HI, my computer is running short on space. I tried to find files that were big and found win386.swp. That file is 1.35 gb, but on my other computer it is 167 mb, why is this?

    its the windows swap file used for virtual memory. if its that big its most likely corrupted. reboot the machine to dos (safe mode might work) and delete the file (or rename it), restart the computer and windows will recreate the file.

      6 months later

      Hi, I have the same problem, a file of 86.016 kB. Was the solution given by Brandon Schnell the best one??
      Thanks.
      Adrien

        14 days later

        I'd get a new hard drive...you people have too much @!#$ on your computer...or get a removable media drive and move the file location to the removeable drive.

          6 days later

          Actually, you do not want to put the win386.swp file on removable media. Better to delete it in dos and let windows recreate it anew, only to grow again.

          From http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000358.htm

          When storing the Win386.swp file on a removable media device and attempting to eject the storage medium from that device errors occur or the computer freezes.

          Because the Windows Swap file is almost always being used ejecting the device or removing the device storing this file will cause errors as it will remove the location of where information is temporarily being stored.

          When booting from a removable media the performance tab may show that the computer is running in MS-DOS compatibility mode.

          Change the location of the win386.swp file to a non-removable media.

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