Location of Enhanced Mode Temporary Swap Files (58330)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0a
This article was previously published under Q58330

SUMMARY

The filename used for temporary virtual memory swap files under Microsoft Windows 3.0 enhanced mode is WIN386.SWP. The location to which paging occurs must meet the following parameters:

  • The directory must not have a DOS read-only attribute.
  • You must have create and write access if on a network.

MORE INFORMATION

WIN386.SWP is created in a location determined by the following factors:

  • If no PagingDrive= setting is present in the SYSTEM.INI, the file is created in the startup location of WIN.COM.

    On a network, users should have their own copies of WIN.COM, SYSTEM.INI, and WIN.INI in their own directories. Note that paging to a network drive, while certainly possible, is extremely slow and is not recommended.
  • If a PagingDrive=<drive letter> setting is present in the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file, the swap file is created in the ROOT directory of the specified drive. An example of setting the paging drive to a local drive D: would be PagingDrive=D:

    Note that on Novell networks, because they are not MS-NET redirector compatible, the root of a network drive is the root of the server. DO NOT set PagingDrive= to a Novell network drive. If you do so, and multiple users run Windows 3.00 enhanced mode, they will crash because they will delete each other's swap files, all created in the root directory of the server.

    There is currently no way to specify a directory on the PagingDrive= parameter.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB58330
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