Weird disk space loss.

Dreadbeard · Jun 1, 2014

Hey all, I need help. I just put 2 2 gb sticks of ram in my pc, to get to 8 gb, and out of nowhere I lost 4 gobs of disk space? I cannot for the life of me figure out where it went, and I have deleted a ton of old stuff to get back to my norm space.
The reason it's of concern is due to the fact that the drive is an ssd, and only 64gb at that, it's my os drive, and losing 4gb is huge. Does anyone know a way to figure out the issue?

SchizTech · Jun 1, 2014

There are a few "hidden" files and functions in Windows, including a page file. Let me suggest a utility which can show everything on the drive and how much space each takes up:

https://windirstat.info/

Dreadbeard · Jun 1, 2014

It appears there is an 8gb page file under <files>

SchizTech · Jun 1, 2014

OK, so it seems that PC set a page file to match the size of installed RAM ( so adding RAM caused it to increase the pagefile also). You can manually set the page file to use less space:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-virtual-memory-size#1TC=windows-7

Dreadbeard · Jun 1, 2014

SchizTech :

Would this compremise my system? Make it unstable at all? Or is it fine to use like that?

USAFRet · Jun 1, 2014

Also, hibernation. hiberfil.sys takes up space equivalent to your RAM.
So increasing from 4GB to 8GB = another 4GB used for that.

Dreadbeard · Jun 1, 2014

USAFRet :

I beleive I have hibernation off, but where can I find it?

SchizTech · Jun 1, 2014

Dreadbeard :

Some programs like to have a pagefile even with lots of RAM but if you';re just shrinking it and not disabling it entirely you should be fine

SchizTech · Jun 1, 2014

to check hibernation:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/819-hibernate-enable-disable.html

Dreadbeard · Jun 1, 2014

SchizTech :

Dreadbeard :

Some programs like to have a pagefile even with lots of RAM but if you';re just shrinking it and not disabling it entirely you should be fine

I shrunk it down to min 1gb and max 4gb, as that is about what it was before I did the ram upgrade. Should this keep things stable? I don't want issue haha.

Dreadbeard · Jun 1, 2014

SchizTech :

It seems I already have hibernation off. I also have posted another reply above this one if you have the time please read it, thank you.

HEXiT · Jun 1, 2014

for system stability you want a page file thats 1.5 times the size of your actual physical ram. you have 4 gigs total so your page file should be 6gig
when you look at the page file setup it will show you the recommended max size. so set it to that manually for max and set the min 1MB lower.
doing this will stop you getting the windows has run out of memory error if you set the page file to low. if you set it to big (over 6 gig in your case) you will just be wasting disk space.

Dreadbeard · Jun 1, 2014

HEXiT :

Sorry I didn't quite understand that, the whole thing of this topic was I installed an extra 4gb of ram bumjng me to 8gb, but I didn't realise the page file went up with it, which took a considerable amount of disk space from my os ssd. That isn't good for an ssd, so I have now reduced the page file from the 8gb it sat on, to 4gb where it was prior to installing the new ram.
This should mean my system will be as stable as before correct?

USAFRet · Jun 1, 2014

Dreadbeard :

HEXiT :

Sorry I didn't quite understand that, the whole thing of this topic was I installed an extra 4gb of ram bumjng me to 8gb, but I didn't realise the page file went up with it, which took a considerable amount of disk space from my os ssd. That isn't good for an ssd, so I have now reduced the page file from the 8gb it sat on, to 4gb where it was prior to installing the new ram.
This should mean my system will be as stable as before correct?

Yes, you should be fine. If you do run into unstability related to the pagefile, increase it a little.

I have 16GB RAM, and have my pagefile set to 1GB min and max. Have never, ever run into an issue.

Dreadbeard · Jun 1, 2014

USAFRet :

Dreadbeard :

Yes, you should be fine. If you do run into unstability related to the pagefile, increase it a little.

I have 16GB RAM, and have my pagefile set to 1GB min and max. Have never, ever run into an issue.

Beautiful thank you very much, hopefully I won't run into any issues from now on, and the new 4gb aram will serve me well

HEXiT · Jun 1, 2014

Dreadbeard :

HEXiT :

Sorry I didn't quite understand that, the whole thing of this topic was I installed an extra 4gb of ram bumjng me to 8gb, but I didn't realise the page file went up with it, which took a considerable amount of disk space from my os ssd. That isn't good for an ssd, so I have now reduced the page file from the 8gb it sat on, to 4gb where it was prior to installing the new ram.
This should mean my system will be as stable as before correct?

my bad i only half read your post. as you have 8 gig of ram you will need a page file of 12 gigs. for the same reason i gave earlier.
especially if you do things like photoshop or 3dsmax/blender rendering.

Dreadbeard · Jun 1, 2014

HEXiT :

Dreadbeard :

my bad i only half read your post. as you have 8 gig of ram you will need a page file of 12 gigs. for the same reason i gave earlier.
especially if you do things like photoshop or 3dsmax/blender rendering.

My ssd really can't handle that kind of extra space loss. Will 4gbs be enough to at least have a stable system.

HEXiT · Jun 1, 2014

the only way to know is try it mate. if you dont get the run out of memory error then your fine. if you do then increase it by a gig and see if you get the error again...

Weird disk space loss.

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