How to Use a USB Stick as RAM: 4 Steps

Table of contents:

How to Use a USB Stick as RAM: 4 Steps
How to Use a USB Stick as RAM: 4 Steps
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This article explains how to increase the computing power of a Windows computer by using a USB stick as virtual RAM memory. If your computer is equipped with a Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista operating system, you will have an integrated tool that will allow you to reserve the memory of the USB drive for the operating system that can use it as additional RAM memory when needed. Unfortunately, there is no similar option for Mac.

Steps

Use Pen Drive As RAM Step 1
Use Pen Drive As RAM Step 1

Step 1. Connect a blank USB stick to your computer

In most cases, a dialog box titled "AutoPlay" will automatically appear.

  • If no window opens, press the key combination ⊞ Win + E to display the "File Explorer" system window. At this point select the USB drive icon with the right mouse button (it is listed in the left pane of the "File Explorer" window), then click on the item Open AutoPlay.
  • If the USB drive you have chosen to use is not empty, you will need to format it before you can continue. Press the key combination ⊞ Win + E to open the "File Explorer" dialog, select the USB drive icon with the right mouse button, then choose the option Format from the menu that will appear. At the end of the formatting process, select the USB key icon with the right mouse button and choose the item Open AutoPlay.
Use Pen Drive As RAM Step 2
Use Pen Drive As RAM Step 2

Step 2. Click on the Increase system speed option present in the "AutoPlay" window

The "ReadyBoost" tab of the "Properties" window of the USB drive under consideration will be displayed.

  • If an error message is displayed in the "ReadyBoost" tab indicating that the selected USB drive is not usable, it means that the key you have chosen is not sufficiently powerful to be used as virtual RAM of the computer. Try plugging it into a different USB port or try using a different USB drive.
  • If you see a warning message indicating that your computer is fast enough and that "ReadyBoost" would not be of any benefit, you are most likely using a solid state memory (SSD) drive. In this scenario, there is no benefit from using a USB stick as virtual RAM.
Use Pen Drive As RAM Step 3
Use Pen Drive As RAM Step 3

Step 3. Select the Dedicate Device to ReadyBoost option or Use this device.

Both of these items are listed at the top of the "ReadyBoost" tab.

If you are using Windows Vista, drag the "Space to reserve to increase system speed" slider to the right until it reaches the maximum available value

Use Pen Drive As RAM Step 4
Use Pen Drive As RAM Step 4

Step 4. Click the OK button

This will create a special file on the USB stick that Windows will use as a cache to simulate additional RAM memory.

The operating system will immediately start using the USB drive designated as RAM memory. As long as the cache file on the USB drive is populated with the necessary data you may not notice any benefit while performing normal tasks

Advice

  • Apps and programs that require a certain amount of RAM to function properly (for example, most video games) will not detect virtual RAM as real RAM. In this scenario, you will still need to install one or more additional RAM banks on your computer.
  • If in the future you want to disable the "ReadyBoost" function, select the USB drive icon displayed in the "File Explorer" window with the right mouse button, choose the item Property from the context menu that will appear, click on the tab ReadyBoost, then select the option Do not use the device.

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