pagefile.sys on 2nd disk

Clarifications

How to change the location of the paging file in Windows XP.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307886

How to set performance options in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308417

You should Backup your files to an external hard disk drive or removable disk drive, such as a CD/DVD.

To open the Backup or Restore Wizard

Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.

For information on how to use this tool: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/maintain/backupfiles.mspx

Clear Out Unused Programs

The first step in tuning up your computer's performance is to remove any unnecessary programs.

Follow these steps to remove unneeded programs:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Click Add or Remove Programs.

3. Scroll through the list and examine each program. Windows XP lists how often you use a program and what day you last started it. You shouldn't remove anything labeled as an Update or Hotfix.

4. Click each program you no longer need, click the Remove button, and then follow the prompts to uninstall it.

Note: You may have to restart your computer after removing a program. After your computer restarts, repeat the steps above to remove more programs.

Free Up Wasted Space

Another way to find wasted disk space is to use the Disk Cleanup tool by following these steps:

1. Open My Computer, right-click Local Disk, and then click Properties.

2. On the General tab, click the Disk Cleanup button. Disk Cleanup will spend a few minutes examining your disk.

3. The Disk Cleanup dialog box will open and you can make your selections.

4. Select the desired check boxes in the Files to Delete list, and then click OK.

5. If you have more than one hard disk, repeat this process for each hard disk listed in My Computer.

You can save yourself some time by automating the disk cleanup process. For more information, read the Microsoft Knowledge Basic article, How to Automate the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315246

Defragment Your Computer

1. Open My Computer, right-click Local Disk, and then click Properties.

2. On the Tools tab, click Defragment Now. The Disk Defragmenter opens.

3. Click your first hard disk, and then click Defragment.

4. If you have more than one hard disk, repeat this process for each hard disk listed starting at Step 3.

Disconnect Unused Network Connections

The problem with network drives is that Windows XP will attempt to connect to the network drives when Windows starts. If the remote computers don't respond immediately, Windows will wait for the connection.

To reduce this problem, disconnect any unused drives by following these steps:

1. Open My Computer.

2. On the Tools menu, click Disconnect Network Drive.

3. Select the network drives that you no longer need, and then click OK.

Remove Autostart Programs

The next step in restoring your computer's performance is to identify any unnecessary programs that start automatically.

To start Msconfig.exe:

1. Click Start, click Run, type Msconfig, and then press Enter.

2. On the Startup tab, you'll see a list of all the programs and processes that are set to run when Windows XP loads.

3. Speed up your overall start time by clearing the check box next to any item you think you don't need.

4. Click Apply, and then restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Keep on top of Malware

Download Spybot - Search & Destroy and install it. Update it and run it regularly.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Keep your AntiVirus software up to date.
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Yes moving the Page or Swap File to another HDD from the OS will help to speed up the system as supposedly the Read Write Heads will not be trying to do more than 1 thing at a time and getting qued with read/write operation.

To move the Page File left click on Start and right click on My computer select Proprieties and Left Click on it. In the new Window that opens left click on the Advanced Tab and then when that opens left click on Performance and then left click on the Advanced Tab. Left Click on Change in the Virtual Memory Box and select the HDD which you want your Page File to be on there. Set the changes and exit from here and you have changed where the Page File and also the size of it lives.

Col