Question Windows won't remove unused page file

[Dimitri001]

I had to move my pagefile around to format a partition, so I created a page file on E: and told Win to remove the one on C:, but it didn't do it. Then I set the pagefile on E: to none and told Win to create one on C: and now there's a lingering pagefile on E: that Windows won't remove.

In "virtual memory" it says that there's no pagefile on E:, but I see one in Explorer and one is listed in Disk Management. I cannot get rid of this page file. One also exists on C:.

I've tried restarting the computer, but the pagefile is still there.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

when setting pagefile.sys to drive 'C:' what are the attributes of this same file left on 'E:';
file size, date modified, etc?

 

[Colif]

Try running windirstat and see if you really do still have one on E

WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics

its possible its showing in disk management as it had one on there before, it might not now.

where does it show in explorer?

 

[Dimitri001]

when setting pagefile.sys to drive 'C:' what are the attributes of this same file left on 'E:';
file size, date modified, etc?

The date is yesterday, which is when I created it when I tried moving the file from C: to E:, and the filesize is 2GB, which is what I had set. So it's definitely the one I created.

I should say, I also yesterday tried setting the page file on E: to 16MB, which is the minimum size, the Virtual Memory menu accepted this, I restarted the computer and then diddly squat happened. The pagefile on E: was still 2GB. Then I again set it to none and again nothing changed.

Interestingly, although Virtual Memory says there's only one pagefile on C:, it says there's currently 17GB allocated to page files on all drives, which is what you get when you add up C:, D: and E:. The pagefile on C: is only 2GB.

Try running windirstat and see if you really do still have one on E

WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics

its possible its showing in disk management as it had one on there before, it might not now.

where does it show in explorer?

I'll try this a little latter when I have the time.

In explorer it shows up in the root directory, E:\. That's where the one on C: shows up, too.

 

[Colif]

you could set it to no page file, restart PC and reset it to auto. That would remove all risks it use it again.

 

[Dimitri001]

you could set it to no page file, restart PC and reset it to auto. That would remove all risks it use it again.

I tried setting it to no page file and restarting, but they were still there. Or are you saying they might still be there, but then I know it's not using them?

 

[Colif]

that resets them. I don't think it uses them once set to auto.

 

[Dimitri001]

I set them all to none, but the files are still there in the root directories, still taking up the same amount of space.