Safe to delete pagefile.sys?

**Anilrgowda** · 07-Jun-2007, 07:16 AM

I got a Windows Server 2003 Small Business Server Service Pack 1 here. I noticed our D: partition has a pagefile.sys on it that is absolutely huge. It's 1.5 GB or so. My question is: can I delete it or is the file necessary for a proper operation of the server? Thanks for your help.

**Anilrgowda** · 07-Jun-2007, 07:16 AM

Check the size and location of the running pagefile by right clicking My Computer, Properties. Advanced tab, Performance Options. If the settings there do not reference the file you've found, you can delete it.

Or, just go ahead and delete it. If the file you found is the one the system is using, you won't be able to delete it from a running system, as it's in use. If you try to delete it and are able to - then it wasn't in use, and is safe to delete. (Note, this logic does not apply to all necessary system files, but it does apply to pagefile.sys.)

07-Jun-2007, 07:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Anilrgowda Administrator Posts: 18,720 Join Date: Jan 2006 Rep Power: 10 IM:	Safe to delete pagefile.sys? I got a Windows Server 2003 Small Business Server Service Pack 1 here. I noticed our D: partition has a pagefile.sys on it that is absolutely huge. It's 1.5 GB or so. My question is: can I delete it or is the file necessary for a proper operation of the server? Thanks for your help.

07-Jun-2007, 07:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Anilrgowda Administrator Posts: 18,720 Join Date: Jan 2006 Rep Power: 10 IM:	Re: Safe to delete pagefile.sys? Check the size and location of the running pagefile by right clicking My Computer, Properties. Advanced tab, Performance Options. If the settings there do not reference the file you've found, you can delete it. Or, just go ahead and delete it. If the file you found is the one the system is using, you won't be able to delete it from a running system, as it's in use. If you try to delete it and are able to - then it wasn't in use, and is safe to delete. (Note, this logic does not apply to all necessary system files, but it does apply to pagefile.sys.)

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