Improving Performance with ReadyBoost

In the last article I talk a little about ReadyBoost – 7 Steps to Improve Pc Performance -. In this one we are going to in full detail about boosting your PC performance with the feature ReadyBoost.

ReadyBoost is a feature that uses external flash drives as a Hard Disk Cache to boost disk read performance. Supported external storage types are:

·         USB Thumb Drives

·         SD Cards

·         CF Cards

But there a drawback when using ReadyBoost, ReadyBoost will not improve performance when the Hard Disk is reading from a SSD. Windows 7 disable ReadyBoost when reading from a SSD.

When using ReadyBoost, the External storage must meet the following requirements:

• Capacity of at least 256 MB, with at least 64 kilobytes (KB) of free space. The 4-GB limit of Windows Vista has been removed for Windows 7.
• At least a 2.5 MB/sec throughput for 4-KB random reads
• At least a 1.75 MB/sec throughput for 1-MB random writes

The most effective way to determine whether specific storage devices meet ReadyBoost requirements is to test it. Windows Vista and Windows 7 automatic test storage devices when attached. If a storage device fails the test, Windows will automatically retest the storage on a regular basis.

Some devices will show “Enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost” on the packaging, which means that Microsoft has tested the device specifically for this feature. If you connect storage devices that meet these requirements, AutoPlay will provide ReadyBoost as an option.

Alternatively, you can configure ReadyBoost by right-clicking the device in Windows Explorer, clicking Properties, and then clicking the ReadyBoost tab. The only configuration option is to configure the space reserved for the cache. You must reserve at least 256 MB. Larger caches can improve performance, but the ReadyBoost cache cannot be greater than 4 GB on a FAT32 file system or greater than 32 GB on an NTFS file system.

Windows 7 use the Windows SuperFetch algorithm to determine which files should be stored in the cache. SuperFetch monitors files that user’s access (including system files, application files, and documents) and preloads those files into the ReadyBoost cache. All files in the cache are encrypted using 128-bit AES if the flash storage device is removable, but hardware manufacturers can choose to disable encryption on internal, non-removable ReadyBoost devices. Because the ReadyBoost cache stores a copy of the files, the flash drive can be removed at any point without affecting the computer—Windows will simply read the original files from the disk.

ReadyBoost provides the most significant performance improvement under the following circumstances:

• The computer has a slow hard disk drive. Computers with a primary hard disk Windows Experience Index (WEI) Subscore lower than 4.0 will see the most significant improvements.
• The flash storage provides fast, random, non-sequential reads. Sequential read speed is less important.
• The flash storage is connected by a fast bus. Typically, USB memory card readers are not sufficiently fast. However, connecting flash memory to an internal memory card reader might provide sufficient performance.

Computers with fast hard disks (such as 7,200- or 10,000-RPM disks) might realize minimal performance gains because of the already high disk I/O. ReadyBoost will read files from the cache only when doing so will improve performance. Hard disks outperform flash drives during sequential reads, but flash drives are faster during non-sequential reads (because of the latency caused when the drive head must move to a different disk sector).Therefore, ReadyBoost reads from the cache only for non-sequential reads.

ReadyBoost creates a disk cache file named ReadyBoost.sfcache in the root of the flash drive. The file is immediately created for the full size of the specified cache. However, Windows will gradually fill the space with cached content.

To monitor ReadyBoost performance, use the System Tools\Performance\Monitoring Tools\Performance Monitor tool in the Computer Management console and add the ReadyBoost Cache counters. These counters enable you to monitor how much of the cache is currently being used and when the cache is read from or written to. But it does not tell you exactly what performance benefit you are achieving by using ReadyBoost.

7 Steps to Improve PC Performance!

7 Steps to Improve PC Performance!

Here goes the first article for improving your speed in the entire Windows OS version. 

This article will teach you the first step to improve your speed. At this point I always do a System Restore Point, so it will be wise if you do the same. 

