Vista Tutorial - ReadyBoost

**Brink**

How to Use ReadyBoost in Vista

Information

Windows ReadyBoost can use storage space on some removable media devices, such as a USB 2.0 flash drive that uses fast memory, to speed up your computer by using it along with the hard drive for your virtual memory when RAM is used up. For more information about ReadyBoost and USB flash drive requirements, see: Windows Help and How-to: ReadyBoost and the ReadyBoost section here: Windows Administration: Inside the Windows Vista Kernel: Part 2

NOTE

The removable media device must contain at least 256 MB of space to work with Windows ReadyBoost. The recommended amount of space to use for Windows ReadyBoost acceleration is one to three times the amount of RAM installed in your computer.

Tip

Here are some tips about what to look for when purchasing a USB 2.0 flash drive you plan to use with Windows ReadyBoost:

Make sure there is at least one free USB 2.0 port on your computer where you can plug in the flash drive (preferably not on an external USB hub shared with other USB devices).
Look for a note from the manufacturer that the flash drive is Windows ReadyBoost Compatible. Not all manufacturers list this on their packaging.
If the flash drive is not labeled as compatible with Windows ReadyBoost, check its specifications to see if it is capable of reading and writing data fast enough. The speed requirements for Windows ReadyBoost are at least 2.5 MB per second throughput for 4 kilobyte (KB) random reads and 1.75 MB per second throughput for 512 KB random writes.

NOTE: A flash drive may appear to meet these requirements, but Windows Vista still may not detect the device as ReadyBoost-compatible if its rated speed measures sequential performance instead of random performance, and if performance is not consistently fast across the entire flash drive.

WARNING

ReadyBoost cannot beat the performance improvement of just adding more RAM though.

RELATED LINKS:

Here's How:

1. Plug a USB flash drive or other removable media device into your computer.
NOTE: AutoPlay should now open. If not, see: How to Change AutoPlay Settings in Vista

2. Under General Options, click Speed up my system.
NOTE: This will display the Properties dialog box for your flash drive or other removable media device.

3. Click on the ReadyBoost tab. (See screenshot below step 6)

4. To Turn ReadyBoost Off -
NOTE: If this is not already open, then open the Start Menu and click on Computer, right click on the drive used for ReadyBoost and click on Properties, and click on the ReadyBoost tab.
A) Click Do not use this device.
B) Go to step 6.

5. To Turn ReadyBoost On -
A) Click Use this device, and then move the slider to choose how much of the available space on your flash drive you want to reserve for boosting your system speed.

6. Click OK to apply.

That's It,
Shawn

**JohnLawrence** · 07-03-2008

ReadyBoost can be useful or really can speed up system's performance,but if you only have the minimum requirements for ReadyBoost 230/250Mb I think.....likely there will be no difference,and can cause start up slow down because of the Universal Bus Driver (USB)...
But if you have a more that a Gig flash/sd/card,It's possible to have a faster performance in Vista

**Hogtowner** · 07-21-2008

I have to admit to some confusion here (like that's a special occasion).

I have 8GB of memory installed, and apparently the system hardly ever uses more than a couple GB of that (OK, I got it on sale, and empty sockets bother me. What can I say, I'm a Guy.) So, I take it that ReadyBoost isn't going to help me. Why would the OS use the slower USB port than use the RAM sitting idle on a 800MHz bus?

However, I did get a nice 4GB USB stick that is fast enough for Vista to let me use it as ReadyBoost, so I tried it out, and sure enough it is flashing like billy-ho. So, apparently Vista is actually using it?

Any idea what gives here, or is this another MS mystery (where's Leonard Nimoy when you need him)?

**Brink** · 07-22-2008

Hi Hogtowner, Vista will make use of any memory you give it. However, with you having 8GB, I'm surprised it uses it that much.

Shawn

**WildEagle** · 08-08-2008

I disabled the Readyboost Service since I have 8GB's of ram, and don't have a use for Readyboost. I can always reenable the Readyboost Service, should I need Readyboost again at some point.

**Brink** · 08-08-2008

Yeah, I disabled the ReadyBoost service also. I did not see the need to have an extra process running taking up resoures that I wasn't using either.

**WildEagle** · 08-08-2008

I tried Readyboost before I got 8GB's of ram, and my 4GB Crucial Memory stick, though it's supposed be Vista compliant, had nothing but problems, it wasn't stable and it didn't seem like Readyboost was running, to Vista having to run chkdsk on it, on one reboot. After that mess, I just disabled Readyboost, and use it as a normal USB memory stick.

**Brink** · 08-08-2008

I agree, with memory prices a lot cheaper now, it only makes sense to add RAM instead of using ReadyBoost. The performance gain is just much better that way instead.

nigel2205 · 08-13-2008

Hi
My autoplay not working, plug in any usb and no flash screen

eldron · 08-13-2008

I'am currently using the ReadyBoost on Vista...

But, 1 thing,

My Laptop become 2 times SLOWER!

I thought it suppose to boost, not slow down?