USB as Power Boost? Vista Tips Discuss USB as Power Boost? in the Windows Vista forums; What do I need to perform in order for my Computer with vista can utilize USB storage as Ram? Thanks for any help. dondim...

[dondim]

What do I need to perform in order for my Computer with vista can utilize USB storage as Ram?
Thanks for any help.
dondim

[Znod]

Well, you need to have a USB flash drive of at least 256 MB. There are other technical requirements that must be satisfied, but one can't tell if they are satisfied by looking at the "box." If you end up with one that works, either your will be asked if you want to use the device to speed up your computer when you plug it in or you can select its properties and choose to do so. What brand and model of flash drive do you have if any? Some, by brand, that are known to work are Apacers, Memorexes, and Lexars. But, some models of each brand may not work. Other models of some brands are known to work, but I don't know what they are.

[felix8406]

According to MS, the recommended amount of memory to use for ReadyBoost is one to three times the amount of your PC RAM. If your PC has 512 MB of RAM, you should use a USB drive that has from 512MB to 1.5GB of free space in order to get the best performance boost.

For best results you should at least match the capacity of your USB drive to PC's RAM. The USB drive must have a capacity of between 256 to 4GB and be USB 2.0 compliance.

[Snuffy]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...rformance.mspx
Read about Ready Boost.

Another link about Ready Boost (http://arstechnica.com/journals/micr...2006/5/25/4115)

snip - To make things more interesting, it seems as if ReadyBoost might ultimately support sharing of memory resources via a network. A few lucky bloggers recently had dinner with Jim Allchin, and he held forth on the potential coolness:

Apparently ReadyBoost wasn't just developed to add memory to your PC via your USB port. Apparently ReadyBoost was designed to allow you to "barrow" [sic] memory from other PC's over a network as well. When Mr. Allchin told us of this concept, everyone flipped.

Allchin didn't confirm if this aspect of ReadyBoost will actually make its way out into Vista proper, yet the potential is obviously there seeing as how ReadyBoost was originally intended to tap other memory resources via a network. Personally, I think the idea of networked computers sharing memory resources as needed is a great idea, and would be an awesome selling point for Vista if/when it actually happens. In the meantime, we'll just have to be content plugging in a USB drive and obsessing over the performance increases.

[Znod]

And, for a Vista Babble source, check out this thread: http://www.vistababble.com/forums/vi...formation.html

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by dondim

What do I need to perform in order for my Computer with vista can utilize USB storage as Ram?
Thanks for any help.
dondim

One thing you may want to keep in mind is that your USB device might not work unless it's formatted with the system where it's going to be used. For example I have a Geek 1GB USB drive which I use on my main PC; if it's removed from my desktop PC and installed on my laptop, then it won't work unless it's reformatted. When it's reinstalled back to my desktop, it must be reformatted again in order for it to work.

Right click the drive and choose Format, then Quick Format.

[dondim]

Thank you very much.

[dondim]

ZNOd, Felix8406 and Snuffy,
Thank you all for your help.
Don

[dondim]

I have PNY 1G and Emperex 1 G neither work.
Thanks for your help

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by dondim

I have PNY 1G and Emperex 1 G neither work.
Thanks for your help

Sorry to hear that, could your issue be the USB port? Is it a 2.0? If it was a 256MB USB drive, then I could see it not working, but a 1GB is fairly new technology.

You can go here to view a list of compatible ReadyBoost USB drives: http://www.grantgibson.co.uk/misc/readyboost/.