Step 1: Check for Spywares and Malwares.

First step is to find and remove any Spywares and also Malwares. This will restore your pc speed, also help prevent any virus to be install on your computer. 

See recommended software below for a Malware and Spyware fighter:

Step 2: Disk Cleaner.

Freeing disk space by using a disk cleaner will improve your computer performance. Disk cleaning tool will identifies files that you can safely delete. 

Use Disk Cleanup to:

·         Remove the temporary Internet files.

·         Delete any downloaded program files, such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets.

·         Empty the Recycle Bin.

·         Remove any Windows temporary files, such as error reports.

·         Delete all optional Windows components that you don't use.

·         Delete all installed programs that you no longer use.

·         Remove any unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.

Usually the temporary Internet files take up the most space because, the browser caches each pages you visit on the Internet for faster access later. 

To use the Disk Cleanup:

On Windows XP:  

v  Click Start, Click All Program, then click on Accessories, then on System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

On Windows Vista:

v  In the Start menu, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.

On Windows 7:

v  Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

Step 3: Disk Defrag.

For the next step, we are going to do a Disk Defragment. A Disk Defrag is design to increase access speed by rearranging files stored on a disk to occupy contiguous storage locations. Defragmenting a disk minimizes head travel, which reduces the time it takes to read files from and write files to the disk. 

Windows have a free and simple Disk Defragmenter. To access the Disk Defragmenter:

1. Click the Start button, type Defrag, then and click on Disk Defragmenter.
2. Click the drives you want to defragment and click Analyze.
3. Click Defragment.

I recommend doing a Disk Defrag once a week. There are also other times that you can defrag your disk, like when:

·         You add a large number of file and/or a program.
·         Your free space total 15 percent or less.
·         You install a new Windows Operating System.

Step 4: Detect and Repair Disk Errors

After doing the Disk Cleanup and also the Disk defrag to increase your performance on your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on the hard disk. All you have to do is run the Error Checking utility. 

Every time you use the hard disk, the hard disk starts to develop bad sectors. Bad sectors will decrease your computer’s performance and sometimes makes data writing difficult or impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced. 

To run Errors Checking Utility:

1.       Close all open files.

2.       Click Start, and then click Computer.

3.       In the Computer window (My Computer in Windows XP), right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.

4.       In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.

5.       Click the Check Now button.

6.       In the Check Disk dialog box (called Error-checking in Windows 7), select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.

Only select the "Automatically fix file system errors" check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.

Step 5: ReadyBoost.

If you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memory—like a USB flash drive or a memory card—to improve performance without having to add additional memory.

Note: More info in this post - Improving Performance with ReadyBoost

Step 6: Disable Search Index Service.

Indexing Services is a little application that uses a lot of CPU. By indexing and updating lists of all the files on the computer, it helps you to do a search for something faster as it scans the index list. But if you know where your files are, you can disable this system service. It won’t do any harm to you machine, whether you search often or not very often.

To disable the search index:

• ·         Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and type index in the top-right search box. Click Change how Windows searches.
•        Click modify
• ·         Remove all locations by unchecking them and click OK.

Step 7: Updating to Windows 7.

If you try all the previous remedies and your computer still isn't as fast as you would like it to be, you may want to consider updating to Windows 7 if you haven’t updated yet.

 There are many more ways to improve your PC performance. These are just the basic most effective way to improve performance.

Below are so recommended software that are great for improve PC performance.

     

All new Win OS Tweaks blog.

Welcome to Win OS Tweak. This new blog will teach you how to tweak your Windows OS to run better and faster.

All tweaking will be based on Windows 7, so I recommend getting it. You can get it here in Amazon, or at your nearest electronics store. I also recommend getting Windows 7 Home Premium, since it’s easier and cheaper than Ultimate and Professional. If you are a tech junkie and want to spend a little more, you can buy them online from the link below.

If you have question or comment, feel free to right in the comment box below.