PrivaZer Memory Settings Explained (Pagefile, Hibernation, Indexing)

Advanced options - Memory tab

What is pagefile.sys, and why would I want to delete it?

pagefile.sys is Windows' virtual memory swap file, it extends your available RAM by using space on disk. When physical memory fills up, Windows moves some of what's in RAM out to this file to make room.

The same underlying concern as memory dumps. Because Windows is literally writing chunks of RAM to disk, pagefile.sys can end up holding fragments of whatever was in memory at the time: passwords, decrypted content, session data, anything at all, the same kind of exposure covered on the memory dumps page, just written continuously during normal use rather than only after a crash.

Why can't pagefile.sys just be deleted directly?

Windows keeps pagefile.sys open and actively in use for as long as it's running, so it can't simply be deleted while the system is up. It can only be removed at a point where Windows itself isn't holding onto it, around shutdown and startup, which is exactly why PrivaZer offers scheduling options instead of a plain "delete now" button.

What do the pagefile.sys deletion timing options mean?

After each cleanup with PrivaZer : schedules the deletion to happen the next time the system restarts following a PrivaZer cleaning pass
At next PC shutdown only : a one-time deletion, the next time you shut down
At each PC shutdown : ongoing, every single time you shut down the PC

What does "Allow computer hibernation" control?

Hibernation saves the entire contents of your RAM to a file on disk (hiberfil.sys) so the PC can power off completely and resume exactly where you left off. Since it's a full snapshot of memory, hiberfil.sys carries the same kind of sensitivity as a memory dump, potentially anything that was in RAM at that moment.

This setting controls whether hibernation is allowed to happen at all. Turning it off prevents Windows from creating or maintaining that file in the first place, rather than needing to repeatedly clean it after the fact.

What is Wsearch Indexing, and why does this tab let me control it?

Windows Search (the Wsearch service) builds and maintains a searchable index of your files and, for many file types, their actual content, so that searching your PC returns fast, relevant results. Because it indexes real file content, that index can retain fragments of what was inside a file even after the file itself has been deleted.

This section shows the service's live status and gives you direct controls: stopping it immediately, or disabling it from starting automatically the next time Windows boots.

What's the difference between "Stop" and "Disable" for Wsearch Indexing?

Stop : halts the currently running service right away. Depending on its startup type, it may start again the next time Windows boots
Disable : changes the startup type so the service won't launch automatically at boot at all, a more lasting change until you manually re-enable it

Should I turn all of these off?

Each comes with a real trade-off, worth weighing rather than switching everything off by default. Disabling hibernation means losing the quick power-off-and-resume convenience. Stopping or disabling Windows Search indexing means slower, less thorough file searches until it's re-enabled and has time to rebuild its index. Scheduling pagefile.sys deletion at every shutdown has the least everyday impact, Windows simply rebuilds it fresh at the next startup, but it does mean losing whatever performance benefit accumulates from a warm pagefile across sessions.

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Memory settings pair well with the following. Memory Dumps Cleanup Settings General Settings

Where to find this

PrivaZer Advanced options - Memory settings tab

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