Recover Device from Readyboost

By | 2008-12-26

One of the cool features of Windows Vista is the Readyboost feature.  

ReadyBoost is a component of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system. It works by using flash memory, USB 2.0 drive, SD card, CompactFlash or any kind of portable flash mass storage system as a drive for disk cache.

ReadyBoost is also used to facilitate SuperFetch, an updated version of Windows XP’s prefetcher which performs analysis of boot-time disk usage patterns and creates a cache which is used in subsequent system boots

It’s been known to be accidentally enabled for a memory card or USB stick via the Autorun notification that pops up when you insert one of these devices into your system.  When it is enabled, Vista will utilize as much space on the device as possible, leaving you with little to no space left for photos, documents, or other files on the device.

To stop Vista from using your device for Readyboost, follow these steps:

  • Put your SD card in your reader
  • Click on Start.
  • Click on Computer.
  • Right click on your SD card and select Properties.
  • Open the Ready Boost tab
  • Change your settings to “do not use this device”.
Author: dwirch

Derek Wirch is a seasoned IT professional with an impressive career dating back to 1986. He brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience that is invaluable to those embarking on their journey in the tech industry.

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