Now that you have enough memory installed, install Windows and allow it to set default virtual memory sizes. Go into the settings, look at the minimum recommended size for the swap file, and double that for the minimum, use the same number for the maximum.

Let’s get past the niggardly OEM’s trying to save a couple dollars, thereby selling substandard machines, and the swap file becomes a much less important consideration for most users. Special cases will arise, of course – that’s what the IT guy is for.

By default Windows sets the initial size of the pagefile to 1.5 times the size of physical memory or 2GB, whichever is less. But this is with the assumption that the pagefile is allowed to grow if this is needed. If this is prevented, as the author suggests, you risk severe performance degradation or a system crash. The default settings prevent this.

A better way to prevent pagefile resizing is to increase the initial size so that it will never (or rarely) be necessary. When this is done you have a fixed pagefile for all practical purposes. Always set the maximum size to at least twice the initial size. This gives a safety net in case you guess wrong about the initial size. After a reboot (or sooner) t pagefile will revert to it;s initial unfragmented state. There is no reason not avail yourself of this safety net.

Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA