How to Enable Page File In Windows

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Enable paging file settings to compensate for insufficient RAM.

A system page file acts as a software emulation of Random Access Memory (RAM) in the event your computer lacks a sufficient amount. Generally, applications write temporary data to RAM to perform their respective operations efficiently. If an insufficient amount of RAM is available, you must enable the paging file settings to create a specified amount of virtual memory. In turn, such space will be used to compensate until any particular program no longer has a need for the RAM currently in use.

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Step 1

Go to "Start," right-click "Computer" and launch the "Properties" menu. You may also go to "Start" and launch the "Control Panel." Click "System and Security" followed by "System." Both methods would conclude in the "System" options menu.

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Step 2

Click "Advanced System Settings" to launch "System Properties." Click "Settings" from the "Performance" field. Click the "Advanced" tab followed by "Change" from the "Virtual Memory" field.

Step 3

Click "Automatically Manage Paging File Size for All Drives." In turn, this effectively enables the Windows paging file settings for all available hard disks. If your computer possesses additional drives and you do not wish to enable this setting for all, highlight the hard drive in question and click "System Managed Size."

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Step 4

Press "Set" to apply all settings, followed by "OK" to exit the Virtual Memory settings menu.

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