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Solution for persisting ‘Windows created a temporary paging file on your computer’ error

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Solution for persisting “Windows created a temporary paging file on your computer” error

My Windows 7 laptop began displaying a notification/error every time I logged in:

Windows created a temporary paging file on your computer because of a problem that occured with your paging file configuration when you started your computer. The total paging file size for all disk drives may be somewhat larger than the size you specified

After clicking OK, it would open the virtual memory settings without any explanation of what you were supposed to check or do there.

This evidently happens because pagefile.sys, the file that Windows uses for virtual memory, has become corrupted in some way.

This Microsoft Answers article recommends running a system file check. Here’s how to run an SFC. This did not solve the problem for me, but it is something you should try first.

Here’s how I cleared it up:

  1. Log in under a local Administrator account. (Do this after each restart in these instructions as well.)
  2. If it’s not already open, open the virtual memory settings by rich-clicking on Computer, → Properties → Advanced System Settings → click the Advanced tab → Under Performance, click Settings, go to Advanced tab, finally under Virtual Memory section click the Change button.
  3. Uncheck the Autmatically manage paging file size for all drives checkbox.
  4. Set a “Custom size” for the paging file on the C drive: 0MB initial, 0MB maximum.
  5. Click OK, close all dialog boxes, and restart your computer.

  6. After logging in again, delete the file C:\pagefile.sys

    1. To do this, you may need to change your folder settings so you can see it first. Open a window of your C: drive and click Organize at the top, then Folder and Search Options
    2. Click the View tab, and make sure Show hidden files, folders and drives is turned on, and that Hide protected system files is not checked.
    3. Click OK and go back to your C: drive, find pagefile.sys and delete it.
  7. Now go back to the virtual memory settings (see step 2 above) and set the paging file for the C: drive to System managed size, and then make sure the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives checkbox is checked.
  8. Click OK, close all dialog boxes, and restart your computer.

A summary of what this does: By temporarily turning off virtual memory, you allow yourself to delete the (now-corrupt) paging file. Then when you re-enable virtual memory, Windows automatically builds a new paging file from scratch, and voilà, problem solved.

I was helped by this thread at geekstogo.com although I did not find it necessary to do any editing of the Registry or any of that jazz. Try the simplest solution first, I always say.

Responses

DaveJanuary 10, 2012

Thank you, That worked for me, thx for taking the time to make a webpage for this, awesome!

samMay 23, 2012

cant find pagefile.sys

Aygo BlogsJuly 17, 2012

It dosen’t work. When I delete pagefile.sys it said This action can’t be completed because the file was open in another program

EddieAugust 07, 2012

YES! Big thanks to you as this was driving me Nucking Futs!! Followed each step as described, and it killed the “Windows has created…” crapola, and restored what’s left of any remaining sanity… sincere appreciation.

Raul JuniorOctober 11, 2012

Aygo,

I had the same problem, and I was able to delete the file by restarting on Safe Mode. Hope it helps!

schilbachApril 09, 2013

Thanks for this…more help than MS documentation…

Came across this whilst trying to free more space which people may find helpful - turning off hibernation:

Prof. Sancho PanzaMay 22, 2013

Thank you for this! I’d tried several other solutions, including both the SFC and the “sc config afs start= disabled” command, and none of them worked. This one did - and better still, I actually understood what I was doing!

naveenvarshanJune 25, 2013

Even if I start in safe mode, I am not able to delete it. Please help

Gabriel GunawanOctober 17, 2013

Look carefully that you unchecked “Hide protected operating system files”. Couldn’t find it the first time, but then I realized I’ve overlooked this option.

SiKupleOctober 27, 2013

so do i, Even if I start in safe mode, I am not able to delete it. Please help

Joel A.October 28, 2013

If you can’t delete pagefile.sys (gives “in use by another program” error), make sure you’re running Explorer with Admin priviledges: close your Explorer window, then open Start menu, type “explorer” in search, SHIFT-right-click on the Windows Explorer in the results, and click “Run as Administrator”.

SiKupleOctober 31, 2013

still not work, i’ve closed the explorer first, and then i open windows and typed “explorer” then i press shift with right klicked at " Windows Explorer" and “RUN AS ADMIN” then find the pagefile.sys delete and then… ZONK, STILL use by program

SiKupleOctober 31, 2013

even i choose windows explorer and RUN it as ADMIN i still cant delete pagefile.sys

J.BalboaMarch 30, 2014

I cannot delete the pagifile.sys either. I am always the admin on my computer, moreover, I still went ahead and SHIFT+right-clicked the explorer and I don’t get that “Run as admin…” option. This file is indestructible.

What else do you recommend? Is there a program running in the background (a “process” in the “Task Manager”) that I should kill first?

mizzuhhAugust 27, 2014

maraming salamat, that worked

–mza.

TammySeptember 13, 2014

I am getting this problem too. I’ve followed ALL of the instructions here, but when I go back and click the automatically manage box and reboot, the system doesn’t create a paging file, it just shows everything grayed out and it says no paging file. Ugh and Grrrrr

Johan KotzeOctober 27, 2015

Good day just to add to this…

If you running an HyperV Gen1 VM and getting this message please check that the VHD is not mounted as an ISCSI drive or else the problem will also persist. it needs to be mounted as an Traditional hard drive for the OS to write the Pagefile.

adrian noJanuary 07, 2016

Yep. works fine.. Thanks