A page file is where Windows stores data it does not need at any instant in time. So when you load 'lots' of programmes in separate windows, its working hard for its living. It looks at each one, decides what your using at the moment, then dumps the data needed for the others into a temporary space on your disc because it does not have enough room in your PC memory to store it all - the page file - some still call it the Swop File ( a throw back to previous windows versions page file and swop file are the same thing), get in the habit of using the term pagefile.
When you click on another window, windows looks at what is needed from the pagefile and puts it on screen. All that takes time because using information from the pagefile is thousands of times slower than using it from memory. Hence the phrase many use "need more memory" to solve a problem - extra memory in your PC allows less to be stored on disk, and therefore windows works faster. If your hard disc light is permanently flicker way or permanently on, its likely you may be a candidate for extra memory (indicator only as windows does lots of disc swopping for other reasons), certainly if an application is very slow, and you see the disc being pounded hard as window keeps getting info even when you just click a mouse, then the need for extra memory is probably very high.
The settings in the pagefile (min max). Minimum means windows pre-allocates that amount of space, maximum means you allow it to dynamically increase the space above minimum as it needs it to that value. When the values are different, the pagefile will become fragmented, not the end of Mankind as we know it (despite what the tweek freeks will say), but if you have a good size hard disc with lots of space, then might as well set max=min.
You will find huge debate on file size for this. At the end of the day in real world computing, setting it for a large amount just takes up disc space, the slow down is negligable.
In memory hungry games - and Civ IV goggles up memory like there is no tommorrow - its crazy, appauling coding - then you definitely need a large pagefile. If you set it to 1.5 or 2 times the size of RAM that is usually the norm. So for you a setting of 1500mb is plenty, and keep the setting as min = max (1500 min and 1500max).
Access the settings in :
go to my computer icon, right click, select properties, select advance tab, lookat performance, select settings, select advanced tab, look at virtual memory, select change, click custom and enter the min and max values you want. you done.
If you open Civ IV, then also open another programme at the same time - with the low RAM you have - its highly likely that windows tried to dump all its Civ IV data into the page file and ran out of space, hence the other app failed to load etc.
The solution is to add more memory, and really with Civ IV at the moment, until they fix the appauling memory management, you need at least 512mb, 1Gb is comfortable, but 512mb should do you fine. There are lots of other issues with Civ IV flying around, and you need to be careful in assumptions concerning memory size etc - some are running on 256mb, but I suspect very slowly, especially in the late game phases where much much more memory is needed. Dont be surpriused to find you still have problems even with 512mb for many reasons not connected with pagefile & vm aspects.
You can keep an eye on how much of your pagefileis being used by going to the bottom blue bar on your screen, right click, select task manager, select performance tab, look at the bottom:
Committ Charge
Total - actual RAM being used
Limit - RAM plus the size of your pagefile
Peak - the most windows used in your curreent session since booting
Physical Memory
Total - the actual RAM you have
Available - actual RAM still not being used
Systems Cache - the ammount windows itself is gobbling up (windows is notorious in itself for using lots of memory)
Regards
Zy
