This tutorial will teach you how to use ReadyBoost in Windows Vista so you can speed up your computer using your flash drive or other form of flash memory (NOT external hard drives or portable hard drives). First, you may be wondering how exactly this works. When your computer is running, it is constantly writing temporary information to RAM (Random Access Memory). The more RAM your system has, the faster your computer will perform. Instead of installing more RAM, you can use ReadyBoost to turn some space on your flash drive in to RAM.

Before proceeding, it should be noted that this does not make any sort of huge difference if you already have 4 GB or more of RAM. Typically, if you have 2-3 GB of RAM or less installed in your system, you should see a difference in performance once using ReadyBoost. If you already have 4 GB or more, using ReadyBoost isn't recommended since your system already has plenty of space to where it can write temporary memory, and will likely not resort to using your flash drive as extra RAM.

Not all flash memory devices are capable of using Ready Boost. All flash memory devices have various read/write speeds and capacity. Depending on what you are using, it may or may not work. Typically, but certainly not always, older flash memory and flash memory with small capacities will not work. In this tutorial, I am using a 16 GB flash drive purcahsed in June 2009. Devices significantly older than Vista itself will most likely not work. It is always worth a try, though.

Now we'll get started. Plug the flash drive or other type of flash memory into your computer. The AutoPlay options will probably pop up when you first insert your flash memory, just exit this window. Now, go to Start and then click Computer. Your flash memory should appear under the "Devices with Removable Storage" category.

In my case, mine looks like this:


Right click on the flash memory device and select Properties. Now, click the ReadyBoost tab at the top.

Ideally, your window should look like the one above.

If, instead, it tells you that you can't use ReadyBoost with your device, try clicking Test Again 10 or so times. If that doesn't work, try taking out the flash memory then plugging it back in, and repeatedly press Test Again. (Sometimes it'll actually work just by doing that). If it still won't work, then your flash memory is not capable of using ReadyBoost.

Note: If you unplug your flash memory at any time, and then plug it back in, Windows will automatically use ReadyBoost with your flash memory when you re-insert it. There is no need to go through this process everytime, only the first time you are using a device for ReadyBoost.

Having trouble? Contact me via email: admin@tr1x.com