Page File Error

I'm on Windows Vista Home Basic and I ran Sysinternals' Page Defrag tool today after getting pagefile-based BSODs and it did not complete, giving me an error saying that the page file could not be found on the specified drive. My page file is set to be managed by Windows (I managed it with a set size before and decided it'd probably be better for Windows to handle it so I changed it) so I have no input as to where that file is stored.

Why is this happening?

 

is pagefile.sys on the root (C:\) of your hard drive?

It's a system file and hidden so you'll have to use this guide to show hidden files:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=74220

 

I checked and pagefile.sys does not exist in the directory of C:\. Also, I just tried to defrag the paging file again and was given a 0xc000043 error. Any idea?

 

Windows key+Pause/Break > Advanced system settings > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Change > highlight your system drive and check 'Custom size'. Set the min and max to 4092MB, click 'Set' then ok your way back out, you may need to reboot and the new pagefile, if it's created, will need a defrag

 

These are the exact steps taken that lead to this issue.

 

So, can you tell me if you're able to boot into Windows atm? If so, you may want to try running the following FixIt Tool

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314834

Also, I would completely stop trying to defrag the pagefile. I'm not familar with Sysinternals' Page Defrag tool but I wouldn't run it anymore ;\

 

It appears that Pagedefrag is not compatible with Windows Vista:

technet.microsoft.com: PageDefrag v2.32

I recommend that you schedule a Disk Check to run at next bootup.

From either My Computer or Windows Explorer,
right click the C: drive and select Prpperties -> Tools tab -> Error-Checking -> Check Now button and Tick Automatically fix file system errors and click Start.

Do Not Reboot yet.

Go back to Performance > Settings > Advanced > Change as satrow instructed and Turn OFF paging on all drives, click SET as before and OK your way out.

Reboot and allow Disk Check to complete.

When the desktop is back, go back to My Computer and verify that Pagefile.sys is NOT shown in C:\ root directory. If it IS there, delete it.
If it IS there and you have to Delete it, you should probably ReBoot again.

RESET the pagefile to ON as explained in satrow's post.

Then REBOOT for the new settings to take effect.

This process should fix common errors, if any, on the disk and completely recreate the pagefile.

Disable automatic execution of PageDefrag if it has been enabled.