Speed up your computer using ReadyBoost

Did you know that you can use a USB flash-drive or memory card to speed up your Windows Vista or 7 computer?  YES, you can.

Allow me to explain:

When Microsoft released Microsoft Windows Vista in 2006 it included a component/feature called ReadyBoost in the Operating System (which is also present in Windows 7 which was released in 2009).

Now ReadyBoost is a feature of the OS where a flashdrive or any flash memory card for that matter can be used to help a computer that suffers from having too little memory/RAM.  

You see, a Windows-based computer with limited or too little memory will need to find space to store data that is being worked on if it is to avoid crashing/freezing.  Normally it would turn to your hard drive and use it as a form of memory (virtual memory), the problem with this arrangement is that the normal mechanical hard drive is still much slower than RAM and even though it does alleviate the problem to a certain extent it will still test your patience.  Enter Flash memory which not only addresses this problem of speed by providing a speedier alternative but it also cost less money.

The initial idea behind ReadyBoost was to allow persons to get a performance jump/boost (as you'd expect from adding more RAM to your computer) without having to spend the money to actually buy RAM to add "under the hood".

Now there are a few limitations:

1. The flash drive or memory card should have at least 1 gigabyte (GB) of free or available space
2. The flash drive has to be of a certain speed (which the computer will check for you)
3. ReadyBoost does not really benefit a 64-bit operating system
4. and you cannot use the flash drive while it is being used as ReadyBoost

On the plus side:

1. It will help speed up you system (once it is low in memory/RAM)
2. It is a much cheaper alternative to buying RAM
3. It requires no technical know-how to set up

How to turn ReadyBoost on or off 

Update: ReadyBoost works in Microsoft Windows 8 Pro as well.  Just finished testing it.