Virtual Memory Paging File - Clear at Shutdown

How to Enable or Disable "Clear Virtual Memory Paging File at Shutdown" in Vista and Windows 7

information   Information
This will show you how to enable or disable clearing the virtual memory pagefile when you restart or shutdown the computer.

By default, this setting is disabled in Vista and Windows 7.
Note   Note

WHY ENABLE:
Sensitive information may have been temporarily stored in the virtual memory pagefile. For this security reason and others, it may be a good idea to enable this setting to clear the virtual memory pagefile occasionally or when you suspect this. When this setting is enabled it will clear the virtual memory pagefile, and the hibernation file only on a portable computer, when you restart or shutdown the computer.

WHY DISABLE:
When this setting is enabled it can add around a minute or so to how long it takes your computer to shutdown and restart. How much time it will add depends on how much RAM you have installed and how big the Virtual Memory Paging File is set at.
Tip   Tip

C:\pagefile.sys





OPTION ONE
Using a REG File Download

1. To Disable Clear Paging File at Shutdown
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​
Disable_Clear_Page_File.reg
download

B) Go to step 3.​

2. To Enable Clear Paging File at Shutdown
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​
Enable_Clear_Page_File.reg
download

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​
4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.​
5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​
6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​
7. If you enabled this setting, then restart or shutdown the computer to clear the Virtual Memory Paging File.​




OPTION TWO
Through the Local Security Policy

1. Open the Local Security Policy.​
2. In the left pane, click on to expand Local Policies and User Rights Assignment, then open Security Settings. (See screenshot below)​
SECPOL-1.jpg

3. In the right pane, right click on Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile and click on Properties.​
4. To Enable Clear Paging File at Shutdown
A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)​
B) Go to step 6.​

5. To Disable Clear Paging File at Shutdown
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Select (dot) Disabled and click on OK.​
Properties.jpg

6. Close Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.​
7. If you enabled this setting, then restart or shutdown the computer to clear the Virtual Memory Paging File.​




OPTION THREE
Manually Using Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.​
2. If prompted by UAC, then click on the Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).​
4. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (See screenshot below)​
Code:
[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[INDENT][INDENT]
Reg_Disabled.jpg

5. To Enable Clear Paging File at Shutdown
A) In the right pane, right click on ClearPageFileAtShutdown and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)​
B) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​
Modify_Enabled.jpg

C) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)​
Reg_Enabled.jpg

E) Go to step 7.​

6. To Disable Clear Paging File at Shutdown
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) In the right pane, right click on ClearPageFileAtShutdown and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)​
B) Type 0 (number zero) and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​
Modify_Disabled.jpg

C) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below step 4)​

7. Close regedit.​
8. If you enabled this setting, then restart or shutdown the computer to clear the Virtual Memory Paging File.​
That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Disable_Clear_Page_File.reg
    344 bytes · Views: 12,988
  • Enable_Clear_Page_File.reg
    344 bytes · Views: 8,719
  • thumb_System_Configurations.png
    thumb_System_Configurations.png
    11 KB · Views: 415
Last edited by a moderator:
but how about I'm already turn off the (0) pagefile

or is it really related?

please advice,shawn

thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    XPS 720 RED
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme QX9650(Penryn Yorkfield) ([email protected])
    Memory
    8GB OCZ Reaper PC2-8500 Ver.3@1066MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce® GTX 295 Plus w/Backplate OC@ 670c/1246m/1500s
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeGamer (D) Sound Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Ultrasharp 27" WFP LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    500GB - Seagate 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache with Thermaltake HDD cooler ~
    Western Digital 1TB X (5) / 750GB USB 2.0 My Book Essential Edition 2.0 External Hard Drive
    PSU
    1,000W
    Case
    XPS 720 Sliver w/ X-View Clear Side Panel
    Keyboard
    Logitech® diNovo Edge™
    Mouse
    Logitech® MX™ Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15MB~D/2MB~U
    Other Info
    Logitech® Z-5500 THX-Certified 505-Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System ~

    D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme N Gaming Router ~

    Scythe KAMA-METER 5.25 inch Bay Multi-Function Panel Controller ~
Abiosis,

No, this is not related to the Index at all. (From post: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69564-index-enable-disable.html#post752202)

This tutorial here will only enable or disable Vista from clearing the Virtual Page Memory file automatically when you shutdown the computer. That's all.

Stopping and Disabling the Windows Search service will completely disable the Index.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
really useful infos

thanks again,Shawn

Peace~
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    XPS 720 RED
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme QX9650(Penryn Yorkfield) ([email protected])
    Memory
    8GB OCZ Reaper PC2-8500 Ver.3@1066MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce® GTX 295 Plus w/Backplate OC@ 670c/1246m/1500s
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeGamer (D) Sound Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Ultrasharp 27" WFP LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    500GB - Seagate 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache with Thermaltake HDD cooler ~
    Western Digital 1TB X (5) / 750GB USB 2.0 My Book Essential Edition 2.0 External Hard Drive
    PSU
    1,000W
    Case
    XPS 720 Sliver w/ X-View Clear Side Panel
    Keyboard
    Logitech® diNovo Edge™
    Mouse
    Logitech® MX™ Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15MB~D/2MB~U
    Other Info
    Logitech® Z-5500 THX-Certified 505-Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System ~

    D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme N Gaming Router ~

    Scythe KAMA-METER 5.25 inch Bay Multi-Function Panel Controller ~
Your welcome Abiosis.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Hello Darkbluetuber, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Enabling this can only increase the boot time if you restart the computer. When this is enabled, the page file will be cleared at every shutdown and restart adding a bit of time for this to finish first.

This will have no effect when starting the computer when it's already shut down or in sleep mode though.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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