11.2.5.8 Lab – Manage Virtual Memory (Answers) – ITE v7.0

11.2.5.8 Lab – Manage Virtual Memory

Instructor Note: Red font color or gray highlights indicate text that appears in the Instructor copy only.

Introduction

In this lab, you will customize virtual memory settings.

Recommended Equipment

• A computer with Windows installed with two or more partitions

Note: At least 2GB of free space is recommended on the second partition.

Instructor Note: Set virtual memory for the two partitions used in the lab to be managed by the system. Navigate to the Control Panel. In the Small icons view, click System. In the System window, click Advanced system settings > click Settings under the Performance heading > click Advanced tab > click Change. Place a check mark in the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives box. Click OK on the open windows to continue. If necessary, restart the computer as instructed.

Instructions

Step 1: Open System Properties

a. Navigate to the Control Panel. In the Small icons view, click System.

b. In the System window, click Advanced system settings.

c. In the System Properties window, select the Advanced tab and click Settings under the Performance heading.

d. In the Performance Options window, click the Advanced tab.

Question:

What is the current size of the virtual memory (paging file)?

Answers may vary. The example shows 640 MB

Step 2: Make virtual memory changes.

a. Click Change in the Virtual memory area to open the Virtual Memory window.

b. Remove the check mark from Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.

Question:

What Drive [Volume Label] contains the paging file?

Answers may vary. In the example, the answer is C [Local Disk]:

c. Choose the I: drive. Select the Custom size: radio button.

Note: Your drive letter and volume may be different than the example. Replace I: with the drive letter for your second partition on your PC.

If there is only one partition on the hard drive, use Disk Management to create a second partition with at least 2GB before continuing with this lab.

Question:

What is the recommended paging file size for all drives?

Answers will vary depending on the drive size.

d. Enter a number smaller than the recommended file size in the Initial size (MB): field. Enter a number that is larger than the Initial size but smaller than the recommended file size in the Maximum size (MB): field. Click Set.

e. Select the C: drive. Select the No paging file radio button, and click Set.

f. The System Properties warning message displays. Click Yes to continue.

g. Click OK in the Virtual Memory window to accept the new virtual memory settings.

h. Click OK in the Performance Options and System Properties windows.

Step 3: Navigate back to the Virtual Memory window to verify changes.

a. Navigate to the System Properties window. (Control Panel > System >Advanced system settings). Select the Advanced tab and click Settings in the Performance area.

b. In the Performance Options window, select the Advanced tab and click Change.

c. The Virtual Memory window opens displaying the new paging file information. Verify your changes.

Question:

What Drive [Volume Label] contains the paging file?

Answers may vary. In this example, the answer is I [ITE]

Step 4: Reset the virtual memory back to the original settings.

a. Select drive C: [Local Disk] > click System managed size > click Set.

b. Select I: > click No paging file > click Set.

c. Check Automatically manage paging file size for all drives, and then click OK.

d. The System Properties window opens informing you that a restart is required before changes will take effect. Click OK.

e. Click OK to close the Performance Options window. Click OK to close the System Properties window.

f. The warning message displays: You must restart your computer to apply these changes. Click Restart Now.

Reflection Questions

Why would you ever change the default virtual memory page file settings in Windows?

Answers will vary. With a default installation, Windows creates the virtual memory page file in the root folder on the same drive, where the systems files are stored. Over time, this drive may run out of free space, which would cause system problems. You could free up space on that drive by moving the virtual memory page file to a different drive. Another reason you may want to move the virtual memory page file is that possibly you have added a faster drive, an SSD for example, and you want to move your virtual memory page file to that drive in an attempt to speed up Windows response times.