Can I merge my C: and D: drives ?
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Can I merge my C: and D: drives ?
I am running Windows 98 4.10.1998 My C: drive has 2gb with only 150-200mb free but I have a 12gb D: drive with about 7gb free. I am now finding that my swap file is getting too large and giving me windows disk space warnings.
Is it possible for me to merge the C: and D: drives to have a single large C: drive without having to delete everything and start again.
I have always installed as many programs on the D: drive and can't move anything non essential over from C:
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
VTB
Is it possible for me to merge the C: and D: drives to have a single large C: drive without having to delete everything and start again.
I have always installed as many programs on the D: drive and can't move anything non essential over from C:
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
VTB
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The only way as far as I know is for you to acquire an IDE RAID disk controller which will enable you to combine the drives so that they appear as one. However this is probably not going to be economically viable bearing in mind that you can pick up new 30GB drives for around £100. I don't think that a software based solution exists.
(NB I'm assuming that you have 'standard' IDE drives and not the more expensive SCSI types in which case you would need a SCSI RAID controller)
[ 08 September 2001: Message edited by: Seat 32F ]
(NB I'm assuming that you have 'standard' IDE drives and not the more expensive SCSI types in which case you would need a SCSI RAID controller)
[ 08 September 2001: Message edited by: Seat 32F ]
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Viva,
Do you have 2 physical drives, or one partitioned into 2 logical drives?
If the former, you could put your swap file on the D drive as follows:-
Control panel|System|Performance|Virtual Memory. Select "Let me specify my own virtual memory settings." Use the drop-down list to select your D drive and adjust both minimum and maximum to the same figure, about 2.5 times the amount of RAM you have. There are tech issues about these parameters, but what I have suggested will work. OK your way out and re-boot.
If the latter - ie one drive with two partitions, you could try something like Partition Magic (commercial program from PowerQuest http://www.powerquest.com/ ) which will allow you to adjust the size of your C and D partitions without losing data. Microsoft's version of the same tool is Fdisk - it destroys all your data if you use it to alter partitions, so don't use it unless you want to clean off your drives and start again.
AA
[ 08 September 2001: Message edited by: Ausatco ]
Do you have 2 physical drives, or one partitioned into 2 logical drives?
If the former, you could put your swap file on the D drive as follows:-
Control panel|System|Performance|Virtual Memory. Select "Let me specify my own virtual memory settings." Use the drop-down list to select your D drive and adjust both minimum and maximum to the same figure, about 2.5 times the amount of RAM you have. There are tech issues about these parameters, but what I have suggested will work. OK your way out and re-boot.
If the latter - ie one drive with two partitions, you could try something like Partition Magic (commercial program from PowerQuest http://www.powerquest.com/ ) which will allow you to adjust the size of your C and D partitions without losing data. Microsoft's version of the same tool is Fdisk - it destroys all your data if you use it to alter partitions, so don't use it unless you want to clean off your drives and start again.
AA
[ 08 September 2001: Message edited by: Ausatco ]
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As mentioned above Partition Magic is what you need !
It's a no brainer to install and use. You can partition the physical drive in all manner of ways / sizes, as well as all manner of format types, e.g. FAT, FAT32, NTFS, Linux, HPFS, etc..... physical drive merges into 'logical' drives is also possible.
It's a no brainer to install and use. You can partition the physical drive in all manner of ways / sizes, as well as all manner of format types, e.g. FAT, FAT32, NTFS, Linux, HPFS, etc..... physical drive merges into 'logical' drives is also possible.
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There's a couple more options.
Partition Magic can move everything onto one drive and the other can be removed. The remaining drive can be resized to maximum. All without losing data.
You can increase your RAM (I'd suggest 256Mb minimum) and do away with a swap file altogether. That's what I've done and it works fine.
Partition Magic can move everything onto one drive and the other can be removed. The remaining drive can be resized to maximum. All without losing data.
You can increase your RAM (I'd suggest 256Mb minimum) and do away with a swap file altogether. That's what I've done and it works fine.
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To all who replied, thank you all for your help. I think I will start by moving my swap file to the D: and see how it goes from there. Partition majic sounds like a good option too, I may try that later.
FYI. I have a single physical drive with two partitions.
Many thanks again.
VTB
[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: VivaTheBeaver ]
FYI. I have a single physical drive with two partitions.
Many thanks again.
VTB
[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: VivaTheBeaver ]
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VTB,
In that case it would be a good idea to defrag your D drive before you start. That way Windows will have a tidy disk to work its swap file on.
As I understand it, setting the minimum and maximum values for swapfile size to the same value (2.5 times your RAM) causes an area of the disk to be set aside for the swap file. The advantage is that it will always be defragged and therefore perform as best it can. The disadvantage is that that amount of disk space is not available for other uses.
On the other hand, you could set the minimum size to zero and the max to 2.5 times your RAM. The advantage is that Windows will only grab as much disk space as it needs for the swap file up to the limit you specify, giving the system more flexibility about how to use the available disk space. The disadvantage, as I understand it, is that Windows may end up using fragmented diskspace for the swapfile, which is no problem in itself but it reduces performance in probably the most critical area where peak performance is highly desirable. (The faster your swapfile works the better for you.)
