Speed up Windows Vista, with ReadyBoost!

ReadyBoost for Vista, is a built in tool which allows you to boost your systems performance significantly by using external devices such as, external USB 2.0 flash drives and SD memory cards.

Your computer system has a set amount of (RAM) memory, when the PC runs out of that physical RAM, it will take a chunk from your hardrive, adding it as additional memory to cache your system. ReadyBoost, will add additional caching memory to the computer system, which can be accessed much faster than the virtual RAM of your computers hardrive. This improves your systems overall performance, because a ReadyBoost compatible USB 2.0 flash drive can be 8X to 10X faster than a SATA hardrive.

Because ReadyBoost uses a write-through cache on cache file writes, there is no need to worry about losing data that is meant to be written to your systems hardrive. As a security measure, the cache is encrypted using AES-128 bit encryption. So, this will prevent unwanted eyes from seeing and the possibility of stealing your data.

[Windows Vista ReadyBoost minimum standards]
Minimum device size requirement, must be at least 235MB.
* 2.5 MB/sec throughout for 4 KB random reads.
* 1.75 MB/sec throughout for 512 KB random writes.

[Setting up ReadyBoost in Windows Vista]
You simply, insert an empty USB compatible flash drive into one of your computers's USB 2.0 slots. Now, Windows Vista will do a compatibility test to make sure the USB drive is ReadyBoost compatible.

At this point, the AutoPlay window should pop up.

Click the "Speed up my system" link, and you'll be taken to the ReadyBoost panel for the flash drive:

Just select Use this device, and set the amount of space you want to use. Windows will create what is essentially a paging file on the disk, and will use it for faster access.

Additional Notes:
01. When you are ready to purchase a Windows ReadyBoost flash drive, make sure that it is capable of 10MB/sec (or higher) for random reads and writes across the disk.
02. Make sure your USB drive is empty, so you do not lose any important data that is on it.
03. Vista Ready, does not mean Vista Compatible.
04. Look for, "Enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost" to assure compatibility.
05. If your USB drive doesn’t support ReadyBoost, under the ReadyBoost tab you will see the following message “This device does not have the required performance…”
06. Current limitations, are that a PC can only use one device at a time.

Hope this blog post was helpful to you, "Speed up Windows Vista, with ReadyBoost"

Spunky Jones.

1. Boost your Windows based PC performance with eBoostr
2. Are Your Computer USB Devices Underpowered?
3. Recuva – Windows Freeware File Recovery Software
4. Release the idle processes on Windows XP without system restart
5. Adjusting Your Monitor’s Brightness Automatically with F.lux
6. Protect Your Identity, Destroy Your Old Hardrives!
7. 20,000 RPM Western Digital Raptor Hardrive?
8. How to export MailWasher settings to a new computer
9. Free – FileZilla FTP Client Open Source Software
10. CutePDF Writer – Converts files to PDF Documents