Windows 10: Move pagefile to another disk? (Windows keeps using C: disk instead of disk set)

I was battling this issue on and off randomly over the last year, I'd dig into it again and give up as I couldn't ever resolve it, all searches would just lead to people throwing in reasons to keep it as system managed, or you need better hardware. Found another user having the exact same issue however the thread is locked now and I've finally found the solution. ( https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...s/33b2136a-cd71-41f8-a634-ae15f4c9ed8e?page=1 )


My intention was to move a page file from a System disk to another.


This configuration simply doesn't work. Windows keeps ignoring the pagefile on D:\ or Z:\ or whatever disk I set. Even setting a small pagefile on C:\ and a large on another disk it will not use it.


If I try to set a "no paging file" on disk C, after restarting, Windows creates a paging file on C:\ and reports that it created a temporary page file. Checking the reported value under Virtual memory > Total paging file size for all drives it ignores any other pagefiles set. Sometimes the Windows even doesn't create a pagefile on a specified disk (I have checked it when unticked "hide protected operating system files".)


No matter what you do it keeps creating a temporary page file on C:\ the solution to this is if you have enabled Bitlocker Drive Encryption it creates and enables the registry key "PagefileOnOsVolume" and set it to enabled. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...n-bde-enables-the-pagefileonosvolume-registry


Even if you disable bitlocker and decrypt the drives this registry key stays set as enabled bypassing any attempts to move the page file to another partition / drive. If you set HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PagefileOnOsVolume to 0 then reboot you will be able to set your page file to none on your OS drive and move it properly to another partition / hd.

:)

 

How to move pagefile to another disk? (Windows keeps using C: disk instead of another)

If you rush to answer "just open the advanced system settings and find the Performance tab" - that is
NOT the issue.

I have a completley bizarre problem:

in the Performance settings I have done this:





My intention was to move a page file from a System disk to another, which are both SSD, btw.

This configuration simply doesn't work. All the apps keep ignoring the pagefile on G:\ disk and keep being shut down because of insufficient memory.

If I try to set a "no paging file" on disk C, after restarting, Windows creates a 5 Gb paging file and reports that it created a temporary page file. Still ignoring other disks. Sometimes the Windows even doesn't create a pagefile on a specified disk (I
have checked it when unticked "hide protected operating system files".)

What is wrong here?

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

Moved from: Windows / Windows 10 / Performance & system failures

 

How to move pagefile to another disk? (Windows keeps using C: disk instead of another)

The solution didn't work, and I can't move the pagefile to the H:\ disk because it's a USB drive. Moreover, moving a pagefile to HDD rather than SSD may result in loss of speed.

 

How to move pagefile to another disk? (Windows keeps using C: disk instead of another)

I have a vague recollection that the paging file needs to occupy unfragmented disk space. If so then you need to find a way to defrag your SSD. Doing it through the Disk Manager will not work but maybe this method will:

• Temporarily move the stuff from the SSD to a different drive or partition.
• Format the SSD.
• Put the paging file there.
• Restore the data.