Shared Page File

[LuminaryJanitor]

Is anything going to go horribly wrong if I have two separate installs of XP sharing the same page file?

I guess what I'm really asking is whether the OS will try to access stuff it put in there before the last reboot, and just assume everything is as it left it.

 

[Langford]

Hmm... hard to say. It shouldn't care what stuff the other install puts in there, becasue they should both start mostly clean on reboot. It might bother them if it isn't the size they expect. I don't know if Windows tags it with any kind of ID.

 

[LuminaryJanitor]

I should have mentioned that I tried it briefly before reformatting my HDs yesterday, and neither OS had a problem with the page file. However, I was just testing to see if they'd both accept it - neither should have been actually using it.

And it's what might happen during use that really worries me... I'm afraid one OS will load up what it thinks is Firefox from the page file, try to execute some lesbian porn, and instruct my CPU to set itself on fire (though I'm not familiar with the x64 ISA, but I'd rather not take any chances ).

 

[xX_Jack_Carver_Xx]

Short answer.... no.

I use 2 XP installs sharing the same pagefile, no issues at all.

 

[lannen]

I don't know if there's any chance of a problem, but if you're worried about it, the page file can always be cleared at shutdown.

 

[Vette5885]

I don't know if there's any chance of a problem, but if you're worried about it, the page file can always be cleared at shutdown.

My experience: it seems to take FOREVER to clear the PF. Not entirely sure why, as it isn't that big of a file (maybe MS does a true erase rather than a quickie).