How to Use a Flash Drive As Extended RAM
- 1). Look at your flash drive's packaging for its data transfer rate. PC World reports that ReadyBoost requires a minimum read speed of 3.5 megabits per second for 4-kilobit random reads uniformly over the drive, and a minimum write speed of 2.5 mbps for 512-kilobit random writes uniformly over the drive. If this information is not available, you may proceed, but your drive may not meet the data transfer rate requirements.
- 2). Insert the flash drive into a USB port located either on the front or back panel of your computer. The drive is designed so that it cannot be plugged in to anything other than a USB port.
- 3). Double-click "My Computer." Locate your flash drive under "Devices with Removable Storage."
- 4). Save all files on the drive you wish to keep to another location.
- 5). Right-click the drive and select "Format," then "Start." A window appears informing you that formatting will erase the drive. Press "OK." This deletes all files remaining on the drive.
- 6). Click "OK" in the window that indicates the formatting is complete.
- 7). Right-click the flash drive again. Select "Properties," and press the "ReadyBoost" tab. According to ReviewSaurus, the ReadyBoost tab may not appear. If this is the case, your drive does not meet the minimum data transfer rate required, and cannot be used with this feature.
- 8). Choose "Use this Device."
- 9). Under "Space to reserve," click and drag the bar provided to enter the amount of flash drive space you want to allocate as RAM. ReadyBoost will not allocate any more than 4 GB.
- 10
Press "Apply," then "OK."
