Win7 and VM

[ajones]

Hi,

When I set up an XP system, I'd normally create a small partition on the HDD (~1.5x physical RAM) to host the VM. Once the OS is finished, I usually hide the VM partition. Why? Well the VM partition is protected from fragmentation, stops idiots from trying to kill the page file and ensures that there's always enough space for the page file to exist in.

Now I've just bought an SSD in preparation for Win7 (64 bit), and planning on banging the OS on the SSD; mounting 2x 500GB HDDs into it to provide application space etc. So, the SSD will only be used for the OS, basic apps, and the page file.

Now, this partition in an XP system (4GB RAM x 1.5 = 6GB -> pennies) is a little harder to justify in a Win7 system with 8 GB RAM and SSD space at £2 per GB. Following my old regime, that would mean that the VM partition would take up 12 GB of my 64GB SSD, worth approximately 25 quid.

It's also important that he has XP (so that means a virtual machine in there) so my SDD is going to be packed with both the Win7Pro (rec 20GB) and WinXP (~8GB) OSs

So, I guess my question is three-fold;
Is it worth creating a hidden VM partition in Win7 to host the page file?
I guess I'm going to need 2 page files.... ?
Is this the best use of the SSD?

Cheers muchly inadvance

[shaithis]

No need for a hidden partitions, all you are doing is adding an artifical limitation on how your disk space is divided up (of course if you want Win7 and XP on the same disk, you will need to partition for that).

Yes, you need two swap files, just place them in the same partitions as the OS they are for.

Also, the swap file set at 1.5x the physical RAM size is a theory thats almost 10 years out of date and makes zero sense. Your swapfile needs to be [Maximum memory you need to perform your tasks] - [Physical memory present]

Best bet, set to system managed.

[ajones]

Also, the swap file set at 1.5x the physical RAM size is a theory thats almost 10 years out of date and makes zero sense. Your swapfile needs to be [Maximum memory you need to perform your tasks] - [Physical memory present]

I guess I should have been more specific there; The partition is 1.5x RAM, but the page file is set to system managed.

But thanks for clearing that up (I guess I am showing my age!)