How to Clear the Windows Paging File at Shutdown (314834)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
This article was previously published under Q314834
For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see 182086.

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article documents the method for clearing the Windows paging file (Pagefile.sys) during the shutdown process, so that no unsecured data is contained in the paging file when the shutdown process is complete.

Note If you enable this feature, the shutdown time may be increased.

MORE INFORMATION

Some third-party programs can temporarily store unencrypted (plain-text) passwords or other sensitive information in memory. Because of the Windows virtual memory architecture, this information can be present in the paging file.

Although clearing the paging file is not a suitable substitute for physical security of a computer, you might want to do this to increase the security of data on a computer while Windows is not running.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Change the data value of the ClearPageFileAtShutdown value in the following registry key to a value of 1:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management

    If the value does not exist, add the following value:

    Value Name: ClearPageFileAtShutdown
    Value Type: REG_DWORD
    Value: 1

This change does not take effect until you restart the computer.

For additional information about Session Manager memory management settings, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

102985 REG: CurrentControlSet Entries PART 2: SessionManager

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/8/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbenv kbinfo kbSecurity KB314834
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