How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is running?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bobby
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Bobby

I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.

Bobby
 
check under Admin Tools - Services to see of Readyboost is started and running.



(e-mail address removed)



I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.

Bobby
 
Bobby said:
I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You could open up "Computer" and look what's on the USB drive.
If you see a file called "ReadyBoost cache file", it should be
working. Or, if your drive has a little flashing light and it blinks
a lot while your doing stuff, even when your not, too- it's working.

Although, I have noticed a few times when I have put my computer
to sleep, ReadyBoost stops working after the computer wakes up.
I'll go to the USB drive and look at the ReadyBoost tab, and it will tell
me there needs to be at least 256MB of room for ReadyBoost to work.
I'll open up the drive and it *looks* empty inside. The properties of the
drive says it's full. More than likely it is, with the prior ReadyBoost
cache file that's hidden because ReadyBoost is inactive. If I use
"safely remove", it tells me I can't because the device in use. If I
pull it out and stick it back in, it still doesn't work. I have to do a quick
format, and then press "test this device" a couple of times before it
works again. This doesn't happen all the time after going to sleep,
but enough to be aggravating. The only time that I notice it not working-
performance wise- is when I fire up a virtual machine.

If you have over 1GB of RAM, especially 1.5 to 2- you are going to
see any performance increase. Unless, you are using some heavy
duty programs.


-Michael
 
MICHAEL said:
You could open up "Computer" and look what's on the USB drive.
If you see a file called "ReadyBoost cache file", it should be
working. Or, if your drive has a little flashing light and it blinks
a lot while your doing stuff, even when your not, too- it's working.

Although, I have noticed a few times when I have put my computer
to sleep, ReadyBoost stops working after the computer wakes up.
I'll go to the USB drive and look at the ReadyBoost tab, and it will tell
me there needs to be at least 256MB of room for ReadyBoost to work.
I'll open up the drive and it *looks* empty inside. The properties of the
drive says it's full. More than likely it is, with the prior ReadyBoost
cache file that's hidden because ReadyBoost is inactive. If I use "safely remove", it tells
me I can't because the device in use. If I pull it out and stick it back in, it still doesn't
work. I have to do a quick
format, and then press "test this device" a couple of times before it
works again. This doesn't happen all the time after going to sleep,
but enough to be aggravating. The only time that I notice it not working-
performance wise- is when I fire up a virtual machine.
If you have over 1GB of RAM, especially 1.5 to 2- you are going to
see any performance increase. Unless, you are using some heavy
duty programs.
Click to expand...

That should be;

"you are *not* going to see any performance increase."


-Michael
 
Michael - Thanks for that. The System Tools -> Services method is the
simplest and most clear.

I have 1½Gb RAM and I agree that ReadyBoost (2Gb) makes little difference to
system performance. In fact, it's hard to tell if it's operational or not -
hence my original post.

Bobby
 
You're welcome, Bobby.

I would caution that in relation to my problem with
ReadyBoost staying in a coma after Sleep- for me,
Services indicated ReadyBoost was Started.
What it was doing, I don't know. But it wasn't working
properly on those occasions.

Take care,

Michael
 
Interestingly, I have ran Vista in three memory configurations (all using
DDR400/3200 DRAM). It was sluggish in 1Gb, fine in 1¼Gb and also fine in
1½Gb configurations.

So, 1Gb seems to be something of a threshold for Vista (with Aero on). Maybe
ReadyBoost would help systems with 1Gb or less?
 
Yes, I believe it probably is beneficial to those users
with 1GB or less, and *might* be of some benefit to
those folks who use virtual machines and other "hungry"
programs.

-Michael
 
Bobby said:
Interestingly, I have ran Vista in three memory configurations (all using
DDR400/3200 DRAM). It was sluggish in 1Gb, fine in 1¼Gb and also fine in
1½Gb configurations.

