Anne wants to know if a ReadyBoost drive can add more RAM to Window XP
I note you recommend Ready Boost USB which includes additional ram to Vista and Windows 7. Do you know of anything that would add additional Ram to Windows XP other than replacing Windows XP for Windows 7? I am too old (91) to learn a new computer. Any help you can give will be appreciated. Your premium newsletter and recommended software which I purchased has been a huge help to me over the past 10 years and I appreciate all you both have done for me and others. Anne
Our Answer
Hi Anne. Thank you very much for your kind words and support. Unfortunately, the only way you can add RAM to Windows XP is the old fashioned way – opening the case and putting it in. It’s not as hard as you might think, and it’s hard to make a mistake. If you put it in wrong, your computer won’t boot. If you put it in right it will, and you’ll have more RAM. You can only put RAM in two ways – the wrong way (which we’ve done) and the right way. Things got much easier when Crucial.com started their new system of scanning your computer and telling you exactly which kind of RAM you need for your computer. And when they send it to you, they send easy to follow instructions – with pictures to show you exactly how to install RAM correctly the first time. RAM is cheaper than ever, and it’s never too late to learn something new, right? If you want to add RAM to your Windows XP computer visit Crucial.com. They have great prices, fast service, and they can tell you exactly what kind of RAM you need for your computer. And, believe it or not, we don’t make a penny from Crucial, we are just very happy customers 🙂
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users can add RAM the old-fashioned way too. Our they can give their computers a boost by inserting a ReadyBoost flash drive into a USB port on their computer (but not in a hub). OurMegaBoost Flash Drive can add over 3GB of RAM to any Windows Vista or Windows 7 computer – plus it comes with licensed versions of three of our favorite and most recommended programs: Captain Optimizer, Registry Commander, and SUPERAntiSpyware Professional. We even include our best selling ebook “Your Computer Won’t Bite II”. Sorry, I could not resist the temptation to promote our MegaBoost flash drive – it really is a great deal.
I’m an oldie too, (76) and I successfully added RAM to my XP computer by opening the tower and putting it in. I was scared to do it, but since there was nobody else here, I I watched a video and then gave it a go, and it worked perfectly.
Barb.
I found directions on the web for using readyboost in XP & have done so succesfully.
It sure made a difference in the upload speed of an old laptop that I use only for streaming my webcam.
Laura
here is a link to a u-tube video on the instructions for using Readyboost with XP
http://youtu.be/A0bNFvCgQ9w
Laura
That video is not using a flash drive as RAM – it shows you how to use a flash drive as an extra paging file. It’s not the same as ReadyBoost which uses the free space on the flash drive as RAM.
It won’t be the same as ReadyBoost. ReadyBoost uses simultaneous connections from all sources, and duplicates the data rather than just writing a page file. This ensures your computer won’t be slowed down by the reduced transfer speed of a flash drive , since most flash drives are slower than hard drives.
This video is basically showing you how to store your Windows XP’s page file on a flash drive – i.e. it’s virtual memory and not physical memory – like ReadyBoost. Following the instructions included in this video would actually make your computer slower – not faster.
If you’re using Windows XP and you want to add more RAM for better performance, this won’t help you at all. You’re just moving your paging file from a hard drive to a flash drive – and most flash drives are slower than hard drives. So this video makes no sense.
The only way to add more RAM to XP is to buy additional RAM from a source like Crucial.com and physically install it in your computer.
oops…sorry, I gave you the wrong link.
here it is below…
http://youtu.be/RjFt7wbB72k
This increases the virtual memory.
Same idea. He’s showing you how to move your paging file to a flash drive. It’s still virtual memory and it will still slow your computer down. Physical Memory is much faster than virtual memory – ReadyBoost – on Vista and Windows 7 is much faster than virtual memory, but not quite as fast as RAM. Any time you start relying on virtual memory – you are not going to speed up your computer.
Me too– I added Ram to my PC — myself–.I was just about to look at Mega Boost Flash Drive– though I do have your three specials plus ReImage. Wouldn’t be without them.