Category: Readyboost

Cleaning out the Prefetch Directory!

Paul

From time to time you will need to clean out the Prefetch directory in Vista and XP.  Here is how you do it in Vista.  You first would need to boot into safe mode in Vista then you will log into Vista and go to:

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[C:\Windows\Prefetch Directory]

Having been using XP and Vista for the past few years, I’ve found that deleting all of the files in prefetch directory and letting them rebuild actually speeds up the system.  I got a feeling it has something to do with file corruptions.  After you go into the Prefetch directory and delete all the files.  You would then go into your Readyboost Directory if you are using Readyboost then there will be a Readyboost directory inside the Prefetch directory.  Deleting all the files in the Readyboost directory also will greatly improve performance of your system.  Don’t delete the Prefetch Directory or the Readyboost Directory, Vista won’t let you delete the Prefetch but will with Readyboost.  Deleting the Readyboost directory will prevent  Vista from using Readyboost and then you would have to restart the process of using Readyboost.

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If you can come up with more ways to speed up Vista then by all means let me know!!

5 things Microsoft Vista doesn’t want you to Know!!

Paul

I’m starting off on this little epic because I’ve been using Vista for the past year and half. I have had so much fun finding these little programs for Vista. They’ve helped with making Vista a much more enjoyable platform. These programs I’ve had to search the internet for all these tips and programs.

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  1. Never Stop using MSCONFIG.EXE — This little program lets you do so many things in Vista it’s not funny. You can Enable or Disable UAC, pick the services you want to startup, or pick the startup programs. You can also use the performance monitor, or change the internet options in the Tools tab. You can speed up or slow down your start up time in vista with this little program.

  2. Shut down Auto-Defragmentation — Windows uses way to much resources with it constantly defragmenting the hard drive. This therefore slows down the startup and shut down time with Vista. This little process will greatly increase your speed. Just remember from time to time to do a manual defragmentation on your hard drive. Click Start>Click Drive>Click tools TAB>Un-Check Run on a Schedule.

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  3. Speed Up the Interface — This little article explains some of the best kept secrets about speed and making windows Do what you want it do.  Making boot up time even faster and not slowing you down.  I thought I’d just link to this article because of all the valuable tips and tricks they suggest in it.  If you have any others just put those in your comments.

  4. Enable Readyboost — using a 2 gig or higher USB interface or Card will greatly increase your startup and shutdown routines in Vista.  You will not have to wait as long for Windows vista to boot.  Extreme Tech Did a very good job talking about this so I just linked to them.

  5. Disable all non-needed programs from startup — Most of the time at startup you get all these programs that you don’t need or want.  Disabling the programs you don’t use will greatly increase your speed.  Be advised that some programs need to be run at start such as Anti-virus, Anti-Spyrware, and Firewalls and other such things like that.  Don’t advise you disabling all of them just the onces that aren’t needed or wanted.  To disable the programs run Msconfig.exe>click startup>Un-check programs that you don’t want.  Reboot and your there.

I hope you like what I posted and remember that there is much more to come in the future.  I will post more later.  Enjoy

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Windows Vista Hidden Super Fetch

Paul

I was talking to a friend last night about Vista. She was talking about speed and reliability, I suggested that she use ReadyBoost. What is Readyboost? It retrieves all the important files and documents that it needs after you start up. Microsoft says:

Windows Vista introduces Windows ReadyBoost, a new concept in adding memory to a system. You can use non-volatile flash memory, such as that on a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, to improve performance without having to add additional memory “under the hood.”
[Via Microsoft]

So by saying you can use a USB for this. All your really doing is using external memory to help augment the internal memory. So you system doesn’t have to cache everything on the hard drive. It will speed up the system, I know it does on mine!!

What is Super Fetch?

SuperFetch monitors which applications you use the most and preloads these into your system memory so they’ll be ready when you need them. Windows Vista also runs background programs, like disk defragmenting and Windows Defender, at low priority so that they can do their job but your work always comes first.
[Via Microsoft]

So now that you know what this is let’s talk about how it speeds up your system. Readyboost uses someting like Super Fetch and reads all it can and stores it in memory, the most common programs, the most common applications and keeps it in a memory cache. Oh now here’s where it gets interesting. Memory Cache is simply the excess amount of information that can’t be used in ram. So this excess information would go to the cache memory directory and create a file for that particular information so it can organize and be ready to launch and speed up the system. In theory, The information that it has organized onto the directory would be easier and quicker to read so as not to use up a lot of file processing. It’s like the old saying an apple a days keeps the doctor away. See, Windows is constently looking at what you open up the most and wants to keep those files loaded as much as because it is quicker that way.

So how do I use Readyboost?

This is a simple way to use Readyboost.

  1. Get an USB memory stick preferably twice the size of your memory (You can also use Sd cards if you have an SD reader.)
  2. Put it in the slot
  3. Right Click on the drive
  4. Select Properties
  5. Select Readyboost tab (remember the card or USB device has to be fast enough to use it)
  6. Select use this device
  7. hit Apply, and then Ok

That’s it, you’ve completed the steps to get Readyboost to work . Enjoy

Vista Tips and Secrets!!

Paul


I’ve learned a lot of little tips and tricks in Vista and I want to share you one or two!!

You can add the run command to your Start menu:

  1. Right-click on the Start menu and choose Properties.
  2. Select the Start Menu tab and click on the Customize button.
  3. Check the “Run command” option.

Add Items to you quick launch bar such as browser, email ,other important programs and you can easily start them up with a keyboard command:

  1. Windows Key + #

If you have Firefox first next to the start menu, you’d hit 1, and the next is 2, and so on.

I found these shortcut keys to be quite helpfull with Vista and it helps with speed. I also suggest getting a SD Card or Flash memory card, twice the size of your current memory if you’ve got a 1 gig, get a 2 gig flash and use that as a ReadyBoost
option. I will put more up later!! Keep watching!!