Take a closer look at ReadyBoost features in Windows 7 By Greg Shultz March 17, 2010, 10:48 AM PDT Takeaway: ReadyBoost is a still a part of the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, so Greg Shultz examines its features in more detail. The other day a friend and I were talking about the merits of Windows 7, and I was trying to convince him that it was time to let go of Windows XP and move up to the latest version. During our discussion he brought up Windows Vista and ReadyBoost and then asked me if ReadyBoost was even available in Windows 7. When I told him that it was indeed still a part of the Windows 7 operating system , he questioned whether it was really necessary anymore, considering the fact that 2GB-4GB of RAM was pretty common in new PCs these days. That got me wondering. During the Vista buildup, ReadyBoost was a pretty common topic of discussion. Back then, memory was still pretty expensive and ReadyBoost was being touted as an inexpensive way to make the new and memory-intensive operating system a little snappier. During the Windows 7 buildup, I really don’t remember hearing much about ReadyBoost at all. Do you? Even so, ReadyBoost is a still a part of the Windows 7 operating system, and as such, I thought that I would examine it in more detail in this edition of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report . This blog post is also available in PDF format in a free TechRepublic download . How it works Let’s begin with a brief overview. As you know, ReadyBoost is designed to use external USB flash drives, SD cards, or CF cards as a hard disk cache to improve disk read performance. For example, when you insert one of these types of devices into a Windows 7 system you’ll see an AutoPlay dialog box like the one shown in Figure A. Figure A When you insert one of these devices into a Windows 7 system, you’ll see this AutoPlay dialog box. When you select the button Speed Up My System Using Windows ReadyBoost, the operating system will begin a series of tests to determine whether the drive is compatible with ReadyBoost. To be compatible, the device must be:
12
Embed
Take a Closer Look at Ready Boost Features in Windows 7
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Take a closer look at ReadyBoost features in Windows 7
By Greg Shultz
March 17, 2010, 10:48 AM PDT
Takeaway: ReadyBoost is a still a part of the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, so Greg Shultz
examines its features in more detail.
The other day a friend and I were talking about the merits of Windows 7, and I was trying to convince him
that it was time to let go of Windows XP and move up to the latest version. During our discussion he
brought up Windows Vista and ReadyBoost and then asked me if ReadyBoost was even available in
Windows 7. When I told him that it was indeed still a part of the Windows 7 operating system, he
questioned whether it was really necessary anymore, considering the fact that 2GB-4GB of RAM was
pretty common in new PCs these days.
That got me wondering. During the Vista buildup, ReadyBoost was a pretty common topic of discussion.
Back then, memory was still pretty expensive and ReadyBoost was being touted as an inexpensive way to
make the new and memory-intensive operating system a little snappier. During the Windows 7 buildup, I
really don’t remember hearing much about ReadyBoost at all. Do you?
Even so, ReadyBoost is a still a part of the Windows 7 operating system, and as such, I thought that I
would examine it in more detail in this edition of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report.
This blog post is also available in PDF format in a free TechRepublic download.
How it works
Let’s begin with a brief overview. As you know, ReadyBoost is designed to use external USB flash drives,
SD cards, or CF cards as a hard disk cache to improve disk read performance. For example, when you
insert one of these types of devices into a Windows 7 system you’ll see an AutoPlay dialog box like the
one shown in Figure A.
Figure A
When you insert one of these devices into a Windows 7 system, you’ll see this AutoPlay dialog box.
When you select the button Speed Up My System Using Windows ReadyBoost, the operating system will
begin a series of tests to determine whether the drive is compatible with ReadyBoost. To be compatible,