Both Windows Vista and 7 have been known to provide a feature known as ReadyBoost that does not require users any extra internal RAM to speed up their computer. How ReadyBoost works is by using external storage devices such as flash or external hard drives to speed up your system.

So, here are six steps to turn on ReadyBoost, and speed up the performance of your computer by the use of external storage from a flash or an external hard drive:

#1: The first step involves plugging in the pen drive in a USB port on the computer whose performance you’d like to speed up.

#2: When the flash (or external) appears in the “Computer” folder, select the device, and then hit “Properties”.

#3: Once you click on “Properties” of the device, you’ll find options such as General, Tools, Hardware and Sharing. Ignore those and click on the tab which reads as ReadyBoost.

#4: Once the tab is selected, you’ll find a description of what ReadyBoost functionality is while also three options that you can choose from such as ‘Do not Use this Device’, ‘Dedicate this device to ReadyBoost’ and ‘Use this device’.

#5: Select the third option “Use this Device”, and also select the amount of space that you would like to reserve as external RAM that your computer can use. The optimal amount of storage is about 4094 but you can select a value between 1 and 4 GB.

#6: Remember to click ‘Apply’ and then OK and you should find an improvement in the performance of your computer shortly.