Monday, March 25, 2013

How to Clear Windows 7 Virtual Memory Pagefile at Shutdown

How to Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile at Shutdown

Data resident in your virtual memory pagefile is a security risk, especially if you dual boot your PC with more than one operating system. By forcing Windows 7 to clear your pagefile, you have a more secure computer and there will be no leftover information in your pagefile to slow you down. In fact, many people report a generally better Windows 7 experience when they start each session with nothing in virtual memory.

To force Windows 7 to clear the pagefile at shutdown, login using an account with admin privileges. Then, click on Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy. This opens the Local Security Policy options window.


In the left pane, click on the Local Polices Folder and then Security Options folder. This displays a variety of local computer security policies for your PC.



In the right pane, locate an option titled Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile. Right click on this option and choose Properties.


On the Local Security Setting tab, choose the Enabled option. Click the OK button.


Now every time you shut down Windows 7, your PC’s virtual memory pagefile will be cleared of all data.