The ideal swap file size of 2.5 times your RAM comes from many sources, all of which say the same. I don't know the theory behind it. What I've recommended to you worked very well for me.
Cheers
AA
[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: Ausatco ]
In that case it would be a good idea to defrag your D drive before you start. That way Windows will have a tidy disk to work its swap file on.
As I understand it, setting the minimum and maximum values for swapfile size to the same value (2.5 times your RAM) causes an area of the disk to be set aside for the swap file. The advantage is that it will always be defragged and therefore perform as best it can. The disadvantage is that that amount of disk space is not available for other uses.
On the other hand, you could set the minimum size to zero and the max to 2.5 times your RAM. The advantage is that Windows will only grab as much disk space as it needs for the swap file up to the limit you specify, giving the system more flexibility about how to use the available disk space. The disadvantage, as I understand it, is that Windows may end up using fragmented diskspace for the swapfile, which is no problem in itself but it reduces performance in probably the most critical area where peak performance is highly desirable. (The faster your swapfile works the better for you.)
The ideal swap file size of 2.5 times your RAM comes from many sources, all of which say the same. I don't know the theory behind it. What I've recommended to you worked very well for me.
Cheers
AA
[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: Ausatco ]
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Just a word of warning.
Partition Magic has one problem - it's not made by Microsoft. When you go to install the next version of Windows you'll get the infamous "This version of Windows does not support Partition Magic - your partition information will be lost" - just a word of warning.
As a previous poster has said you can move your swap file but also check your temporary Internet Files - I bet that's full up! Do to do this in IE click on Tools, Internet Options and then delete files in the Temporary Box.
Buttons
Partition Magic has one problem - it's not made by Microsoft. When you go to install the next version of Windows you'll get the infamous "This version of Windows does not support Partition Magic - your partition information will be lost" - just a word of warning.
As a previous poster has said you can move your swap file but also check your temporary Internet Files - I bet that's full up! Do to do this in IE click on Tools, Internet Options and then delete files in the Temporary Box.
Buttons
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Have a careful read of the following from a Microsoft Technical Support Document
Optimizing the Swap File
Windows 98 uses a special file on your hard disk called a virtual memory swap file (or paging file). With virtual memory under Windows 98, some of the program code and other information are kept in random access memory (RAM), while other information is swapped temporarily to virtual memory. When that information is required again, Windows 98 pulls it back into RAM and, if necessary, swaps other information to virtual memory. This activity is invisible, although you might notice that your hard disk is working. The resulting benefit is that you can run more programs at one time than the computer’s RAM would usually allow.
The Windows 98 swap file is dynamic, so it can shrink or grow based on the operations performed on the system and based on available disk space. A dynamic swap file is usually the most efficient use of resources. It can also occupy a fragmented region of the hard disk with no substantial performance penalty.
Tip The single best way you can ensure high swap file performance is to make sure that the disk containing the swap file has ample free space so that the swap file size can shrink and grow as needed.
The Windows 98 swap file (Win386.swp) is not a permanent file. However, Windows 98 can also use a permanent Windows 3.1 swap file. In this case, the file cannot shrink below the permanent size set for it in Windows 3.1, although the file can grow bigger if required.
Under Windows 98, the swap file can reside on a compressed drive if a protected-mode driver (that is, Drvspace.vxd) controls the compressed drive. DriveSpace marks the swap file as uncompressible and places the swap file as the last file in the sector heap (to reduce the risk of fragmentation), allowing room for the swap file to grow.
Although the system defaults usually provide the best performance, you can adjust the parameters used to define the swap file. For example, to optimize swap file performance on a computer with multiple hard disk drives, you might want to override the default location of the Windows 98 swap file. The swap file should be placed on the drive with the fastest performance, unless that disk is overused. If a user usually loads all software from the same drive in a computer that has multiple drives, performance might be boosted by placing the swap file on one of the drives that is not as busy.
Caution Completely disabling virtual memory might cause the computer to stop operating properly. You might not be able to restart the computer, or system performance might be degraded. Do not disable virtual memory unless instructed to do so by a product support representative.
To adjust the virtual memory swap file
1. In Control Panel, double-click System, click the Performance tab, and then click Virtual Memory.
2. To specify a different hard disk, click the Let me specify my own virtual memory settings option. Then specify the new disk in the Hard disk box. Or type values (in kilobytes) in the Minimum or Maximum box. Then click OK
If you set the maximum swap file size in the Virtual Memory dialog box to the amount of free space currently on a drive, Windows 98 assumes that it can increase the swap file beyond that size if more free disk space becomes available. If you want to impose a fixed limit on the swap file size, make sure that the limit you choose is less than the current maximum.
From this you can see that it doesn't make sense to reduce the Swap File size to zero (ie, disable it)
Yes, what WDTBD says about Partition Magic is true. Be very wary of it and always back-up data before using it. I had a very scary Sunday afternoon rushing to PC World to get a second small HD to reload the OS (NT4) to recover my data from the trashed HD.
