Can I use a USB RAM stick to increase system memory?

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Well Leo,

I was quite interested by this article. But the final statement "But increasing your system's memory is an entirely different proposition" does nothing to conclude WHY they can't be used.

If anything it suggests there IS a way to do it, but it's different to using conventional RAM. I expected that much. Then I expected there to be an explaination of how to do it.

Sure USB Memory Sticks are slower, but they are still memory. So why can't they be used?

P.

Because they are not connected to the high speed memory buss (the physical connection) that goes to the processor. It's physically impossible to use them as additional computer memory.

Sorry that wasn't clear.

simply because they cannot be used in directly the same way as conventional RAM could a USB Flash drive not be used as swap space? in using it that way you could 'virtually' increase your system memory could you not?

I don't believe Windows will allow you to place the swap file on a removable drive, which is what a USB drive is treated as.

Wait for Windows Vista. :-)

I was doing research on this subject quite a while back and came across a site that explained how to use a flash drive as a swap on windows. It explained how to create boot sectors on the drive, also how to trick the system into reading the geek stick as a fixed drive. However, the transfer rates were MUCH slower than your pc's HDD, therefore you are much better off using a third party partition software to put a virtual drive at the BEGINING of the HDD. Windows rescue disk partition software doesnt allow you to put the virtual partition at the beginning of the drive to my knowledge. A good method of doing this for free is to order some LINUX boot cd's from ubuntulinux.org (order 20). Their partition software allows you to create FAT16, and FAT32 partitions for windows9x. First create a FAT16 or 32 logical (virtual) drive. It may ask if you want it at the beginning or end of the drive, USE BEGINNING. This is important because the HDD can read info. from this area the fastest, because it doesnt have to move as much to access the swap. The swap area should be about 10% of your total disk space (eg. 8GB HDD should use a 800MB swap). After your swap is created, create your standard boot partition. Simple, NO? YES! Note: Creating a logical drive for your swap will speed up app. start time by my guess would be 10%. Placing the logical drive at the beginning of the HDD 15% or 20%. If you have alot of ram, instead of using this area to swap, use it for temporary internet files for netscape or IE6 (on netscape goto preferences, and on the left side go to advanced, then cache, then choose folder.)(on IE6 in internet options go to temp. internet files, settings, then move folder). You can even create a swap partition and a temp. internet partition at the same time on a low ram pc. If you do this, be sure to defragment this area often. This gives you a signifigant boost in web page load times. The more often you defrag, the faster pages will load. This is one area of windows that you can REALLY notice the difference after defraging. Happy surfing everybody, have fun with this info :-)I know I do.

Hi Leo,

I was intrested in your artical and thought I would give it a read. I'm surprised to learn that someone of your own knowledge can clearly say no to something that Microsoft is currently building/investing into their Windows Vista software.

Anyway something for you to read up on..

Regards,
Mathew Rennie

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http://www.mathewrennie.co.uk
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I have 2 mem sticks for a HP Pavilion a707. I only have one spare slot. Is it possible to buy an 'adaptor' that would allow me to plug the 2 sticks into the 1 port?

No. You're limitted by the capacity of the motherboard.

Microsoft has implemented similar software in its Windows Vista operating system which allows users to convert there USB Flash drives into additional system memory. Why is it that your own knowledge apparently contradicts the claims of one of the worlds largest software vendors?

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