So, 1Gb seems to be something of a threshold for Vista (with Aero on).
Maybe ReadyBoost would help systems with 1Gb or less?
Click to expand...
I've run Vista on both a P4 2.4 GHz processor with 1 GB RAM and a P4 3.2 GHz
processor with 2 GB RAM. I really don't see that much difference between the
two machines. It is a little slower on my laptop with a 2.4 GHz processor
and 512 MB RAM.
 
I think that is the 'thinking' behind readyboost. It is an additional memory
aid for those that are short on RAM. I've used it with 1.5GB RAM and there
was no increase in performance whatsoever, so as you say, Bobby, I think
readyboost will bemnefit users' with 512MB RAM and maybe up to 1GB but not
further.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
I have now discovered that your suggestion does not work.

I checked the Admin Tools which tells me that ReadyBoost has started - but when I check the properties tab of the ReadyBoost file on the flashdrive I am told that my memory characteristics are not sufficient for ReadyBoost. So, the service has started but ReadyBoost is not operational.

That might explain why so many people are reporting no improvement with ReadyBoost activated - it's not activated.

It may be that ReadyBoost compatible flashdrives are pretty rare right now.

Bobby
check under Admin Tools - Services to see of Readyboost is started and running.



(e-mail address removed)



I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.

Bobby
 
I have a Lexar Jump Drive that worked first time - even with RC2. I suppose the USB port and drive probably at min need to be USB2 compatible.

What I don't understand is what the ramifications are of unplugging it - without using the Safely Remove Hardware task. What happens to the "information" stored on the "memory" when you just yank it out - how does the O/S deal with this?
I have now discovered that your suggestion does not work.

I checked the Admin Tools which tells me that ReadyBoost has started - but when I check the properties tab of the ReadyBoost file on the flashdrive I am told that my memory characteristics are not sufficient for ReadyBoost. So, the service has started but ReadyBoost is not operational.

That might explain why so many people are reporting no improvement with ReadyBoost activated - it's not activated.

It may be that ReadyBoost compatible flashdrives are pretty rare right now.

Bobby
check under Admin Tools - Services to see of Readyboost is started and running.



(e-mail address removed)



I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.

Bobby
 
As I understand it (it's been said by someone from the Windows Vista Performance team on Channel 9), the data on the flash drive is always just a copy of what's on the hard disk (as virtual memory), so there's no second when there's data on the flash drive (which you can easily yank out) and that data is not on the hard disk (which you obviously can't yank out easily... that much).

--Szajd
I have a Lexar Jump Drive that worked first time - even with RC2. I suppose the USB port and drive probably at min need to be USB2 compatible.

What I don't understand is what the ramifications are of unplugging it - without using the Safely Remove Hardware task. What happens to the "information" stored on the "memory" when you just yank it out - how does the O/S deal with this?
I have now discovered that your suggestion does not work.

I checked the Admin Tools which tells me that ReadyBoost has started - but when I check the properties tab of the ReadyBoost file on the flashdrive I am told that my memory characteristics are not sufficient for ReadyBoost. So, the service has started but ReadyBoost is not operational.

That might explain why so many people are reporting no improvement with ReadyBoost activated - it's not activated.

It may be that ReadyBoost compatible flashdrives are pretty rare right now.

Bobby
check under Admin Tools - Services to see of Readyboost is started and running.



(e-mail address removed)



I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.

Bobby
 
hmm - that makes sense - so it mirrors the information but looks to the flash drive first if it's available...makes sense
As I understand it (it's been said by someone from the Windows Vista Performance team on Channel 9), the data on the flash drive is always just a copy of what's on the hard disk (as virtual memory), so there's no second when there's data on the flash drive (which you can easily yank out) and that data is not on the hard disk (which you obviously can't yank out easily... that much).

--Szajd
I have a Lexar Jump Drive that worked first time - even with RC2. I suppose the USB port and drive probably at min need to be USB2 compatible.

What I don't understand is what the ramifications are of unplugging it - without using the Safely Remove Hardware task. What happens to the "information" stored on the "memory" when you just yank it out - how does the O/S deal with this?
I have now discovered that your suggestion does not work.

