Fixing Problems With Windows Vista USB ReadyBoost

Increasing your computers performance can be a real pain if you don't know what you're doing, and sometimes, even if you do know what you're doing, it's simply not a viable option.  Your computer is manufactured according to performance and expansion standards of the time, and upgrading later on down the road can be troublesome at best.  Vista's USB ReadyBoost feature is an insightful solution to someone looking to increase the performance of their computer without having to take it apart to do so.

ReadyBoost works by having solid-state memory, such as a USB jump drive, act as random access memory (RAM) when it is plugged into the USB port of your computer.  If the USB jump drive is fast enough, Windows Vista will automatically ask if you want to use it to expand your computer's available RAM.

Fixing Problems With Windows Vista ReadyBoost

Like any software solution, things can get messed up.  Before you take your computer to a profession computer repair center, try the steps below:

1. Determine the likely cause of the problem – if Windows Vista isn't recognizing the flash memory that you've inserted, it may be because the memory itself isn't fast enough to be compatible with ReadyBoost. Ensure that the memory itself is compatible (it will say on the packaging).
   
   If the memory is compatible, it may be because the USB drivers are not functioning correctly or that Vista has mistakenly refused to recognize the USB card.  Fortunately, both of these problems are easily correctable.


2. Fix the problem – correcting the USB drivers is relatively simple.  Simply open up your control panel, assess the system menu, and open the device manager. Click on your USB controller, and ensure that Windows does not announce a problem with the drivers. If Windows does not recognize a problem, move on to the next possible solution as your USB drivers are probably fine.
   
   If Windows does recognize a problem with your USB drivers, click on the update driver tab and follow the instructions.
   
   If Vista has mistakenly recognized the USB flash card, it may be because other problems were eating up available system memory.  Do a fresh reboot of the computer, and close down all non-essential programs (such a your anti-virus, spyware program, etc).  If the USB jump drive is guaranteed to work, Vista should recognize it since there are less programs running in the background

We hope that this solved your ReadyBoost problem!