But it does work and will do what the others say when used correctly.
Optimizing the Swap File
Windows 98 uses a special file on your hard disk called a virtual memory swap file (or paging file). With virtual memory under Windows 98, some of the program code and other information are kept in random access memory (RAM), while other information is swapped temporarily to virtual memory. When that information is required again, Windows 98 pulls it back into RAM and, if necessary, swaps other information to virtual memory. This activity is invisible, although you might notice that your hard disk is working. The resulting benefit is that you can run more programs at one time than the computer’s RAM would usually allow.
The Windows 98 swap file is dynamic, so it can shrink or grow based on the operations performed on the system and based on available disk space. A dynamic swap file is usually the most efficient use of resources. It can also occupy a fragmented region of the hard disk with no substantial performance penalty.
Tip The single best way you can ensure high swap file performance is to make sure that the disk containing the swap file has ample free space so that the swap file size can shrink and grow as needed.
The Windows 98 swap file (Win386.swp) is not a permanent file. However, Windows 98 can also use a permanent Windows 3.1 swap file. In this case, the file cannot shrink below the permanent size set for it in Windows 3.1, although the file can grow bigger if required.
Under Windows 98, the swap file can reside on a compressed drive if a protected-mode driver (that is, Drvspace.vxd) controls the compressed drive. DriveSpace marks the swap file as uncompressible and places the swap file as the last file in the sector heap (to reduce the risk of fragmentation), allowing room for the swap file to grow.
Although the system defaults usually provide the best performance, you can adjust the parameters used to define the swap file. For example, to optimize swap file performance on a computer with multiple hard disk drives, you might want to override the default location of the Windows 98 swap file. The swap file should be placed on the drive with the fastest performance, unless that disk is overused. If a user usually loads all software from the same drive in a computer that has multiple drives, performance might be boosted by placing the swap file on one of the drives that is not as busy.
Caution Completely disabling virtual memory might cause the computer to stop operating properly. You might not be able to restart the computer, or system performance might be degraded. Do not disable virtual memory unless instructed to do so by a product support representative.
To adjust the virtual memory swap file
1. In Control Panel, double-click System, click the Performance tab, and then click Virtual Memory.
2. To specify a different hard disk, click the Let me specify my own virtual memory settings option. Then specify the new disk in the Hard disk box. Or type values (in kilobytes) in the Minimum or Maximum box. Then click OK
If you set the maximum swap file size in the Virtual Memory dialog box to the amount of free space currently on a drive, Windows 98 assumes that it can increase the swap file beyond that size if more free disk space becomes available. If you want to impose a fixed limit on the swap file size, make sure that the limit you choose is less than the current maximum.
From this you can see that it doesn't make sense to reduce the Swap File size to zero (ie, disable it)
Yes, what WDTBD says about Partition Magic is true. Be very wary of it and always back-up data before using it. I had a very scary Sunday afternoon rushing to PC World to get a second small HD to reload the OS (NT4) to recover my data from the trashed HD.
But it does work and will do what the others say when used correctly.
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Fobotsco,
I think you're replying to me.
I didn't say set the swap file size to zero. I said an option was to set the minimum to zero and the max to 2.5 times RAM. In response to those settings, Windows will size the swap file as it wants up to the max size specified.
VTB, if all this is getting confusing with too many options, etc, just make Windows use the D drive for its swap file as previously discussed, but don't adjust the size; Windows will figure it out for you. Your 7 free gigs on the D drive is enough for Windows to do what it wants.
AA
[ 10 September 2001: Message edited by: Ausatco ]
I think you're replying to me.
I didn't say set the swap file size to zero. I said an option was to set the minimum to zero and the max to 2.5 times RAM. In response to those settings, Windows will size the swap file as it wants up to the max size specified.
VTB, if all this is getting confusing with too many options, etc, just make Windows use the D drive for its swap file as previously discussed, but don't adjust the size; Windows will figure it out for you. Your 7 free gigs on the D drive is enough for Windows to do what it wants.
AA
[ 10 September 2001: Message edited by: Ausatco ]
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Ausatco, No Sir! 'Twas not you. I wouldn't dream of it. 
Getta Grip, 6 posts above this one, claimed to have done away with the Swap File altogether with no performance detriment.
Microsoft's point was to leave it to the software. They ought to know!
Getta Grip, 6 posts above this one, claimed to have done away with the Swap File altogether with no performance detriment.
Microsoft's point was to leave it to the software. They ought to know!
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Oops! I missed Getagrip's method.
Getagrip - it does seem a bit fraught, but I guess if it works ...
Out of curiosity, how much RAM do you have?
What happens if you start fooling around with big files with a number of apps running. eg a photo editor a 60meg file, with Outlook, Excel and Word also running? I have 256Mb RAM and that scenario fires up the swap file.
AA
Getagrip - it does seem a bit fraught, but I guess if it works ...
Out of curiosity, how much RAM do you have?
What happens if you start fooling around with big files with a number of apps running. eg a photo editor a 60meg file, with Outlook, Excel and Word also running? I have 256Mb RAM and that scenario fires up the swap file.
AA
