Windows XP swap file?

nissmo300 · Member Joined: 09 Oct 2003

I know this file can contain important information or passwords. Is there a way to copy it or open it up to see whats inside?

1. Can it be deleted?

2. Can it be cleared?

3. If you have encrypted certain files, used passwords, bank account numbers, etc are they stored in this file for someone to find? How can you protect yourself?

808smokey · Yoda Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Location: Fiji

You can only delete it from the DOS prompt. Not command window in Xp but a real DOS prompt. Go to DOS Then delete it from there. It should be in the root directory of your OS
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BJ_M · Patron Joined: 30 Jul 2002 Location: Canada

put the drive with the swap file into another computer and open the swap file with hexedit or even notepad -- lots of juicy stuff that you can read snippets of ...

you can set windows to clean up the swap file on shutting down -- its in one of the mmc controls ..
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RabidDog · Old B. Joined: 25 Oct 2002 Location: UK

it will be re created and refilled with info every time you run windows of course!
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BJ_M · Patron Joined: 30 Jul 2002 Location: Canada

nissmo300 · Member Joined: 09 Oct 2003

Thanks for the info but how do I exactly find it and copy it?

I hit start>run>c:\pagefile.sys

and it says what do you want to open it with? I pick notepad and it says its in use... any suggestions?

808smokey · Yoda Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Location: Fiji

BJ_M · Patron Joined: 30 Jul 2002 Location: Canada

haha -- what a joke ... i guess they don't use programs which rely on huge swap files.
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"Each problem that I solved became a rule which served afterwards to solve other problems." - Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

nissmo300 · Member Joined: 09 Oct 2003

Hi guys I found the swap file. You have to turn off "hide system files" to see it.

Anyway when I try to copy it or open it won't let me saying it is in use. Is there any way around this?

I really want to check it out becuase mine is nearly 1.5 gigs.

808smokey · Yoda Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Location: Fiji

I didn't say I agreed with it I just stumbled across it. That might be true if you're only surfing the net but that's about it.
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freestyler · Lacey Member Joined: 23 Jun 2003

With 1 GB, I run a RAM swap file. My power-hungry apps use their own swap files, but sometimes warn me that Windows XP is running without one.

Doesn't seem to be a problem though, for me at least.

-Freestyler

Faustus · insane. Joined: 11 Apr 2002 Location: Dallas, TX

My idea was to upgrade to about 2gb of ram, then impose a limit on what XP can use... like 100mb or something. That way Programs will not complain, but I dont have that much RAM so...

gmatov · **Banned** Joined: 21 Nov 2002 Location: Pgh Area

I can't see why you are worried about the 1.5 gig of your swap file.

It is workspace, like scratchpaper, that Win uses when it needs more memory to operate on something.

It will work on part of, say, a Photoshop resize, need more room, write what it has done so far to Win386.swp, load more of the problem into RAM and work on it.

That's why it's called a Swap File.

If you are concerned, go to Control Panel and change from "Let Windows Manage My Swap File" to I wanna do it myself. Set a lower and upper limit, but don't be surprised if it slows down the machine or crashes an operation for lack of work space.

Auto set is 0 minimum, No maximum. 100 gig drive could have 98 gig Swap File if only 2 gigs are already written with Win and a couple programs.

Linux tells you to set your own Swap File size, an actual partition, of 2 times your physical RAM. 512 meg RAM, 1 gig Swap.

This is really a non starter issue.

Cheers,

George