I checked the Admin Tools which tells me that ReadyBoost has started - but when I check the properties tab of the ReadyBoost file on the flashdrive I am told that my memory characteristics are not sufficient for ReadyBoost. So, the service has started but ReadyBoost is not operational.

That might explain why so many people are reporting no improvement with ReadyBoost activated - it's not activated.

It may be that ReadyBoost compatible flashdrives are pretty rare right now.

Bobby
check under Admin Tools - Services to see of Readyboost is started and running.



(e-mail address removed)



I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.

Bobby
 
Joe - How do you know that it's working?
I have a Lexar Jump Drive that worked first time - even with RC2. I suppose the USB port and drive probably at min need to be USB2 compatible.

What I don't understand is what the ramifications are of unplugging it - without using the Safely Remove Hardware task. What happens to the "information" stored on the "memory" when you just yank it out - how does the O/S deal with this?
I have now discovered that your suggestion does not work.

I checked the Admin Tools which tells me that ReadyBoost has started - but when I check the properties tab of the ReadyBoost file on the flashdrive I am told that my memory characteristics are not sufficient for ReadyBoost. So, the service has started but ReadyBoost is not operational.

That might explain why so many people are reporting no improvement with ReadyBoost activated - it's not activated.

It may be that ReadyBoost compatible flashdrives are pretty rare right now.

Bobby
check under Admin Tools - Services to see of Readyboost is started and running.



(e-mail address removed)



I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.

Bobby
 
You can also use the reliability and performance monitor to check the functions of the readyboost drive.

The speed can be checked with the free version of SiSoft Sandra, which works in Vista.

(I have a 150x 4 gig card in my computer and it works)

Ben
I have now discovered that your suggestion does not work.

I checked the Admin Tools which tells me that ReadyBoost has started - but when I check the properties tab of the ReadyBoost file on the flashdrive I am told that my memory characteristics are not sufficient for ReadyBoost. So, the service has started but ReadyBoost is not operational.

That might explain why so many people are reporting no improvement with ReadyBoost activated - it's not activated.

It may be that ReadyBoost compatible flashdrives are pretty rare right now.

Bobby
check under Admin Tools - Services to see of Readyboost is started and running.



(e-mail address removed)



I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.

Bobby
 
There must be a lot of flash drives that are compatible.

I have a 2gig no-name (well actually Micro Center) Flash drive from Micro Center and it was set to optimize for quick removal. At this setting it was NOT Readyboost enabled, I switched the setting to Optimize for Performance and viola, it is ReadyBoost enabled.
I have now discovered that your suggestion does not work.

I checked the Admin Tools which tells me that ReadyBoost has started - but when I check the properties tab of the ReadyBoost file on the flashdrive I am told that my memory characteristics are not sufficient for ReadyBoost. So, the service has started but ReadyBoost is not operational.

That might explain why so many people are reporting no improvement with ReadyBoost activated - it's not activated.

It may be that ReadyBoost compatible flashdrives are pretty rare right now.

Bobby
check under Admin Tools - Services to see of Readyboost is started and running.



(e-mail address removed)



I think that I have activated ReadyBoost on my PC but I'm not sure.

How can I confirm that ReadyBoost is working on my PC?

Thanks.

Bobby
 
I think the best response here is to look for the file ReadyBoost.sfcache on
the USB drive. It's right there in the root. If you right click on COMPUTER
and click PROPERTIES, it will not show up under the RAM... and I almost 1/2
expected it to, but it makes sense why it doesn't.
 
Chris said:
I think the best response here is to look for the file ReadyBoost.sfcache
on
the USB drive. It's right there in the root. If you right click on
COMPUTER
and click PROPERTIES, it will not show up under the RAM... and I almost
1/2
expected it to, but it makes sense why it doesn't.
Click to expand...

But that doesn't show that it's being used. The best way is to open
Reliability and Performance Monitor, and in the right pane expand the Disk
section, sort by Writes and see if it's writing to that file.
 
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