shank

Thanks for the replies.

I have an old 1.6gb disc, which I'll install as a swap drive.

This comes about through setiathome. I've tried installing it a couple
of times, and my system freezes, requiring a power reboot, so I'm trying
to sort through various causes. I have already tried setting it to use
less cpu, which didn't work.


--
Rob

ken blake, mvp

You're welcome, but bear in mind that a second *physical* drive, while
normally a good idea, in this case may also hurt you. If it's very old, it
may also be very slow.

How much RAM do you have?

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

gene k

I will say that I WOULD NOT install that old and teeny drive. Instead buy a
new one since drives now are very cheap compared to yesteryear. Everyone I
know who moves the Swap file puts it on a second internal drive. Might also
consider buying a new Computer with bigger drives and much more RAM.
Gene K


| > Shank wrote:
| >> XP SP2, Paragon partition manager 7.
| >>
| >> I have 45gb of unallocated space, out of which I want to make a
| >> partition of 2gb for swap file.
| >> <snip>
| > Thanks for the replies.
| >
| > I have an old 1.6gb disc, which I'll install as a swap drive.
|
|
| You're welcome, but bear in mind that a second *physical* drive, while
| normally a good idea, in this case may also hurt you. If it's very old, it
| may also be very slow.
|
| How much RAM do you have?
|
| --
| Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
| Please reply to the newsgroup | |
| >
| > This comes about through setiathome. I've tried installing it a couple
| > of times, and my system freezes, requiring a power reboot, so I'm
| > trying to sort through various causes. I have already tried setting
| > it to use less cpu, which didn't work.
|
|

shank

Oops, thanks. Forgot to check the speed. 4500 is a bit too slow. Scotch that idea.


1gb (512,256,256)

This all comes from trying to run setiathome. I have installed 2
versions (not concurrently), both of which freeze my system when in they
go into screensaver mode, even if I use a different screensaver. I am
working through possible causes. Tried setting cpu usage to less than
the default setting of 100%. No fix, so thought I'd try memory. I have
this vaguelly terrifying feeling that I may be in dll hell, but don't
really wish to go there yet.

--
Rob

shank

Thanks Gene, but I'm an invalid on very limited income, and here in
kiwiland drives cost $1 per gb.

My pc is not too out of date, considering my uses. 1.7 celeron, 1gb ram,
160gb hd, 9600 pro etc.

And you're right about the drive. 4500rpm would slow things down, even
if it fixed the problem with setiathome.

Cheers
--
Rob

dans

It obvious the problem is with Seti@Home, which by it's design uses your PC
for computations when it is idle......when the screensaver comes on.

Simply un-install all versions.