Supposedly it is better to have the swap file (pagefile.sys) on a lesser used drive.  I have mine on the drive where I store partition images and backups.  I can't speak to fragmentation and I don't now how much it would help to use a separate partition on the same drive as your operating system.  I think the idea is that the pagefile drive can be read from / written to independently of the work you are doing on your main working drive - not having to jump around so much - which would mean not just a separate partition, but a separate drive from your main working drive.  I have a working drive with 1 partition for the OS and Programs, Drivers, etc. and 1 partition for the My Documents folder (you have to move it a certain way for XP to handle it right).  My second drive is backups only and that's where I have my pagefile.sys since that drive is only otherwise used during backups or imaging.  Actually, once I get my new machine built I hope I'll have enough RAM to eliminate the pagefile (or drastically reduce its size & keep it just for unforseen emergencies.)

As for fragmentation, you will have less of that and a more efficient pagefile if you make the size fixed instead of variable.  I use ...oops on borrowed PC till mine is built, so I can't remember exactly, but something like 1536mb.  Whatever the maximum was, I set the minimum to the same thing, so it doesn't have to fragment the disk trying to change sizes dynamically.

AnnaSummers

============================================================
From: Laurie <[log in to unmask]>

Is there any advantage to having the swap file on a seperate partition?
Does it reduce the tendency to fragment?

Laurence Mckenna

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