Use any USB 2.0 Device for Readyboost in Vista

Readyboost is a disk caching system introduced in Windows Vista that relies on flash memory to boost system performance. The effect is not that noticeable but some users swear on it and I do not want to discuss the usefulness of Readyboost. The USB device has to meet some requirements before it can be used for Readyboost mainly that it needs to meet certain read speeds. Many older USB devices do not meet these requirements and refuse to be used as Readyboost devices in Windows Vista.

There is however a trick that enables many USB devices for Readyboost even though they did not pass the initial test. To do that do the following. Right-click the device that you want to use for Readyboost and select properties. Switch to the Readyboost tab and uncheck “Stop retesting this device when I plug it in”. The old test values are stored in the registry which means that we have to edit some settings there to make Vista believe that the USB device meets all of the requirements. Unplug the device from the computer before you proceed.

Go to the key HKLM (Local Machine) -> SOFTWARE -> Microsoft -> Windows NT -> CurrentVersion -> EMDgmt which displays a list of all known USB devices on your computer. Choose the one that you want to use for Readyboost and edit the following keys in the right pane:

• Device Status – Change that value to 2
• ReadSpeedKbs – Change the value to 1000
• WriteSpeedKbs – Change the value to 1000 as well

After that is done you can use the USB device for Readyboost.

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Tags: readyboost, readyboost old usb device, readyboost performance, usb device, windows-vista
Categories: Knowledge, Operating Systems, Windows

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4 Responses to “Use any USB 2.0 Device for Readyboost in Vista”

1. johntash says:

   April 18, 2007 at 6:38 am

   Cool. I wanted to try out the readyboost thing with my 4gb stick but it wouldn’t let me. Maybe I’ll actually test it out now. Thanks man

   Reply
2. Serious Sam says:

   September 28, 2007 at 10:40 pm

   i have a western digital 40 gb hard drive which i want to use as the ready boost hard drive but it isnt in the location that u wrote above can u help me find it

   Reply
3. Serious Sam says:

   September 28, 2007 at 10:41 pm

   and i have connected it to an external usb case

   Reply

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1. Use Any USB Drive With Windows Vista Readyboost | One Tip A Day says:

   April 25, 2007 at 5:24 pm

   [...] system performance. At the moment only certain flash drives are compatible with Readyboost, but gHacks have found a way so that any USB drive can be used with [...]

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