Holy Swap-File, Batman!

One method of increasing your system performance and increasing your security, is to…(are you a ready for this one!)…delete the Swap-File (also known as the PageFile).  Now I’m not saying to permanently remove the swap-file, that would be VERY bad…but rather remove it as the computer shuts down and recreate it as the computer reboots… WHY? you ask.. couple of reasons.

1. Sensitive information may have been temporarily stored in the virtual memory pagefile. For this security reason and others, it may be a good idea to enable this setting to clear the virtual memory pagefile occasionally or when you suspect this. When this setting is enabled it will clear the virtual memory pagefile, and the hibernation file only on a portable computer, when you restart or shutdown the computer.
2. If you leave the file in place…over time it get “fragmented”, which makes the system work harder to find the files it needs…by deleting it, and restarting the computer, a NEW and IMPROVED swap file is created, which is not fragmented.

So how do you do this?….It’s a little “Geeky”, but here you go:

WARNING: THIS METHOD ONLY WORKS ON VISTA ENTERPRISE, BUSINESS, AND ULTIMATE…for Vista Home and Preium, look towards the bottom of this article for section 2.

Section 1)

Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. In the left pane, click on Computer Configuration, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, and Security Options. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile and click on Properties.
4. To Enable Clear Paging File at Shutdown -

A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)
B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Clear Paging File at Shutdown -

A) Select (dot) Disabled and click on OK.

6. Close Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.
7. If you enabled this setting, then restart or shutdown the computer to clear the Virtual Memory Paging File.

 

Section 2)

1. To Disable Clear Paging File at Shutdown -

A) Click on the download link below to download the
Disable_Clear_Page_File.reg file.
B) Go to step 3.

2. To Enable Clear Paging File at Shutdown -

A) Click on the download button below to download the
Enable_Clear_Page_File.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click on Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).
8. If you enabled this setting, then restart or shutdown the computer to clear the Virtual Memory Paging File.

-SuperDale (http://myfamilysafety.blogspot.com)

(Note: I’m not responsible for any issues that these files may or may not cause…there’s my disclaimer)