Virtual memory is a feature of an operating system that allows it to use physical computer memory (RAM) beyond the amount physically installed on the system. It enables the computer to extend its virtual address space beyond the amount of RAM installed, using disk space instead. The disk space used is referred to as “paging file” or “pagefile”. Virtual memory, also known as “swap space” on UNIX-based systems, can be used to hold parts of programs and data files that would not fit into physical memory.
This article will provide step-by-step instructions for how to adjust the virtual memory settings of a Windows system. The steps outlined here are applicable to Windows 7/8/10, though other versions may vary slightly.
1. Open the System Properties window. To do this, press the Windows key+Pause/Break key.
2. Select the Advanced tab, then click Settings in the Performance category.
3. Select the Advanced tab again, then click Change in the Virtual memory section.
4. In the Virtual Memory window, you can select specific drives to assign paging files to, as well as set the minimum and maximum size for each drive.
5. Click Set if you want to specify custom size for each drive.
6. Enter the values for each drive and click OK.
7. Click OK in the Virtual Memory window to save your changes.
8. Reboot your system for the changes to take effect.
By following these steps, you should now be able to adjust the virtual memory settings on your Windows system. It is important to note that too large a virtual memory configuration can degrade the performance of your system, so be sure to always monitor your virtual memory settings and adjust according to your needs.