Explaining the win386.swp file

The win386.swp file is a system file that is used by the Windows environment for the virtual memory. This means, that it uses your hard drive as if it would be another memory in your system. Using this means, that your computer will run faster and better. Windows will write into this file data, that it uses while running programs and other software on your computer. Normally, this is a very useful thing that you would like to have on your computer. If you try to delete it, you will see a warning window that will not allow you to delete it. And even if you do, Windows will create a new file.

The size of the file varies, but it can get really big, and with that use too much space on your disk. There are several ways how to deal with that. First one is that you go and limit the swap file (a swap file is how the win386.swp file is also called). This can mean that your computer will run a bit slower, but you will get some more free space on your disk.

What you can also do is that you move the file to several different disks or partitions. So if you have different disks in your computer or different partitions (like C:, D: and E:), you can divide the file into several smaller files, and save disk space on your primary partition (your primary partition is the one, where the Windows are installed, normally the C: partition or disk).

You can modify the settings for the win386.swp file if you go to Start –> Settings -> Control Panel and double click on the System icon. Now you click the “Performance” tab, and on it, you click the Virtual memory button. Now you need to select the “Let me specify my own memory settings” option, and you are now able to select on what disks and how big the swap file should be.

The swap file helps your computer and most users do not need to change any settings. If you are sure that you know what you are doing, you can change the size of if, but Windows can more or less determine the best settings for you.