What is the file Win386.swp?

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Not sure where this should be posted. I am running short on space on my hard
drive and was looking for somethings I could delete when I noticed under C:\
a file called Win386.swp which is taking over a Gig of space. I tried to
open the file and to delete it, but it won't let me. Is it something I can
get rid of without causing problems? If so how do I do it? I'm using MS
Works Suite 2000 which was installed on the computer when I purchased it in
2000. I note that the date on the file in question is April 2004.
 
I think that's your swap file, and you definitely need it.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
 
Good grief. A new 160GB hard drive costs about $50. Install it as a second
drive.
 
It's a really bad idea to just start deleting files that you don't think you
need.
Windows has 100's if not 1000's of files, and many of them are required to
keep everything running smoothly. Delete the wrong one and your Windows
installation could fall over in a big nasty mess.
the SWP file you mention is, as Suzanne pointed out the windows swap file
which is certainly needed.

The best solution is, as someone else suggested, to buy an additional HDD,
they are so cheap now, even the big ones. Fitting it could be a problem if
you're not technical, and maybe you are!, but if not, hopefully you have a
friend/collegue/family member who could help out. Worst case, take it to a
computer shop and they'll install it for a a charge.

If you really need to find space, look at Start->Control Panel->Add/Remove
Programs, and see if there is any software installed that you don't need.
Look in C:\Windows\Temp you should be able to safely delete anything in
there (but make sure no programs are running first). In fact, any file
anywhere with the extension .TMP can PROBABLY go, but I REALLY DON'T
RECOMMEND deleting files unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing.
Look for files that you DO recognise (old documents, spreadsheets etc.) that
you don't need, and back them up/delete them.

Like I said, I really don't recommend trying to delete files unless you are
100% sure of what they do, unless you are desperate for space, and really
can't afford an additional HDD. Then again, getting your PC fixed after
you've broken it by deleting the wrong files will probably cost you more
than a new extra disk anyway!!
 
To add to what Chris has said, as a general rule (with the exception of
photos, movies, and sound files) data files are not the problem; it's
applications that take up the most space.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
 
Entirely agree. Have just bought a new laptop (Tosh A100) with 40 gig hard
disk (ample) but have also bough a USB caddy for $30 (Aust) into which I
plugged the old 40 gig hard drive from my previous laptop. Although the file
system is different (I think) the drive and files can be readily seen on the
new machine. Cheap easy storage and backup.
 
SPI 2 said:
Not sure where this should be posted. I am running short on space on my
hard
drive and was looking for somethings I could delete when I noticed under
C:\
a file called Win386.swp which is taking over a Gig of space. I tried to
open the file and to delete it, but it won't let me. Is it something I
can
get rid of without causing problems? If so how do I do it? I'm using MS
Works Suite 2000 which was installed on the computer when I purchased it
in
2000. I note that the date on the file in question is April 2004.
Click to expand...

The prices of hard drives, both internal and external, are so low its almost
ridiculous...why are you wasting your time and effort?

Bobby
 
You can also reduce its size - Windows is over-generous when it comes to
creating default swap file sizes, but this topic has nothing to do with
Word!

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>.
 
It does when it's size is stopping a 1k Word file from saving.. :-)
 
Well, there's no such thing as a "1k Word file." Minimum size for an *empty*
Word document these days is at least 19KB.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
 
NoNoBadDog! said:
The prices of hard drives, both internal and external, are so low its
almost ridiculous...why are you wasting your time and effort?

Bobby
Click to expand...
Exactly, I cannot imagin a practical case where you would need to generate
1K extra disk space! Even in the old days with a whopping 8Mb disk you
would not have to grub around for 1K! Time is money.
 
I think that's your swap file, and you definitely need it.
Click to expand...

With all due respect to Suzanne, I don't agree with her statement
above.

IF... you are running with at least 1024 MB RAM, you can generally run
without a "swap" file (a.k.a. Page File) and encounter "FEW" (not
zero) "Virtual Memory Errors". However, if you use a lot of memory
intensive applications concurrently, you will risk loss of data when a
"Virtual Memory Error" occurs.

If you would like try try running without a page file, you can right
click on My Computer, go under "Advanced", click on "Performance",
"Virtual Memory" - Click CHANGE, and set to "NO PAGING FILE" on C:.
Click "SET", then APPLY & OK.

WARNING: I would say don't even try it if running less than 1024 MB
RAM.
 
I beg to differ, Windows MUST have a swap file regardless of the amount of
memory you have. You may set 'No Paging File', but Windows will still create
one.

--
Terry Farrell - Word MVP
http://word.mvps.org/

: On Thu, 6 Jul 2006 22:32:56 -0500, "Suzanne S. Barnhill"
:
: >I think that's your swap file, and you definitely need it.
:
: With all due respect to Suzanne, I don't agree with her statement
: above.
:
: IF... you are running with at least 1024 MB RAM, you can generally run
: without a "swap" file (a.k.a. Page File) and encounter "FEW" (not
: zero) "Virtual Memory Errors". However, if you use a lot of memory
: intensive applications concurrently, you will risk loss of data when a
: "Virtual Memory Error" occurs.
:
: If you would like try try running without a page file, you can right
: click on My Computer, go under "Advanced", click on "Performance",
: "Virtual Memory" - Click CHANGE, and set to "NO PAGING FILE" on C:.
: Click "SET", then APPLY & OK.
:
: WARNING: I would say don't even try it if running less than 1024 MB
: RAM.
:
 
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