Re: Given a 16GB pagefile.sys size, why is my BSOD crash log only 2GB?

Arlen Holder wrote:
> Nothing makes sense:
> 1. Given a 16GB pagefile.sys size, why is my BSOD crash log only 2GB?
> 2. Why does the command line report "complete" but the GUI "active"?
> o <https://i.postimg.cc/3rsypchD/page01.jpg> 16GB pagefile, active dump
> o <https://i.postimg.cc/CKxdSyG9/page02.jpg> 16GB pagefile, complete dump
> o <https://i.postimg.cc/zXYB3HwC/page03.jpg> 16GB pagefile, 2GB actual dump
> 
> A. Here's a screenshot of my pagefile after rebooting after a BSOD:
>    o <https://i.postimg.cc/3rsypchD/page01.jpg>
>    Note the result of the DebugInfoType command is (1)
>    Win+R > cmd {control+shift+enter}
>    wmic RECOVEROS get DebugInfoType 
>     This reported "1" which supposedly means "complete"
>     1 = complete (all memory, requires memory sized pagefile)
> 
>    Note this makes no sense because it conflicts with the 
>    result in the GUI at the very same time:
>     command line = 1 === complete
>     systempropertiesadvanced GUI === active
> 
> B. Here's a screenshot of my pagefile.sys settings:
>    o <https://i.postimg.cc/CKxdSyG9/page02.jpg>
>    Win+R > systempropertiesadvanced > Performance > [Settings] 
>     [Advanced] > Virtual memory > [Change]
>     [x]Automatically manage paging file size for all drives 
> 
>    Note the confusing message which makes no sense to me
>    (because it's contradicted by the information shown).
>     System Properties
>      Windows might not be able to record details that could help
>      identify system errors because your current paging file is 
>      disabled or less than 800 megabytes. Click OK to return to the 
>      Virtual Memory settings window, enable the paging file, and
>      set the size to a value over 800 megabytes, or click Cancel to
>      change your memory dump selection.
> 
>    That message makes no sense because the pagefile is 16MB.
> 
> C. Worse, here's a screenshot of my BSOD crash log size:
>    o <https://i.postimg.cc/zXYB3HwC/page03.jpg>
>    C:\pagefile.sys 16,777,216KB
>    C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP 2,261,091KB
>    C:\Windows\Minidump\110120-31890-01.dmp 460KB
> 
> Nothing makes sense:
> 1. Given a 16GB pagefile.sys size, why is my BSOD crash log only 2GB?
> 2. Why does the command line report "complete" but the GUI "active"?
> 3. Why does that "System Properties" error message make no sense either?

The dump will dump all of allocated memory. If your programs
don't use up all of system RAM, there is no need to dump it.

If the MEMORY.DMP uses a compression scheme, that might
make the output smaller as well. But they could not use
a powerful compressor, as it would be too slow. It would
have to be weak like an "LZ4" or so.

    Paul