What is Win386.swp and its uses

Asked By Harry Miller 0 points N/A Posted on - 06/29/2011

My computer has this file and I don’t even know what it is. I begin to suspect this file when I found out that its file size is getting bigger. I tried running an anti-virus and anti-spyware software but nothing was detected on my computer.

What kind of file is this? and why it is in my computer?

• Status: Open
• Question Views: 1395
• Answer Count: 2
• Vote Up 0 Vote Down

• Answer Accepted: Yes
• Question Category: Windows 98

Best Answer by Marcus Blake

Go To Solution

Best Answer

Best Answer

Answered By Marcus Blake 0 points N/A #126222

What is Win386.swp and its uses

Win386 is a Windows swap file in Windows Environment like Windows 95, 98, and ME that is used for Virtual Memory. When running an application this swap file is responsible for providing memory. It is normal that this file accumulates space on your hard drive, so if your have a low hard disk space then you computer might slow down. The only thing that you can do is to move this swap file to a location that has larger space, doing so may speed up your computer performance.

How to move the swap file to a different location?

1. Click “Start”> Settings> Control Panel, locate the “System” icon and double click it.
2. Click the “Performance” tab under System Properties.
3. Click “Virtual Memory”.
4. Choose “Let me specify my own virtual memory settings” from the option.
5. Select a different hard drive that has a lot of space for win386.swp new location.

You can also move the Win386. swp file to a removable storage. But this media must always stay connected to the computer because it is always being use by the machine. If you attempt to remove it an error will occur or your computer freezes.

About Marcus Blake

Questions
0

Answers
5

Best Answers
3

• Vote Up 0 Vote Down

• Posted on - 06/29/2011
• Question Category: Windows 98

Answered By jhony_deep 0 points N/A #126224

What is Win386.swp and its uses

Dear Harry,

• Win386. swp not a virus, it's a system file and main function of that file same like page file or virtual memory of system. Win386. swp is a temporary file used by window in enhanced mode when permanent swap file did not exist. Windows itself create win386. swp file when starting.
• You can delete this file manually to free your hard disk space but remember, your window is not in running mode. You can delete this file in MS-DOS mode, if you delete this file during windows running, it will hang your system. Do not delete files 386spart.par or spart.par.
• These two files are a permanent swap file, and they will not be manually deleted. Hope, now you can understand.

Jhony

About jhony_deep

Questions
0

Answers
34

Best Answers
18

• Vote Up 0 Vote Down

• Posted on - 06/29/2011
• Question Category: Windows 98