Page file is the file that contains all processes to be swapped in Virtual Memory.
- Not allowed in data centers
pagefile.sys
Windows will automatically create a pagefile located at:
C:\pagefile.sys
If deleted, windows will make a new one
Process
- A new process wants to load, but there is not enough free RAM for it
- A offscreen process(es) are unloaded from RAM and copied into a Page File saved to the hard drive
- When you need the offscreen process(es) they are loaded into memory quickly, then unloaded, then reloaded. This is the swap