Bucaro TecHelp Computers : Windows System Administration : Disable Kernal Paging to Speed Up Windows

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Disable Kernal Paging to Speed Up Windows

By Stephen Bucaro

Modern operating systems use a memory management scheme called "paging". To increase the amount of memory, the operating system allocates part of the hard disk as "virtual" or "pretend" memory. A "Page" is a chunk of data that is moved from RAM to virtual memory in order to make room for programs or data being moved into RAM. When data in virtual memory is needed back in RAM, another page swap occurs.

Although "paging" allows the operating system to function as if it had much more RAM installed than it actually has, the hard disk is much slower to access than real RAM. The Windows operating system itself is slowed by paging. You can speed up Windows by configuring it to keep the "kernal", or "heart" of the Windows operating system in RAM.

- in order to actually realize a speed improvement using this technique, you must have sufficient RAM installed in your computer; 256 MB or more.

Setting the DisablePagingExecutive key in the registry to a value of 1 instructs Windows to keep the "kernal" in RAM. Below is a simple script you can use to check and configure the DisablePagingExecutive key.

Dim wshShell, RegKey
Set wshShell = Wscript.CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
RegKey = "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\"

If wshShell.RegRead(RegKey & "ClearPageFileAtShutdown") Then
If MsgBox("ClearPageFileAtShutdown = 1, Set to 0?", vbQuestion + vbYesNo, "DisablePagingExecutive") = vbYes Then
wshShell.regWrite RegKey & "DisablePagingExecutive", 00000000, "REG_DWORD"
End If
Else
If MsgBox("ClearPageFileAtShutdown = 0, Set to 1?", vbQuestion + vbYesNo, "DisablePagingExecutive") = vbYes Then
wshShell.regWrite RegKey & "DisablePagingExecutive", 00000001, "REG_DWORD"
End If
End If

Paste this script into Windows Notepad and save the file with the name "kernalram.vbs". Double click on the file name to execute it and a popup message box will display the value of the DisablePagingExecutive key on your computer and ask if you want to change it. If the DisablePagingExecutive key is set to one, clicking on the "Yes" button will change it to zero. If it's set to zero, clicking on the "Yes" button will change it to one.

When you restart Windows, the new configuration will take effect.

To learn more, download the free ebook Use the Windows Scripting Host to Master Your Computer.

Note: The script in this article is provided AS IS without warranty of any kind. Bucaro TecHelp disclaims all implied warranties including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk arising out of the use of the script remains with you. To be safe, you should make a backup copy of your computers registry before using this script. In no event shall Bucaro TecHelp be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of the use of or inability to use this script.