Windows operating system uses virtual memory to increase the speed of operation. The RAM is divided into many equal sized pages. The memory needed by different programs is also divided into similar sized pages. When many programs are running simultaneously, Windows memory manager moves the desired pages from the disk into RAM to run the program. When another program is worked on, the memory manager moves the pages of the older program into a pagefile on the disk (usually pagefile.sys). The pagefile is usually one and half times the size of RAM.
During computer troubleshooting, it has been found that many third-party programs store sensitive information like passwords in plain text in the pagefile temporarily. However, since the pagefile is not erased by Windows, it results in insecure data being present in the computer thereby decreasing the security of the system.
Configuring the system to clear the pagefile when the system shuts down is the only solution to this problem. Though this method increases the security, it prolongs the time taken for shutdown.
A word of caution:
The registry needs to be modified to clear the pagefile. Incorrect modification of the registry has disastrous effects. Therefore, please take support and help from experts in home computer repair or from remote pc support to backup your registry before you make any changes to it. Then, if there is any problem the original registry can be restored with their advice.
• Start the registry window either by Start -> Run -> type ‘regedit’ ->Enter or by double-clicking the regedt32.exe in C:\Windows\system32.
• In the left pane are a number of folders. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Expand this folder.
• Now click on the + sign on the SYSTEM folder. Navigate down the tree to go to CurrentControlSet.
• Click on + again on CurrentControlSet. Look for Control and then Session Manager folder.
• In Session Manager folder click on Memory Management.
• On the right pane of your registry editor, check for ClearPageFileAtShutdown. If it is not there then create it by:
o Right click on the right pane of the registry editor.
o Select New -> DWORD.
o Name the new DWORD value ClearPageFileAtShutdown.
• Double-click ClearPageFileAtShutdown. A value edit box will pop up.
• Type 0 to disable Clear Page File or type 1 to enable Clear Page File.
• Exit the registry editor window and reboot your system for the changes to register.
Enabling or disabling the ClearPageFileAtShutdown is a choice to be made by the user. A computer repair technician will be able to guide you depending on your usage of programs. On a system with heavy usage, the pagefile could be quite large, leading to security risk and a drop in the performance of the computer. Then it may be a good idea to enable clearing of the pagefile, even though it might mean longer shutdown period.
However, if you have a large RAM, say (1GB) and are not into heavy software it might be a good idea to do away with the paging file itself.
• From the Control Panel -> System->Advanced ->Settings ->Advanced.
• Select the Change tab and then the ‘No Paging File’ button and click Set.
This will remove the paging file from your system.
Consult a remote computer support company such as fixit99.com for best options.
****************
"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com
